A sad sad day

[handyhaver]

Today we had to put down our best friend & companion of 13.5 years. Rudy had started to fail a few days ago. He could no longer get up by himself & had to have his hind quarters lifted to stand up & go out. The vet said he could maybe buy him a few more days, or maybe a week, maybe. This wouldn't have been fair to Rudy & we had to do what was right.

He was aslo my main model and the only one left in the house who would let me test out a new lens, flash or idea.

He didn't have a mean bone in his body & sucked as a watch dog unless tripping somebody counts.

He gave us 13+ yrs of happiness & will be missed.

Thanks for listening

Mark

[eddarr]

Your killing me. My golden is 10 now and his hips are already really bad.

Very sad to hear about your loss. May he be happy carrying something around in his mouth forever.

[kimmeesook]

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure he was blessed to have you and likewise...

[BLUEORIGINS]

I'm so sorry. It always seems that they're with us such a short time.......what a sweet face xx

[RandyMN]

I've been through it and feel for your loss. It is impossible to replace Rudy, and although this time is difficult, we only are saddened because we will miss that which we loved.

Saddened for ourself because of our loss, but the pain of losing can never be greater than the love and companionship Rudy gave you for 13 years.

[mattaura]

Sorry to hear that man, thats always tough...although it sounds like he had a great home.

[Billiie]

You did the selfless thing and put him to rest.

Godspeed Rudy! Lovely photo of your old boy.

[Pete's Prints]

Sorry to hear of your loss, but Rudy is always in your heart and your images. A very nice image of Rudy.

[oiva]

sorry to hear :(

[FlyingPhotog]

:cry::cry::cry:

God Bless ya Rudy!!

[mikeb540]

sorry to hear of this,, i had to do the same for my 14 year old cocker spaniel after he had a stroke, he couldnt get up.. we had to carrying him out on a towel then hold him up.. he recovered a bit and was able to get up slow,, but then it got worse again then we eased his pain.. its been about 2 years now, and those last weeks i remeber so well. all we can do is rememebr the good times.
mike

[Nighthound]

My condolences Mark. I know how hard it is to be forced to do what is best. They sure find a permanent place in our hearts. May God Bless you and your family during this tough time.

NH

[bits]

Man, my mutts are only 5 years old and I have no idea how I'll take it when they finally go to the big park in the sky. Enjoy the memories.

[Stormin_24]

So sorry for your loss... At least you know he's pain free and running around at Rainbow Bridge now, waiting for you and he'll be there too.. I type this with watery eyes and know too well the feeling and feel your pain as well... We had to put down our Husky back in Dec 03, just 10 days shy of his 12 B-Day.. Took me 3 months to get over it somewhat and still to this day, cannot look at his pictures without shedding a tear or two sometimes....

[handyhaver]

Thank you all for your kind words. It's amazing how attached we get to our pets. He has given us a life time full of memories & I know time will heal the loss.

Mark

[Becca]

Rudy was a beautiful boy. I'm so sorry you lost him and hope that your memories of all the years you shared will comfort you.

[archaeoman]

Very sorry to hear that Mark. You gave him a good home, he appreciated that with what he gave you in return.

[csquared63]

Sorry to hear about your loss. You can rest in the fact that you gave him a wonderful home and life.

[Herc7182]

Sorry to hear of your loss Mark. Rudy will be at the bridge waiting.

Be at peace Rudy!

Shayne

[ebondanes]

I'm sobbing as I write this, having just lost my oldest boy on 12/03/07 to the same thing. We never get over losing them. We just learn to live without them.

Godspeed to the Rainbow Bridge, Rudy. And if you see a big old black Great Dane up there name Stoney, play a while with him and tell him his mother misses him more than she can say.

[jcpoulin]

Very sorry for your loss. Cherrish the times you had with him both in pictures and in memory. He was beautiful! He will be waiting for you! My heart feels for you.

[evorgsumaf]

I am so sorry, I know your pain.
Brandon

[mdrtoys]

Sorry to har about your loss...beautiful dog

[Jemmind]

I'm so sorry:( It's so difficult to lose a pet.

[Flo]

My sincere sympathy to you and your family...It is never easy. Rudy was a handsome boy.

[JenniferLShort]

With tears in my eyes I say I am soooo sorry! You are in my prayers While she is not a dog, my cat Stink is in my lap now and I could not imagine losing her. Like your Ruby, she is my best poser. Take care...Jennifer

[ram1958@sbcglobal.net]

Ah the "Golden's" what regal and loyal friends they are!
Unfortunately, they are not with us as long as many other breeds.
We will be dealing with the same issue soon with my brother dear Meg:cry:
I hope you will be at peace with the many happy memories and pictures you have.
Bob

[Zipline]

Sorry to hear about your loss. It's never easy to lose these guys. Just know you did what you could and the greatest gift you gave him was choosing not to prolong his suffering.

