To our pets.
I wish I could like this 100+ times……To our pets.
OT: Dog’s Man’s Best Friend And Cat’s or Other Family Pets
- Thread starter TFBaum
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So sorry for your loss. My fiancée and I got a puppy back on Halloween, in fact he just got neutered today. We both grew up with dogs and had to go through losing them, in fact her family had to put down their 14 year old Jack Russell/beagle mix last summer that was with them more than half her life. Definitely understand how quick time goes and to cherish every moment with this little guy, knowing our time is limited but hoping he’s with us as long as possible.
Also that comic… damn it I could cry. If anyone else wants to get some more human-dog feels and isn’t familiar, Google “Futurama dog episode”. Losing a human can be brutal for the dog too, truly man’s best friend.
Also that comic… damn it I could cry. If anyone else wants to get some more human-dog feels and isn’t familiar, Google “Futurama dog episode”. Losing a human can be brutal for the dog too, truly man’s best friend.
If people were as loyal as dogs the world would be a much better place!
To our pets.
I literally started crying.
This thread needs to be deleted because I keep reading it and getting emotional.
I've had nothing but border collies my entire adult life. My girl is showing her age but I've committed to take a relative's BC if she doesn't survive her fight with cancer. That said, as I get older, I've become more of a cat guy. I keep sneaking new ones into the house. Up to five cats now, plus the dog. They were all hard luck cases and two are disabled. One is deaf and another has cerebellar hypoplasia (wobbly cat syndrome). I also feed all of the strays and provide warm places outside for them to sleep. So yeah, I'm that guy.
Good for you, Dan. We have two dogs and four cats. And, they all get along, which amazes me.
Condolences to all who have lost pets.
We just put down our beloved, a Cavalier Bishon mix
2 weeks ago. She was 15 years old and was a perfect pup.
I get up every morning and say good morning to my Mia.
We have two other dogs, Teah and Kia, they have not been the same since
Mia's passing.
A person just doesn't understand that love and bond that develops between
a pup and the family until they go through a loss.
Say a prayer for Mia every day to have a great life in puppy heaven.
We just put down our beloved, a Cavalier Bishon mix
2 weeks ago. She was 15 years old and was a perfect pup.
I get up every morning and say good morning to my Mia.
We have two other dogs, Teah and Kia, they have not been the same since
Mia's passing.
A person just doesn't understand that love and bond that develops between
a pup and the family until they go through a loss.
Say a prayer for Mia every day to have a great life in puppy heaven.
We put our 14yo chocolate lab down 6 years ago and I still can't bring myself to get another dog. He was the best. On a lighter note, my neighbor has a Shih Tzu/Jack Russell mix. I told him he should breed it and call it a Jack $hit as one of these newfangled breeds.
I know . In spite of our family tragedy I will one day get another dog .
They just offer too much love and sincerity to not have in someones life ..
I mean .. Who couldn't ... ? Until then R.I.P. My Zoe bear ....
TF . I really loved this thread . Call it therapy if you would ... You did good ...
They just offer too much love and sincerity to not have in someones life ..
I mean .. Who couldn't ... ? Until then R.I.P. My Zoe bear ....
TF . I really loved this thread . Call it therapy if you would ... You did good ...
Pets can boost your brain power, study says
Having a long-term pet companion may delay memory loss and other kinds of cognitive decline, a new study has found. Pet ownership was especially beneficial for working verbal memory, such as memorization of word lists, according to the preliminary research.
www.wral.com
Cats are good company IMO, we have 3, they all have personalities and are friendly, at least ours, the best thing is they aren't as needy as dogs and more independent, they are born knowing where to pee and poop, don't need training and you don't need to walk them in the rain, they're smart enough to not want to go out and get wet.
In my life I had 2 dogs and 2 cats as a kid, then from 1983 to 2008 had no pets at all. Now we have 3 cats, aged 14, 6 and 2... I'm not looking forward to a death any time soon, the oldest is a female, you can tell by her movements she's an old lady, we've had her since my daughter was in 1st grade, she's almost 21 now, I know she's going to lose it, and I won't be well either. Sorry for your loss
Had to put down my 13-year old schipperke in 2020 after he developed cancer in his kidneys. Ended up getting another 8 months later because of how great he was. But I should have gone with a different breed because I end up comparing him in my head to my previous dog. Maybe 12 years from now I'll feel differently, it's hard to compete with a decade-plus of life that I shared with the previous.
Cats are nice because they are low maintenance, but personality varies. You want one that adds some entertainment factor, ideally. But, they can get temperamental, peeing on things and the such. Had better luck with straight up strays, they seem to have have good personalties, not as skittish, and to an extent they pick you.
