17 years ago

[Privateer]

I fell in Love with a young Lady at work.
I'd been living with Nancy for quite awhile before this happened so had to explain to her what was going on.

I'd go to work every morning and She would be there waiting for me.
She always had that look of pure love in her eyes and only wanted  me to pay attention to her.
When I left the shop for the night? She was always there. Sad to see me go.

I admitted my affair to Nancy and She agreed my young Love should move in with us. So I brought her home one night.
It took me awhile to get her out from under the seat of the truck. I figure that being the first time in a truck freaked her out.
Then in the house it took a few days to get her to come out from under the steps.
You never know what is going through their minds when you kind of snatch them up like that!

We had 17 years with her. Give or take. We knew it was getting near the end but you always hold on to hope.
We put up a cage for her due to diarrhea yesterday. We thought it was a change of her food.
I joked it was solitary confinement for a few days.
 

Today we checked on her before we both left for work. She was fine and just spiffy.
Nancy checked on Her before I got home. She had just layed down and died while we were gone.

Yes. I cried and may do so for a few days.




 

[bantam5s]

Very sorry to here this, she seems to have lived a good long life though.

[ShawninIL]

I feel for ya, I know how hard it is. It's been several years ago, we lost our 17 yo German Sheppard Bandit(BEST DOG EVER!), 16 yo Calico Sophie(my little girlie girl) and 21 yo Maine Coon mix Boots (rotten little prankster) all within 2 years. Tore my heart out, swore I wouldn't have any more. Of course we now have 2 cats Katie and Biggie Bigs, and 11 yo Golden Retriever Sammy. Still miss all the others, still tear up once in a while thinking about them.

[dk1677]

Sorry to hear that Jeff

[Wayne52]

Sorry to hear of your loss Jeff.

[avator]

Sorry to hear Jeff.
Each time I read where a member has lost their furry friend I know that day will sooner or later come with Rambo the Rescue Dog and it saddens me.

[Oldgringo]

The BOO, Monte Montana and Sally Wagger are all rescue animals.  They are much more than animals, these girls (2 cats and a dog) are family members and we love 'em to pieces.  That's The BOO truck pictured in my avatar.

[lizzie]

That's a tough one Jeff!
All my cats have been essentially "rescues", and when they died, it was like losing more of my children....not quite the same severity, of course, but I have mourned for my animals who have come and gone, just as I have for close family members.
Hugs to you Jeff.....

[maraudinglizard]

Sorry for your loss, Jeff. It's tough when they have been with you for so long.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Jeff it is never easy to lose one of our furry children 3 years ago I lost my little buddy Cosmo (toy Poodle) six months later I drove 4 1/2 hours to Lancaster PA to pick up a mixed  Shih Tzu / Bishon female pup. The breeder sold her while I was on the way there to pick her up. He apologised for the mistake and had 2 males from the same litter the one male was $900 and the other ( Dudley ) was being sold for the cost of his shots because his front paws are splayed out. I asked the breeder what would happen to him if he wasn't sold soon and he said that he would probably be put down due to the front paws being funky. Now dudley has a 6 month old english bulldog as a playmate.

After Cosmo passed I swore never again would I deal with the pain. 

What can I say all they want is love and in return we get loyal companions   

[Tater]

Sorry to hear this Jeff. Pets definitely become part of the family.

[avator]

When Betty Lou decided to pack up and come south with me she had to leave two dogs behind, Rocky and Winka (Bullwinkle). She'd had those dogs for a long time but it just wasn't possible to bring them. Since childhood, I was not a pet person. I enjoyed too much freedom.
I won't go into the long story of how Rambo the Rescue dog came to steal my heart (it's posted elsewhere here). Suffice it to say, it was an emotional transition. I was really worried about how Betty Lou may feel the guilt of replacing her beloved dogs so I introduced her and told her the story of the stray dog at work that I would share peanut butter sandwiches and milk with every night as I worked the night shift. When it became clear that Rambo was in danger and likely would not survive if I didn't act Betty Lou saw the hurt in my heart and the huge tear in my eye. I still choke a bit thinking about it. She said "let's go get him" and we did.
That dog has become part of our family and rewards us every single day for saving his life. Best we (and the vet) can figure, he's around 7 years old now. Over the past 5 years he's gotten fat and lazy along with Betty Lou and I. He is always beside one or both of us and his loyalty is amazing. We've gotten where we can read his actions and eyes.
We know someday we'll have to deal with his passing and try not to speak or think of it. We just enjoy the blessings all 3 of us give each other.

[Tater]

Perfectly stated Bill.

[only1harry]

Sorry for your loss Jeff.  You gave your cat a good long 17 years so she had a good life.   

Our Cleo was 17 too when she passed and it also started with diarrhea.  We had her for 16.5 years out the 17.  The diarrhea went on for 3 days and we noticed she was not eating much.  On her last day we found her behind the couch meowing loudly like she was in pain.  We suspected she was near the end but I couldn't bare her being in pain so I drove her to the vet.  She died in the front passenger seat as I pulled into the parking lot.  The vet euthanized her with a shot anyway, because she had a faint heart beat. 
I did cry too but was mostly in a state of shock for about 48 hours, and pretty sad for a couple of weeks.  It took me a while to get used to her not being around and sleeping on our bed.  She would always jump on my side of the bed and sleep by my legs so I was accustomed to sleeping a certain way and not move much so I wouldn't kick her off the bed by accident.  It took a while to get out of that habit.  I had even found her sleeping on my pillow a few times on her back just like humans.  I buried her in the garden in the backyard and the perennial flowers my wife planted always come back every spring in that spot.

Harry

[RBQChicken]

CLEARLY, that kitty was well loved.  She couldn't have asked for a better life. Hopefully, you can take comfort in that. Sorry for your loss.

[avator]

I had a friend once who lost her little dog one December around Christmas. She buried it in the yard and planted an evergreen tree over it. Most surely that dog's spirit lives on in that tree and it gets decorated every Christmas. Appropriately, the little dog's name was "Twinkie".

[screwwork]

Sorry you lost your Jeff! You gave her a good home, food and love, sometimes you have to wonder who rescues who? 

[DanD]

Sorry for your loss, Jeff.

[kcatx]

Sorry for your loss.   Always remember the good times, and realize how much better life has been with those we have loved.

[Privateer]

I went to the basement and grabbed an old Dewalt case for tools I had and placed her in it.
Being to cold to dig a proper grave? I set her in the river near my house and watched her sail away.
My not be environmentally friendly as far as the plastic case is concerned but to just stand there and watch her journey on was very healing.
Heck. She may travel all the way to Lake Erie!
Then some Guy out fishing will find the case and open it.