digging another four-legged friend's grave

[anti-squirrel]

Today is Ruger's last day.  Toy Aussie, 16 years of age.  Sonja set up the appointment a couple weeks ago so we could prepare, but no matter how prepared we think we are, we're not.

He'll be in good company; Duncan, Pappy, and Spanky precede Ruger just since I came into the picture, but there's another 20+ back there that I'm aware of, cats and dogs and even 4 chickens.  Ruger will "sleep" next to a Magnolia we saved from certain destruction at a home my in-laws bought as a rental.  It was an ugly stunted little twig of a tree and has flourished in our yard for the last 10 months, now waist-tall, well-shaped, and doing well. 

I'll miss the little clown; he was a Dire Wolf at heart and was absolutely fearless when it came to protecting Sonja.  He traveled well and always slept outside our bedroom door, often sharing a dog-bed with Mitsy (our oldest cat), who is approaching sixteen herself.

We'll finish burying him after I get off work.  But i know he's laughing all the way, his "wind-up bark" as he trotted across the yard "Rrrr-rrrr-rrrrr----" with every step.

Elvis and Butters are the only dogs left now, but hopefully we have plenty of time with them.

[avator]

Are these buried on the property you will be selling?

[anti-squirrel]

Are these buried on the property you will be selling?

Yep.  We have a hair under an acre here, and Sonja keeps a map of the property with septic lines marked, and a red X for dogs, blue X for cats, with black Xs for the 4 chickens.  Hopefully we won't be adding any more marks to the property.

Future owner or owners will be notified.  TBH, any house anybody buys in this neighborhood has a yard full of pet graves- this is an older (started in late-40s) semi-private subdivision and just about everybody owns multiple dogs and cats; more than a few own chickens, too.  We're talking close to 80 years of people burying pets.  When I dug Duncan's grave we had to relocate slightly as we dug up some bones and Sonja had not yet buried any pets in that part of the yard. 

[avator]

Rambo will go out in the back corner of the woods where one of Killer's previous American Bulldogs is Buried (Kelly Girl aka Kel Kel). I have a real nice hunk of finished marble to mark his grave. I'm sure Killer will want Boss buried there as well. This property is still in the family and will be for years to come.

[tennx]

Condolences……My last 2 they wanted $400 a piece to cremate…..they were worth it but my pockets aren’t that deep…so they went in a part Of the yard deep enough and far back enough that hopefully they wont be disturbed….when I knew I was going to lose them close together I went ahead and dug both holes…..good luck

[Sqrl Klr]

Been there Peter. Not fun at all and the house ain't the same without em for sure.

Bill I have natural rocks on my property so I just use the big ones as grave markers for the critters buried on my place.

[Oldgringo]

Today is Ruger's last day.  Toy Aussie, 16 years of age.  Sonja set up the appointment a couple weeks ago so we could prepare, but no matter how prepared we think we are, we're not.

He'll be in good company; Duncan, Pappy, and Spanky precede Ruger just since I came into the picture, but there's another 20+ back there that I'm aware of, cats and dogs and even 4 chickens.  Ruger will "sleep" next to a Magnolia we saved from certain destruction at a home my in-laws bought as a rental.  It was an ugly stunted little twig of a tree and has flourished in our yard for the last 10 months, now waist-tall, well-shaped, and doing well. 

I'll miss the little clown; he was a Dire Wolf at heart and was absolutely fearless when it came to protecting Sonja.  He traveled well and always slept outside our bedroom door, often sharing a dog-bed with Mitsy (our oldest cat), who is approaching sixteen herself.

We'll finish burying him after I get off work.  But i know he's laughing all the way, his "wind-up bark" as he trotted across the yard "Rrrr-rrrr-rrrrr----" with every step.

Elvis and Butters are the only dogs left now, but hopefully we have plenty of time with them.

They are family.

[avator]

Sorry for your loss Peter.

Something some may or may not know. Rambo and Boss are the only pets I have ever owned in my adult life. We had a family wiener dog (Bruno) for the first 13 years of my life and when I was 16 I had a Beagle (Jocko) for 2 years until I left home. All of my siblings have always had pets that I would spend time with when visiting but my choice of lifestyle had no space for a pet. I did have a parrot for a very short period, less than 6 months at one point.
The fact is, I've never lost and had to bury a pet. Rambo will be the first and, aside from Boss, will be the last.

[dk1677]

Sorry to hear that Peter, they are family

[bantam5s]

I'm sorry to hear this, but am glad your dog lived a long hopefully happy life.

When Buttercup ( my avatar picture) passed she was cremated, because I just couldn't hold it together enough to dig a grave.
I also couldn't stand the thought of her being alone in the backyard permanently because she hated to be alone and never slept outside aside from napping in the sun while I was shooting, I had a hard enough time knowing she was wrapped up on the back patio overnight.

[Blowpipe Sam]

My condolences Peter.  This is probably Flytrap's last winter.  When she goes there's a sunny place for her up by the front fence next to her buddy Jack.  There will always be a place at our house for another dog.  Belle is almost nine months old and I don't think she'll be our last one.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Condolences Peter.

I have a "pet cemetery" that extends 50 years.

[maraudinglizard]

Sorry for your loss Peter. My pet resting place is under an oak tree I planted when I moved on to the property.

[mrbulk]

So very sorry to hear. We’ve had to say goodbye to far too many beloved dogs and cats ourselves and it never gets easier.
At least there will be a small crowd waiting for us when see them all again one day.
🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻

[anti-squirrel]

I appreciate all the kind words.  We're at peace, but Mitsy (cat) and Butters (Pug/Boston mix) are taking Ruger's passing very hard.  Mitsy hasn't eaten in several days and has just moved from one of Ruger's old beds to the other, then back.  She's older than all the other pets, and none of the dogs ever messed with her (she's small for a cat, too).  Butters has been downright irritable, just as he was when Spanky took his last trip (they were Best Frenemies and adored each other when they weren't jockeying for treats).

I doubt we'll end up with any more dogs; after seeing what my in-laws dealt with when they lost Chris (Pappy's brother, Pit/Boxer mixes) I'm thinking we're done for now.

[Sqrl Klr]

Yep it's not just the people who are sad when a pet dies it's also the other pets. Critters are very emotional with their people and fellow pets too. They both feel deep loss. 

[Madd Hatter]

So sorry for your loss Peter. When we moved to Az we left about 8 dogs and 2 cat buried in the yard. The woman who bought the place knew about them.

[Methuselah]

Sorry for your loss Peter, it's terrible dealing with the loss of a family member. My heart goes out to you

[Xraycer]

Sorry you hear, Peter!

[Horatio]

Condolences.

I’m really going to miss the 2 dogs we have now when they go.