We have 9ish year old english golden doodle. She would take attention 24 hours day, is smart playful even being a little older. Working from home, and me being the one who trained her, takes her out 98.5% of the time, paying and taking her to get her haircut, she is my buddy. But, she is a great family dog and barks, a lot, which is a PIA to an extent, but as a father I like it cause she helps to keep the family safe.
I don't do death well, and dreading the day ...
We have 9ish year old english golden doodle. She would take attention 24 hours day, is smart playful even being a little older. Working from home, and me being the one who trained her, takes her out 98.5% of the time, paying and taking her to get her haircut, she is my buddy. But, she is a great family dog and barks, a lot, which is a PIA to an extent, but as a father I like it cause she helps to keep the family safe.
I don't do death well, and dreading the day ...
Thank you! Everyone has been great in this thread and I so happy we can celebrate the life we had with our pets.I know . In spite of our family tragedy I will one day get another dog .
They just offer too much love and sincerity to not have in someones life ..
I mean .. Who couldn't ... ? Until then R.I.P. My Zoe bear ....
TF . I really loved this thread . Call it therapy if you would ... You did good ...
As I child I did that with the second set of German shorthairs that we had. It is tough.
I hear you 79, I am sorry that sooner than later you are going to face it. I meant this thread to be a celebration of their lives.
My 3 yr old Keeshond is by far the best dog I've ever had. He's super smart. He's a saint in the house. He never leaves my side, I don't think I've gone to the bathroom alone in 3 yrs… lol. He protects the kids. I can't even wrestle with my sons or else he puts up a major ruckus. The one bad thing is the barking. He takes great pride in being the worlds greatest watch dog. We've finally got him pretty well trained to go outside and bark. I'm sure the neighbors love that.
He's very affectionate. His coat is so thick, when he sits on your lap and you pet him, it's like a giant stress reliever. Just a fantastic overall dog. One bad thing was he was a major land shark as a pup. I didn't think he would ever stop with that play biting, but all is well now.
He's very affectionate. His coat is so thick, when he sits on your lap and you pet him, it's like a giant stress reliever. Just a fantastic overall dog. One bad thing was he was a major land shark as a pup. I didn't think he would ever stop with that play biting, but all is well now.
We have 3, out of 3 , 2 of them, a male and a female are very friendly and fun, they don't get mad, they are affectionate laid back types that like to play, are low maintenance, and they love each other, they're like best friends. The 3rd is the oldest, by 8 years, she gets angry, kind of skittish and really doesn't like the other 2 at all, I think it was being an only cat for 8 years, she never got used to having other cats around, but in general they are fun and don't cause a problem. they definitely do have distinct personalities.
When we got the dog, it changed the pet ecosystem, Sadie is SO needy for attention, it bullied the two cats we had when we got her into the basement.
Then when we brought the stray cat in, she tried to bully it, and it went full on Ghandi, didn't fight with her, just stood her ground every single time Sadie tried to bully her, you saw some serious stare downs between the two. Took about three months, but Sadie gave up, and the stray has the full run of the house.
One of other two cats is pretty laid back, and her and the stray were cool, but the other one gave the stray $hit and the stray started bullying her.
As you said, all distinct personalities, and a just so fascinating how the pet ecosystem evolved.
We had to euthanize our dear Jenny a few weeks ago. It was devastating, but it was time. Her CHF related to her bad heart valve got to the point where she could no longer be comfortable.
I didn't think I was ready, but my wife was insistent that we couldn't live without a dog in our life.
Today we welcomed Birdie into our lives. Birdie took to me immediately, because we have so much in common. Birdie is a retired elite athlete. A greyhound who has an amazing record in NZ and 'Stralia. Won >50% of runs, and showed in >90%. Was retired for some reason (we don't want to know why---I think because he was too awesome).
This dog is massive. Just f'ing ripped. And so gentle. Just a majestic creature. So graceful. And it infuriates me that many of these "retired" race dogs just get put down. He's perfect. I pledged to him that we will always make him happy and comfortable. He licked my face after I said that (which I hate and think is gross) and I just broke down in tears. I don't think I'm quite ready, but this dog is the right dog. I think we need each other right now.
I didn't think I was ready, but my wife was insistent that we couldn't live without a dog in our life.
Today we welcomed Birdie into our lives. Birdie took to me immediately, because we have so much in common. Birdie is a retired elite athlete. A greyhound who has an amazing record in NZ and 'Stralia. Won >50% of runs, and showed in >90%. Was retired for some reason (we don't want to know why---I think because he was too awesome).
This dog is massive. Just f'ing ripped. And so gentle. Just a majestic creature. So graceful. And it infuriates me that many of these "retired" race dogs just get put down. He's perfect. I pledged to him that we will always make him happy and comfortable. He licked my face after I said that (which I hate and think is gross) and I just broke down in tears. I don't think I'm quite ready, but this dog is the right dog. I think we need each other right now.
USN-you definitely need the comfort that dog can bring after all this Addison drama😉
My sympathies on your loss and congrats on your new addition.
