Farewelled our old dog yesterday and had bike therapy today

**Oakie** · 9th July 2006, 20:29

It was a sad day yesterday. I had to take our 13yr old golden lab to the vet to be put to sleep. Have been building up to it for a couple of months but still hard to go and do the deed.
I was coping reasonably well but then after he had received the injection and as his muscles relaxed, he looked up at me with a puzzled look in his eyes ... and then died a short time later. God I wish he hadn't looked at me.
Today I went for a quick blast up the motorway by myself to get it out of my system. It worked. Thank God for bikes huh?

(And thank God I'll never stand in another big squelchy dog turd in my slippers again either)

R.I.P. Dusty

**The_Dover** · 9th July 2006, 20:32

He's not looking too flash in that second picture.

**SwanTiger** · 9th July 2006, 20:46

Always sucks to lose a family member (even if it is an animal).

What was wrong with him? He looks relatively alright, if not some what over weight.

**Rashika** · 9th July 2006, 20:48

Originally Posted by Oakie

It was a sad day yesterday. I had to take our 13yr old golden lab to the vet to be put to sleep. Have been building up to it for a couple of months but still hard to go and do the deed.
I was coping reasonably well but then after he had received the injection and as his muscles relaxed, he looked up at me with a puzzled look in his eyes ... and then died a short time later. God I wish he hadn't looked at me.
Today I went for a quick blast up the motorway by myself to get it out of my system. It worked. Thank God for bikes huh?

(And thank God I'll never stand in another big squelchy dog turd in my slippers again either)

R.I.P. Dusty

been there done that... I sooooo know that look, hardest thing I had to do, still gets to me even now after 7 years. One of the saddest moments in my life. Sorry to hear about Dusty

...and as for the turd bit, yeah fkn been there too!

**notme** · 9th July 2006, 20:53

Bugger.

We have 2 that are starting to develop the old dog problems..arthritis, eye probs, skin probs etc.

It sucks huh? At least we can end the suffering for our 4 legged companions when necessary.

**chanceyy** · 9th July 2006, 20:58

One thing that I think of to get me through the tough calls both with my dog & horses ..

They have never wanted for anything, they have had the most awesome life, been well cared for and loved .. when the time comes as hard as it is, they will not suffer any more, & rather than let them go through heaps of pain & trauma its the one thing we can do to ease their suffering ... we just suffer instead

good on you for making the tough call .. RIP Dusty

**oldrider** · 9th July 2006, 21:14

Cheers Oakie, have had do that myself many many times over the years, we have decided we are not having any more pets, not enough time left to out live them.
You just have to believe that you have done your best for them and steel yourself against the emotional guilt feelings that will get you down, if you let them!
I had a short ride on my bike today, from the yard to the garage. Therapy! For sure!! Cheers John.

**sels1** · 9th July 2006, 21:20

Sympathies mate. Our old Collie died a year ago last week.

**oldrider** · 9th July 2006, 21:23

Originally Posted by chanceyy

One thing that I think of to get me through the tough calls both with my dog & horses ..

They have never wanted for anything, they have had the most awesome life, been well cared for and loved .. when the time comes as hard as it is, they will not suffer any more, & rather than let them go through heaps of pain & trauma its the one thing we can do to ease their suffering ... we just suffer instead

good on you for making the tough call .. RIP Dusty

Hey Chancey, if there is an after life and I come back as an animal can I come to your house?
I will do all kinds of tricks, fetch the paper and promise not to poo in the wrong places.
If I come back as a dog you will know it's me because I will shove my nose in your crutch, every chance I get.

Cheers John.

**Oakie** · 9th July 2006, 21:25

Originally Posted by The_Dover

He's not looking too flash in that second picture.

Until a couple of years ago he'd quite often just lie on his back with his dick sticking out in the breeze. He used to do it quite often on the front lawn in the sun. Don't know if it felt nice or if he was just showing off.

**The_Dover** · 9th July 2006, 21:27

It feels quite nice.

I used to do it too, until the neighbours complained.

Losing a dog does suck, my 16 yr old retriever was put to sleep a couple of years ago and it was pretty weird going home to the UK last year and having no big smelly mutt in the house.

**chanceyy** · 9th July 2006, 21:30

Originally Posted by oldrider

Hey Chancey, if there is an after life and I come back as an animal can I come to your house?
I will do all kinds of tricks, fetch the paper and promise not to poo in the wrong places.
If I come back as a dog you will know it's me because I will shove my nose in your crutch, every chance I get.

Cheers John.

LOL John ..

will you be happy to do obedience, agility search & rescue training, come out riding with the horses, cause that way methinks you will be too stuffed, to worry about sniffing crutches.

**Oakie** · 9th July 2006, 21:35

Originally Posted by swanny

What was wrong with him? He looks relatively alright, if not some what over weight.

Arthritis and bad larynx mainly (the larynx wasn't elastic enough to expand properly when trying to breath which made even a walk down the street a real struggle). His heart was not the best either according to the vet. I guess if it was just one of those things wrong we would have persisted but when all added up ... well it was just time.
And yeah ... he loved his food. More than once I saw him vomit because he ate his tea too fast and then he'd go back a few minutes later and eat it ... again ... if you know what I mean. Yuk!

**Kendog** · 9th July 2006, 21:56

This is one of those threads that I see the title and preview and I think to myself I shouldnt read it, but then can't stop myself clicking anyway.

This part is sad

Originally Posted by Oakie

he looked up at me with a puzzled look in his eyes ...

Pets bring some much joy, but there will always be a sad end. For me the joy they bring far outweighs the eventual pain of the loss.

**Madness** · 9th July 2006, 22:53

We have a Goldie pup. Maddie is now 9 months and thank Christ she is finally starting to calm down a little. I today started applying polyfilla in the giant holes in the walls and uncovered the damaged lino that's been hiding under several rugs. She is absoulte bloody dynamite and rarks up the Retriever, the Cat and the Cockatoo, sometimes all at once. I didn't get out for a ride all weekend, what with the repairs,the shopping trip to Animates, the walking, vacuuming the dog-hair out of the car, the picking up of poo's.

Sorry to hear of your loss, enjoy your bike.