What a week..

[Kevin Wood]

Really sorry to hear this.

[Rods2]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Dogs by their loving nature & personality quickly become part of the family & this sadness, when they depart, makes it all the poyant in the quiet moments when they are not there, it is a heart wrencher.

I still miss all 4 of my dogs that I've had over the years.

[Andy B]

J Clarkson summed it up in an article when he said it 'was achingly sad'

[Bigron]

True. It leaves an empty space in your heart, no matter how long ago you lost them.

Ron.

[Gaffers]

Sorry for your loss Aaron, losing a woofbag is always hard but, as mentioned by others, there was little suffering.

[Bigron]

If it works, here is my dear departed.....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s06o0lsbmilj31b/Midge%203b.jpg?dl=0

Ron.

[aaronjb]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

I am currently beating myself up that I didn't spot the mass growing sooner, do something about it.. I was his dad, after all, it was my job to keep him safe. Looking back through photos, though, even though I imagine this had been there for quite a while, it was maybe only the last month that he started to look pot bellied - and his manner, love of food, walks, barking, whining, and being a general ball of anxiety, didn't change until maybe three or four days before we took him to the vet and I suspect, even if I'd taken him in a month ago, the result would have been the same.

It's hard to believe that we only adopted him a couple of years ago - it feels like he was here forever and we can't remember what "routine" was like when it didn't revolve around the furball. We're not even eating much at home because eating at home meant being under constant supervision! He never stole from our plates, but if it hit the floor...


oh, Ron - Midge looks beautiful! Is that him as a puppy or was he always that size? Look at those paws...

[Bigron]

Thanks Aaron. She was a beautiful lady, yes - still a puppy in that photo, but didn't grow much bigger, despite the "prediction" of the paw size!
She lasted 16 years, all in good health, and went suddenly.

Ron.

[Varche]

You can't beat yourself up. Life is full of what ifs. You did what you thought was right.

We had a semi feral cat with two odd splayed rear legs  (broken from being swung around by kids) that adopted us 15 years ago. She passed at Xmas and although she just tolerated us we loved her to bits. Never like being stroked or picked up. Threw up all the way to and from the vets. Five years ago the vet said she ought to be put down - riddled with cancer. This was while we were away and had left her in kennels. We just couldn't do it without being there. So she was sewn back up. We couldn't see any difference in her demeanour, eating or habiits over the years. Probably off her food because of all the other animals including dogs at the kennels. Funny thing is the electronic cat flap still goes from time to time.  Did we do the right thing? Who knows - It just seemed the right thing at the time. If she hadn't adopted us she would probably have only lived a couple more years.

[Gaffers]

He never stole from our plates, but if it hit the floor...

A role known as the dropzone supervisor!

[TheBoy]

He never stole from our plates, but if it hit the floor...

5s rule doesn't apply around dogs...   ...it becomes fair game on the way to the floor...

[scimmy_man]

the 5 second rule is useless with a 2 second dog

[Viral_Jim]

Sorry to read this Aaron. It must be an unimaginably sad thing to go through. 

[pscocoa]

Very sad Aaron. Sorry to hear.