Said Goodbye to My Dog Today.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:06 pm

This morning my dog Sparky was bleeding from the mouth. It took me three vets before anyone would see him. (Note to pets in my town: don't get sick)

He had what I thought was proud flesh on one side of his mouth. It was horrible looking. I hugged him all the way to the vet while my friend drove. The vet said it was a tumor in his mouth and that it was already encasing his jawbone. She said she could tell it was cancerous even without the biopsy. Plus he had a scrotal tumor I had intended to get him seen for this week. He also had a heart murmur. He was too thin from his diabetes. I am guessing his age at about 12-14 years. The vet said 7 but I've had him since '99 and he was an adult dog then. He's my Dalmatian. Vet explained that IF it could even be removed he would require radiation and would lose his jawbone. Well, I can't put an animal through that. I knew he was getting up in years and I wasn't going to do that to him. I don't think I'd even put a young dog through that. Plus I felt with having two tumors, it wasn't farfetched to think he might have some internally. So I made the call to release him. They sedated him (which I've never seen done before but they say it's easier on the animal??) and I stayed with him while they gave him the fatal pink stuff.

Then we brought him home and will bury him in our yard tomorrow.

WORD TO THE WISE: At least out where I live, when the vet asks you if you want to pay for "burial" please know that means they will cart your pet and others to the dump on Dump Day that week. That's their idea of "burial." Of course they don't tell you this because who wants to put their best friend in the damned garbage heap?! So, just be aware of that if and when this happens to you.

His doghouse is sitting there on the back porch empty. His pet rock is sitting right where he left it.

It sucks having done this. I knew if it hadn't been this it would have been something else. He was not in the best of health. But that doesn't mean I am not heartbroken at making that call. In the past I've had preparation to do it but today, I was expecting to bring him home alive. I had no idea.

My Spark was a great dog. He was one of my rescued dogs and he was a good friend. I'll not say "I won't ever get another dog" because knowing Sparky was worth the pain of losing him. It's always worth it. The love is always stronger than the pain. The joy always deeper than the pain. But still...I miss my dog. :-1

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:09 pm

Oh, you are brave, RG. You did the right thing, but I am thinking of you. It is hard to loose a family member like your Sparky.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:16 pm

I am sorry! When I lose a pet, I try to remember that there's a big space in my heart which carries love...and that somewhere, another pet is looking for that love.

Gabs · Post by **Gabs** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:24 pm

I am sorry about your furbaby... I have two rescues myself, and two other babies that I have aquired through other means. I think you know you did the only humane thing... you gave him this one last gift...the gift of not suffering. Bless you

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:44 pm

RedGlitter;526208 wrote:

WORD TO THE WISE: At least out where I live, when the vet asks you if you want to pay for "burial" please know that means they will cart your pet and others to the dump on Dump Day that week. That's their idea of "burial." Of course they don't tell you this because who wants to put their best friend in the damned garbage heap?! So, just be aware of that if and when this happens to you.

Thats abhorable.

WonderWendy3 · Post by **WonderWendy3** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:16 pm

:yh_hugs :yh_hugs Red, I'm sorry...so sorry for your loss!!

big hugs for RG!!!:yh_hugs :yh_hugs

cinamin · Post by **cinamin** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:22 pm

Oh no, I'm sorry. I also had to send my lovable kitty to the kitty heaven a couple years ago. I had her for 16 years. Her jaw would not open and close and it got worse. So she was starving to death. It was awful.

Rain · Post by **Rain** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:27 pm

:-1 I'm so sorry for you my friend. Losing a pet is hard. Sparky is out of pain, but like Lulu2 said, your heart will hold that love and you'll never forget him. In time your heart will open up to a new little pupster that will lick your face and you'll have to have him/.

For now, though, you need to grieve. Know that I'm hugging you.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:55 pm

Thank you, you guys. I really appreciate your support.

Thank you very much.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:08 pm

Anyone who's ever lived with a companion animal knows the place they can hold in our hearts. They love unselfishly and without any conditions at all. No human's ever been able to do that anywhere NEAR as well!

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:19 pm

Red

I'm so sorry to hear about Sparky.

When the time is right, you'll rescue another one.

So sorry

Patsy

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:44 pm

You recently gave us some very comforting words... as inadequate as

I feel my words are, I would like to give you some in return.

