 | Dirge| OFF-Topic / Misc. Discuss Dirge in the Current forums; I know that this post will look strange to many people, only those who love dogs and went trough this ... |
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11-08-2007, 11:30 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Campospinoso (PV), Italy
Posts: 643
| Dirge I know that this post will look strange to many people, only those who love dogs and went trough this can understand the grief.
At 48 I am not ashamed to say that in the last 5 days I cried like I don’t remember I did before..
We rescued her from the shelter when she was 2 months old, and nicknamed her ‘Mostrino’, little monster, because she looked so ugly: big chunks of fur missing, skinny as a skeleton and dehydrated. Vet said that she was a pure Husky and that in the shelter she would not had lived another 48 hours.
In 3 months she became beautiful and earned her nickname for what she did instead of how she looked.
A true rascal, making impredictable disasters one on top of the other, but with a grace, a cleverness and a sympathy that made impossible to scold her.
You install a new fence and the first night she dig a hole as big as a panzer trap below it to run away on the hill, you barbecue and protect the beef from her attention and before you realize what’s going on she opens the fridge, shops for a bar of butter and is already up the hill.
She used to eat half of her food and bury the rest in the garden, saving it for ‘bad times’. Of course after some time the buried food was a kind of powerful biological weapon, so she earned the alternative nickname of ‘Saddam’
She was a no-nonsense dog. One day I was lying sick on the couch with high fever. All other dogs came to see me. She entered the room, looked around and ran outside.
After a while I was awakened by her nose pushing close to my mouth some dead lizard and a mouse: she evidently assessed that I was to ill to take care of myself and managed to bring me food.
She died in the same style she had lived: in all her disasters nobody noticed anything until it was already too late.
A blood-vase cancer (vascular angiosarcoma) at the base of the heart, impossible to detect, totally asymptomathic until the very end and always deadly.
On Monday 29 she was breathing a bit roughly but was elsewhere ok, running and jumping as always.
Took to the clinic, she was diagnosed an early pneumonia, not unusual for Huskies living in temperate areas when the season change. Blood test was perfect, slightly above standard only for the parameters linked to the detected infection. Vet prescribed some antibiotics, the dog was perfectly in shape the whole week.
On Saturday morning she looked ok but too weak, we took her to the vet for a control, the blood tests made at 10.30 were still ok except for the symptoms of a harder infection. Everybody thought was a kind of allergy to some antibiotic, but a small nodule was found on her belly when we shaved her for the echo test.
At 11.30 she fell asleep and by 11.45 she was gone.
One hour later the analysis of the nodule provided the answer.
__________________ He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife. - Douglas Adams
In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri. - Douglas Adams |
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11-08-2007, 11:40 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 2,037
Country: | Brother, I'm real sorry to hear that. This is the reason that I will not own another animal. It just kills me when something happens to them. I hope ya'll heal soon. |
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11-08-2007, 11:40 AM
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#3 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,854
Country: | I too love dogs and I can understand your pain.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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11-08-2007, 01:00 PM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Michigan
Posts: 67
Country: | Not strange at all, Parmigiano. Cats or dogs, the long-term attachment is the same.
My daughter and I buried a 17 year old cat several years ago that died at home while my wife was home alone. That pretty much tore everybody up. Said she'd never have another one and then did within a month.
Now we've got a 14 year old and I'm sure I can expect to deal with the same thing before too many years pass.
You won't forget her but it'll get at least a little bit easier with time. Hang in.
Gary |
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11-08-2007, 03:05 PM
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#5 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 12,705
Country: | My condolences Parm, I know what ur feeling...
__________________ "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
-- Lt. William Northrop Case |
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11-08-2007, 03:26 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK (atm Pretoria, South Africa)
Posts: 10,845
Country: | Condolences Parm, unfortunately I think my dog is going to die soon as well (she is 14 years old). I hate when these things happen.
__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill "To him the people of the world largely owe the Freedom and liberties they enjoy today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London Moderator WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum |
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11-11-2007, 09:47 AM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: York, England
Posts: 255
Country: | Nothing strange there, old man. You'd be far more strange if you didn't feel something for a sentient creature that you’d looked after for so long. Focus on the great walks and fun times you had together and that you (no one else) rescued her and gave her succour. Feel good about it.
I (and I suspect many others) do know exactly what you feel. I blubbed for days when I lost my (rescue) Malinois, Sharna, in Jan last year. |
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11-11-2007, 10:06 AM
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#8 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,263
Country: | Condolences to you on your loss, Parm.
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. |
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11-11-2007, 10:11 AM
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#9 | | Older Than Dirt
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posts: 4,245
Country: | I know the feeling. When I lost "Snooper" (a beagle mix) some fifteen years
ago I cried for three days. There is nothing I can say that wil ease you pain.
I am sorry, tho.
Charles
__________________ Doing what you like is freedom... Liking what you do is happiness... |
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11-11-2007, 10:52 AM
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#10 | | Siggy Master
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland
Posts: 5,502
Country: | I'm with all guys there.Condolences to you Parm.
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11-11-2007, 11:42 AM
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#11 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,854
Country: | It is amazing the bond you can have with a dog. When I left my favorite dog in North Carolina to return to Germany I cried so bad.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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11-11-2007, 12:36 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Campospinoso (PV), Italy
Posts: 643
| It's hard, in this things the brain understands quickly (nothing could have been done, she lived happily the 9 years she had to etc.), but man is not only brain and all the rest needs a lot of time.
Thank you all guys.
__________________ He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife. - Douglas Adams
In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri. - Douglas Adams |
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11-13-2007, 10:20 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alexandria, MN. USA
Posts: 802
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by Gnomey Condolences Parm, unfortunately I think my dog is going to die soon as well (she is 14 years old). I hate when these things happen. | How ironic for this thread to appear at this particular time. As I sit here at the computer our Springer "Muggsy" is laying at my feet asleep. It's been a hard day for him, he hasn't touched his food or water all day. In the last several days he has eaten very little and has lost all the pep and energy that has driven me crazy for the last twelve years. He won't even touch the cats food which is a very bad sign indeed. The Vet said that all his symptoms point to possible cancer. You can see it in his eyes. He knows that he's going to meet up with George soon. (George was our other Springer who we had to put down at 14 about three years ago) It probably won't be much longer now. Parm, you have my sincere condolences and I'm sure those of every pet owner in this forum.
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11-14-2007, 05:26 AM
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#14 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 28,854
Country: | Sorry to hear that man.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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11-18-2007, 01:54 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cardiff
Posts: 130
Country: | My condolences to Parm, enjoy the memories, and take pride in your achievements - the each-way bond you had and the life you gave it.
When I was between 12 & 26, I had a tabby cat (from a kitten) that had a stroke at 14 - 'there was a light on but no one in'. But I can still remember the things she used to get up to.
Not by intention to wait so long, but when I was 48 another kitten came into my life. Fortunately she quickly grew out of climbing the curtains, but as the years go by, you wonder - how much longer! Six months ago I began to contemplate the worst - kidney problems. However, she has pulled through (the antibiotics for her gums were a great help), the only thing that irritates us now - his her very loud miaoooows! But as she is 19 years & 5 months I'm not complaining! |
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