[4g63photo]

Sorry to hear about your loss. :(

[Merlin Driver]

Mark, I sorry to hear of you loss. They are special. My Golden is only 3, but I can't wait to start the day with him. Please remember you gave him a good life and always a kind word.

Lynn

[sam walker]

Sorry for your loss Mark Rudy looked like quite the dude.
Sam

[T.D.]

Mark, I'm so very sorry. I lost my almost 12 year old golden, Turner, a year ago. His story was almost identical to Rudy's.

I know what your heart is feeling and how it hurts. Hang in there. In time it gets a little more bearable.

Rudy and Turner could have been brothers. See here (http://hoyboy.smugmug.com/photos/52575934_WTp52-XL-4.jpg)for a picture of my boy.

Relish the memories and the pictures. They will help you get through this.

Take care.

[txcanon]

Mark, Sorry to learn about your loss. I know how you feel.
I lost my Golden almost 3 years ago now. He was 2 weeks shy of being 14 years old.
He too couldn't get around and we knew it was time. I'm getting teary-eyed writing this. We get so attached to our pets. They are part of the family.

Just remember you gave him a good home and life. And also think of the memories.

Hang in there.

[Bmd-owner]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved dog! He looks like a real sweetie!

[Inspirations-J]

Yes, I am so sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful dog and I know he was so blessed to have you as his family.

[CyberDyneSystems]

So sorry for your loss. It's heart breaking to have to make this decision, and so hard to lose such a friend.

[handyhaver]

Once again thank you everybody for you heart felt replies. This forum is the best forum I have ever been on filled with unlimited knowledge of photog. & the kindest support of all kinds.

My sympathy goes out to those of you who are feeling or have felt this kind of sadness.

We will all go through it sooner or later with our pets & we all will have to move on in time when ready.

Time to get outside on this beautiful day & take some pics to help clear the old noggin.

Thank you all,

Mark

[Adamora]

This is a very sad story, hes in a better place now (cliche, but non the less)

But i have to ask, why do people kill dogs when they become inactive and unable to do simple actions =/? i see no reason for that, tis better to age and die, as god intended.

[handyhaver]

I can only speak for myself on this one but when the quality of life is to a point when a pet can not function, it's time to make some decisions.

Rudy weighed over 100 lbs. He could not stand up on his own & had to be lifted. After being lifted to his feet, he would fall several times while walking. He was starting to soiled himself in the house & just lay in it (not that he had a choice).

I am the only one in the house that could lift him & he was to the point where he would just be getting worse an not be able to walk at all.

It doesn't sound as though you had ever had a dog or are too young to understand the responsibilty of having a dog..

It's not right to let an animal suffer more than it has too. We did all we could do for him & in the end, put his pain & suffering to rest.

Mark

[Adamora]

i feel your pain about it, i may not know much about it too, But in the old days they left them alone, its hard to bear, but its been like that for a long time.

but i wont argue, its a horrible event. but youll get through it :D

will you get another dog :0?

[Ange]

So sorry Mark :( Rudy sounded like a very special member of your family.

This is a very sad story, hes in a better place now (cliche, but non the less)

But i have to ask, why do people kill dogs when they become inactive and unable to do simple actions =/? i see no reason for that, tis better to age and die, as god intended.

I think there's a huge difference between a dog becoming "inactive" - which to me means being happy with a potter around the garden and a comfy armchair - and a dog that really is unable to do anything for themselves and no longer has any real quality of life.

We had to make the same decision for our oldie last year after she had had a number of strokes. She had been seen by several vets, all of whom were in agreement with our decision - and would have been happy to have let her go sooner than we did, but we wanted to try all we could to help her.

When a dog is unable to do any thing for themselves and no longer really even wants to eat, I think we often have to make that final decision for them, that last act of love. This is very different from those people who just have their dogs pts because they can't be bothered to care for them anymore.

It was a very difficult decision to make for our old girl. I didn't make it easily and I felt horrid for doing it, but it was the only decision to make at the time - and quite honestly, it would have been cruel to her not to make it.

Sorry Mark, I don't wish to upset you anymore than you must already be, but felt I had to respond to this comment.

[arrgeebee]

So sorry to hear about that Mark. Like others, I have a golden at home (she's going to be 9) and know what great companions they are. Best wishes in this tough time.

[Bill Roberts]

I'm sorry about your loss Mark. Pets really do become part of the family and their loss is never easy. But you did the right thing.

[alkady]

so SOrry for your loss, what a beautiful dog,he has such trusting loving eyes he is so content in that picture

[stathunter]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. I had the same situation with my lab a few years ago. I went out a couple months after and got a doberman........weeks after I wondered what the heck did I do. Now my dobe is VERY close to me and even when she is bad I try to remember that her life will be short and I must enjoy every moment.
Again ....sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

[Elphaba]

What a beautiful pup... I am so sorry for your loss... :(

[kevin_c]

I'm really sorry about that Mark, I've had to do this with three of our cats over the years and it's never an easy decision to make, but at the end of the day you know you did the right thing.

Pets are one of the family and they give us so much fun and love...