You did the most difficult thing there is to do for a companion. You

know that I know just how much it hurts, and I'm sorry it has to, if

I could I would take it away.

I always like to think of the puppers young again, and healthy, running

around doggie heaven. Doing whatever they want to do, with all the

good ones who have gone before.

Hug your other furbabies close. It helps.

R.I.P. Sparky boy.

theia · Post by **theia** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:45 pm

Just reading your post was painful, RedG, so goodness knows what you must be feeling. I send you a heartfelt hug.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:42 am

Can i also mention bleeding from the nose as well as the mouth can be an indicator of a tumours in the head region.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:52 am

Thats awful news, i'm so sad for your loss.

A big fat hug for you Terri. X

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:55 am

Wow. I just woke up from a snooze, you guys, and your messages here and your PMs...they mean so much. Thank you for caring. I mean that.

When I had first started at the tribal shelter, Sparky's owner brought him in because he "didn't have time for him anymore." I remember him coming through the door. I didn't know then he'd end up being mine. It was my job to hold him on adoption days and at 90, he could pull me down the sidewalk- and I'm a big girl.

We adopted him out five times and no one wanted to keep him because he wasn't really socialized. His only desire was to play with his ball. That's how we controlled him for the first two years. People would fall in love with him for being a dalmation but there would always be some silly problem and he'd have to come back. That's when we said no more homes. We were his seventh home. We had some stories we could tell from our younger days. He kept me running. He didn't know what it was to be petted and made over when we got him. He didn't like it. But eventually he learned to tolerate it and would even come up and butt his head against us for petting.

One time I brought him some cotton candy from the Cornfest. (Before he was diabetic) He didn't know what to do with it and he looked up at me with this pink fluff all over his mouth. HA! He was so cute! He was really cool looking too- he was mostly white with scattered spot, not as many as most Dals have and he had "eyeliner eyes." With white eyelashes.

Thank you for all your support for me and my guy. :-4

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:47 am

RedGlitter;526208 wrote: It sucks having done this.

But it would be worse the other way, and your dog's "quality of life" would

be dreadful after some quite possibly very short time. As you watched the

procedure, you know there's no suffering - just a last sigh, and then off to - ?

Thinking of you.

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:00 am

you have been so brave red i have always thought a lot of you this must be so hard for you ,all the best from jimbo :-4

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:30 am

You made the right decision, RG, painful as it was. Just keep those good memories.

The visual of a dalmation with a pink beard ....

Tater Tazz · Post by **Tater Tazz** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:36 am

I am so sorry for you losing a friend .:-1

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:59 am

Red , i'm so very sorry for your loss, thinking of you :-4 :-4 :-4

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:41 am

I'm sorry for your loss RG. I know what a tough decision you had to make.:-1

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:01 am

Thank you everyone. I can't tell you how much your comfort means to me. Especially right now when this morning we are reminded of his absence because we don't have to give him his insulin shot. It's those little things that do it. Wish I had a scanner, I have a great photo of him.

I hope if this happens to any of you guys, that I can be at least a little of the support you've been for me. Thank you so much. It makes things easier.

chocoholic · Post by **chocoholic** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:18 am

So very sorry for your loss Red but you made the right decision, it wouldn't have been kind to let Sparky suffer and you were there for him right to the end.

Thinking of you:-6

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:28 am

oh how sad, I'm so sorry about Sparky....:-1

:yh_hugs Red :yh_hugs

novak · Post by **novak** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:11 pm

Sitting here looking at my Ralph with tears running down my face. I am so very sorry for your loss. Cannot imagine my life without Ralphie, so can only imagine what you are going through. My thoughts are with you

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:02 pm

Hiya Red

I'm so glad that Sparky had so many years of joy with you. You gave him a life full of love -- just what he gave to you :-6

It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? :-6

twizzel · Post by **twizzel** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:06 pm

RedGlitter;526208 wrote: This morning my dog Sparky was bleeding from the mouth. It took me three vets before anyone would see him. (Note to pets in my town: don't get sick)

He had what I thought was proud flesh on one side of his mouth. It was horrible looking. I hugged him all the way to the vet while my friend drove. The vet said it was a tumor in his mouth and that it was already encasing his jawbone. She said she could tell it was cancerous even without the biopsy. Plus he had a scrotal tumor I had intended to get him seen for this week. He also had a heart murmur. He was too thin from his diabetes. I am guessing his age at about 12-14 years. The vet said 7 but I've had him since '99 and he was an adult dog then. He's my Dalmatian. Vet explained that IF it could even be removed he would require radiation and would lose his jawbone. Well, I can't put an animal through that. I knew he was getting up in years and I wasn't going to do that to him. I don't think I'd even put a young dog through that. Plus I felt with having two tumors, it wasn't farfetched to think he might have some internally. So I made the call to release him. They sedated him (which I've never seen done before but they say it's easier on the animal??) and I stayed with him while they gave him the fatal pink stuff.

