Said goodbye to a dear old friend yesterday.....

[bowsniper]

Amanda,

 

I am so sorry for your loss. I share your pain, as my family went through this last year. If Maura wouldn't eat, it was time, and you did the right thing. Try to take some confort in knowing that your gave Maura the best long life possible, by making her part of your "pack", taking her on trips and hikes, letting her up on the couch, and countless other things.

 

My family got a new puppy about 4 months after we had to put down Abby (named for Edward Abby). We still miss abby terribly, but the new puppy is a great distraction for our pain.

 

Your friend,

 

Mark

[cramerhunts]

Sorry for your loss, I too have been down that road and I cherish the memories to this day. I know I'll be with my dog agian and that always makes me feel better.

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks so much for the sympathy guys...I really appreciate your kind comments. I can't seem to talk about her with people without breaking down into tears so I find this is a good outlet for me since it's just typing...

 

If anyone wants to post some photos of their dogfriend that they lost, feel free. I think it would be nice to see them. Dan, that is a great photo of your old dog.

 

And here a a few more pics of Maura I found when I looked through old photos of her....

 

It's hard to believe that she stopped eating since eating/begging was almost an obsession with her. She never really gained any weight (unlike my other dog). She wouldn't eat a ton, but she loved to eat whatever I was having. And she even helped me dig up potatoes and carrots in the garden with me back in Maine. She would actually eat the carrots with me. Her real favorite food was venison though and also tuna. She would beg politely from me pretty often. Of course if I didn't give in to her she would have stopped that behavior, but I am not so strong and I gave her little treats often. She didn't beg from my husband who is much tougher. here she is begging from me at one of my first deer hunting camps....

 

 

 

here she is on one of the many trips she took with us whever we went....even Mt Rushmore....

 

 

 

here she is in one of her "dog" moments after romping and playing and swimming with Molly....

 

 

And she always liked to sleep with me, but as she got older her legs were too weak to jump up on the bed. But here she is in one of her younger years napping with me.

 

 

 

She was so loved and I am glad we had so many years with her. The vet kept telling us for years that she was likely to die soon, but she always fought hard and gave us several extra years....

 

Please feel free to post any photos of your dogs that you want and tell us what made them special...

 

Amanda

[bowsniper]

Here is a picture of Abbey (and my son) taken shortly before we put her down last year. She wasn't quite 10 years, but her body was filled with cancer. She was my first dog, and her loyalty and faithfulness to me and our family was unquestionable and incredible. She was a hiking fool, and she and I put on many miles scouting for coues.

 

Mark

[COOSEFAN]

Here's a couple of my favorite memories of Zeus. It's amazing how much a part of your life a dog can become.......and you never fully realize it until they're gone.

 

 

 

It did help us by getting a new puppy fairly quick after his passing.....I didn't think it would, but it was hard watching Harley run around looking for Zeus and Drake has made her happy again.

 

Here's Drake last summer when we brought him home

 

 

And here he is now.......gettin' big!

 

 

I know Zeus would have thought Drake was a lazy s.o.b. but he would have loved him anyways!

I hope the cute puppy pic's help a little, take care, JIM>

[muley]

Amanda,

I'm so sorry for your familys loss, there is no doubt that lossing a dog thats been with the family that long is like lossing a family member. It about brought me to tears looking at the pictures and your articles, I have a red queensland heeler that has gotten old and when that day comes it will crush me.

Again I'm sorry.