I hate animal racing. Should be outlawed. And I'm not a PETA guy. I'm ok with hunting (except for giraffes and elephants, there is ZERO reason to hunt those) and of course I love to eat animals, chickens and cows especially. But food is a purpose and necessary. Dog and horse racing serve no greater good. It is just abuse.
Thanks OH Pete.
This guy is an amazing animal. We're all trying to figure each other out wrt the rules. He's really careful to try to please us. I think he was trained to be very disciplined. Like he didn't want to get in trouble with us. He has dog beds, but he was sleeping on the floor beside them like he didn't want to lay on something not belonging to him. We were prepared that we were going to have to teach him how to be a dog.
He is so beautiful and majestic. When we take him for a walk, people take notice at this gorgeous, perfect creature. He is so obedient and graceful.
I just cannot believe how so many of these dogs are euthanised when their racing careers are over.
Nothing is going to take the luster off an epic road trip after being confined here since early 2020. I hope you come over to meet this horse of a dog next summer (our summer--your winter). We closed on the farmhouse today. We're within 40 minutes drive of 3 world class fly fishing rivers. They have different origins, so if weather blows one out, one of the others is usually fishable. So work on your casting.
Doing significant reno on this house. Going to include indoor and outdoor multi-tap homebrew bars. The back deck will be a great summer time refuge. There will be a fence between the sheep and the bar to prevent poor decisions.
Location is good for access to Queenstown, Wanaka and Fiordland.
Do it Rogue. Leave your fear behind.
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Callie. Losing a pet is always challenging, and it's clear that she holds a special place in your heart. Each dog brings their unique qualities and companionship, and it's beautiful that Callie left such a lasting impression on you. Cherish the memories you shared, and take your time to heal. Also, in case you decide to get another pet, here you can learn what is a Ragdoll cat. These are amazing buddies.
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Dogs have an incredible way of becoming not just pets but beloved family members, and they bring so much joy, love, and companionship into our lives. Each dog is unique and leaves a lasting impression with their individual personalities and quirks. While I can't replace the warmth and affection of a furry friend, if you ever decide to explore the possibility of having a pet with a different kind of charm, you might want to consider visiting https://www.tortoiseowner.com/. It's a valuable resource for reptile enthusiasts and those interested in tortoises and their care.
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Our first dog as a couple and then as a married couple / parents got incredibly sick two months after my son was born. We ended up giving her prednisone and it saved her life but she was weirdly uninterested in food. Got her tested and she was suffering end stage liver failure. The vet gave her 6 - 18 months. I kept her going, mostly in good health, for the next year by closely managing her prednisone and hand-cooking a special meal of chicken, vegetables, rice, and vitamins, and also letting her sleep in our bed so I could take her out 2-3 times night.
One morning she threw up a lot of black blood. She was in between doses of prednisone. I was hoping she would reset the following day after she got her next dose. She was kind of under the weather most of the day, got sick again around 4pm, and then I took her out at 6:30pm. She got really sick in my front garden and then just started walking away from the house toward my neighbor's. She had never done that.
My wife was putting the baby to bed. I raced the dog to the ER. She kept trying to get away the whole time we were there. Her heart rate was pretty bad, as were the rest of her vitals, and she was visibly yellow by the time the doctor saw her. She offered to keep her for a few days, put her on an IV and do an exploratory surgery. I didn't think that she would survive the surgery and that she'd be afraid and die alone. I opted to say goodbye to her there. I told her the names of all the people who loved her and held her through the end. My wife and my son never got to see her or say goodbye. She was almost exactly 5 years old.
It was so hard. Still is. She was so friendly to everyone. We became friends with so many people and even our UPS guy because she insisted on meeting everyone. Strong. Athletic. Adventurous. Brave. Funny. I know it isn't true but I feel like I failed at being her dad because I couldn't save her in the end.
It's comforting knowing that she was always a priority no matter how busy we were or how expensive it was to get her good care. I took her to the park 2-3 times per week. We walked or ran 2+ miles daily. Her favorite game was fetch and we played that daily. Never missed it once. She had daily walks, stayed at nice accommodations when we were out of town. I had a ton of toys when she passed because we just bought 3-5 of them every time we went to Marshall's. Thankfully we had a wonderful dog walker who took a lot of pictures of her and relayed some funny stores while we were at work.
They are such wonderful creatures. It is never easy to say goodbye to a friend like that. Just have to do everything that you can for them and treasure the time you have.
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It will sound corny but they are as close to an "angel" as we have in this world.
My favorite cat passed a year ago (since this was posted) from thyroid cancer. Just broke my heart. Have snuck two kittens in since so I'm up to six inside, plus the dog. Also keep getting cats showing up outside. Not sure why but I also acquired a very friendly possum. Lets me pet him and is pretty tame.
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