Then we brought him home and will bury him in our yard tomorrow.

WORD TO THE WISE: At least out where I live, when the vet asks you if you want to pay for "burial" please know that means they will cart your pet and others to the dump on Dump Day that week. That's their idea of "burial." Of course they don't tell you this because who wants to put their best friend in the damned garbage heap?! So, just be aware of that if and when this happens to you.

His doghouse is sitting there on the back porch empty. His pet rock is sitting right where he left it.

It sucks having done this. I knew if it hadn't been this it would have been something else. He was not in the best of health. But that doesn't mean I am not heartbroken at making that call. In the past I've had preparation to do it but today, I was expecting to bring him home alive. I had no idea.

My Spark was a great dog. He was one of my rescued dogs and he was a good friend. I'll not say "I won't ever get another dog" because knowing Sparky was worth the pain of losing him. It's always worth it. The love is always stronger than the pain. The joy always deeper than the pain. But still...I miss my dog. :-1
I am a dad and we have had a few dogs every time one gets to sick to treat it being kinder to put him down it is me that lays on the floor cuddling my friend while they inject him and put him to sleep. Every time it breaks my heart so now I will not have another dog it is to much like loosing a much loved child. you were off course right to let your friend go I still think of the cocker spaniel Tess who brought me up I used to ride on her back she was wonderfull I cried for a week when she died but I was only twelve.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:42 pm

Hi Twizzel. I'm right there with you, holding my dog and talking to him or her (or my cat) through the whole experience. I won't fault someone who chooses to leave the room but I must stay with my friend. I understand your feeling about not wanting to get another dog. I have felt that way too in the past. Until one day I decided that the best way I could honor my late companion would be to save the life of another of his kind. Help another one. So that's what I've always done. We have our limit of dogs now so I won't be adopting another one any time soon. I understand how you feel. I hope you won't close off that loving, feeling part of you forever though, Twizz. And thank you for your kind words.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:44 pm

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted kindness here for me and my dog. I have come here often to read and re-read what you have written and you all have been a huge help to me. Thank you.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 pm

Ugghh.

Thats really hard. Im sorry Red.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:31 pm

Our furry friends. :-4

LilacDragon · Post by **LilacDragon** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:57 pm

Oh, Red! I am so sorry I didn't see this earlier!

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know how awful I felt when my rottie girl died and I thought that the ache would never go away.

Now, going on two years later, I find myself thinking of all the cute, sweet, special things she did and I can smile, knowing that she is watching over me.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:55 pm

Thanks, Lilac. Isn't that great that we can still smile about all the wonderful things they did and all their special qualities? It's been very lonely here without Spark and weird too- because it was unexpected. I've always had preparation before or else it's been an emergency situation. I've never just gone to the vet with an issue and come home alone before.

rkdian · Post by **rkdian** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:19 pm

Most everything has already been said Rg. I just wanted to add that our pets are different from our children in one way. When they grow up, they stay with us. We can never be replaced in their hearts, nor they in ours. Though it hurts immensely now, you know you did the right thing. The decision to not let him suffer and the one to stay with him as his comforter to the end were honorable. He would not have left you at such a time either. Keep the pet rock. As silly as it sounds, it will trigger wonderful, loving memories in the future.

My condolences and love to you.:-4

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:49 pm

Thank you AlmostFamous and Rkdian. Thank you very much.

I agree that our pets never leave us. I've had a lot of meanness in my life and animals are the one thing I've been able to count on being true. They don't hold judgements or grudges. And like you said, Rkdian, they wouldn't leave us in our time of need. :-4

ETA: If I can get to a scanner, I will post a photo of my dog. Maybe others would like to share their animals too? I'm funny like that: show me a grandkid and I'll be like "Nice. A baby. Nice." But show me your pets and I'll be screeching "Oh how darlingggg!!!!":wah: Just made that way I guess.