Lost my best friend last week
Discussion
Still in a state of shock following the loss of my boy ... just celebrated his 8th birthday and he's gone. We had such a strong bond and although he was our family pet, he was such a daddy's boy. It feels so raw we didn't get a chance to say good bye properly. I took him to vets for suspected bloat on Wednesday morning and was told everything was fine and was kept in for observation ... then we had a call saying he'd gone downhill and they wanted to operate about 6:30pm.
The operation revealed his spleen was enlarged (x6) and has twisted around his stomach but was successfully removed and he was stitched up but passed away under the anesthetic ... they tried to revive him but failed. We received the devastating call just after 9:30pm that he'd gone ...
We collected his ashes yesterday from the vets which was really emotional ... not quite sure what we'll do with them but we feel better he's at home again with us now. Such a strong and healthy boy we thought he'd be with us for a few more years yet. I have such great memories and feel so lucky he chose us ... I'll never forget that face he gave me every morning I came down stairs and every time I returned home.
I know he'll never be replaced but Rhodesians are a special breed and the house just doesn't feel the same without him so, at some point, we'll be getting another Rhodesian puppy. We also have an 8 year old collie who is missing him dearly but we're giving him lots of attention.
So when you get home from work .... hold your pets tight and cherish every moment they're with you!
RIP George
The operation revealed his spleen was enlarged (x6) and has twisted around his stomach but was successfully removed and he was stitched up but passed away under the anesthetic ... they tried to revive him but failed. We received the devastating call just after 9:30pm that he'd gone ...
We collected his ashes yesterday from the vets which was really emotional ... not quite sure what we'll do with them but we feel better he's at home again with us now. Such a strong and healthy boy we thought he'd be with us for a few more years yet. I have such great memories and feel so lucky he chose us ... I'll never forget that face he gave me every morning I came down stairs and every time I returned home.
I know he'll never be replaced but Rhodesians are a special breed and the house just doesn't feel the same without him so, at some point, we'll be getting another Rhodesian puppy. We also have an 8 year old collie who is missing him dearly but we're giving him lots of attention.
So when you get home from work .... hold your pets tight and cherish every moment they're with you!
RIP George
t, that's properly awful. Very very sorry.JEA1K said:
Thanks guys. Yes he was a handsome lad ... I'm biased of course but everyone who met him said so.
Independent evaluator here, yes. Very handsome! Its too short, but really glad to hear you had eight great years. Bloody gutted for you and the family. I bet the Collie misses him as well. Ridgeback is a fantastic breed, seen them a few times visiting my sister in Cape Town, always love to chat with the owners about them.
garythesign said:
With regard to the ashes, we still have our lab's from three years ago. My wife can't bear to part with them. My advice is don't rush to a decision.
^ This. I have all but one set of my dogs' ashes (so that's 8). I buried the first casket in my garden, as this is what my parents had always done, but I regretted it almost straight away, particularly as I have since left that house 
Fortunately, I had a plaque made, so I still have that in a special place. Since then, I have always kept the ashes in a cupboard in my front room. Some may find it morbid, I don't care, I regard it as 'bringing them home'. Do what you feel comfortable with, but as the above poster says, don't rush your decision.I am really sorry, it is horrible to lose any dog but especially when it's unexpected and you don't get a chance to say goodbye.
Sending virtual hugs.
I am so very sorry for your loss. It is never easy whatever their age but when still relatively young it seems so much harder (sadly talking from experience)
Re ashes /burial, scattering, keeping it is a very personal choice. I personally chose these. I wanted to keep my pets ashes near by but in a discreet way. To most these are just ornaments, for me they are so much more but no one will need know unless I choose to tell them. Take your time over your decision of what to do.
Jimmy's (our whippet)
Fitz and Ren's (our cats)
Re ashes /burial, scattering, keeping it is a very personal choice. I personally chose these. I wanted to keep my pets ashes near by but in a discreet way. To most these are just ornaments, for me they are so much more but no one will need know unless I choose to tell them. Take your time over your decision of what to do.
Jimmy's (our whippet)
Fitz and Ren's (our cats)
moorx said:
^ This. I have all but one set of my dogs' ashes (so that's 8). I buried the first casket in my garden, as this is what my parents had always done, but I regretted it almost straight away, particularly as I have since left that house Fortunately, I had a plaque made, so I still have that in a special place. Since then, I have always kept the ashes in a cupboard in my front room. Some may find it morbid, I don't care, I regard it as 'bringing them home'. Do what you feel comfortable with, but as the above poster says, don't rush your decision.
I am really sorry, it is horrible to lose any dog but especially when it's unexpected and you don't get a chance to say goodbye.
Sending virtual hugs.
Cheers guys, advice really appreciated ... I can see many of you have felt the pain we're going through. My Mrs wanted to bring him home and bury him ... but I think she realised the practicalities of digging a large hole in the garden and decided that cremation would be a better option. Fortunately, I had a plaque made, so I still have that in a special place. Since then, I have always kept the ashes in a cupboard in my front room. Some may find it morbid, I don't care, I regard it as 'bringing them home'. Do what you feel comfortable with, but as the above poster says, don't rush your decision.I am really sorry, it is horrible to lose any dog but especially when it's unexpected and you don't get a chance to say goodbye.
Sending virtual hugs.
I feel better now he's at home with us and I now we're possibly not wanting to bury him ... so like you, he's sat on a table in our front lounge. We placed his collar in the box with him and a treat ... all sounds daft but it just seemed right that he's near us.
He was a sofa/bed dominator so had his own sofa and throw (spoilt!) ... I can't even bare to wash it as it still has his scent on.
I know where you are coming from. I remember losing my GSD and really struggled to function normally for a good few weeks after. Its hard to see through it at the moment but you will come out the other side. It took 15 years for me to get another dog and I dread anything happening to him.
kuro said:
I know where you are coming from. I remember losing my GSD and really struggled to function normally for a good few weeks after. Its hard to see through it at the moment but you will come out the other side. It took 15 years for me to get another dog and I dread anything happening to him.
I can understand ... the Mrs said 'I can't go through this every 10 years!' the other day. But I think once you've had such a companion, you feel like you have a dog shaped hole in your life which needs filling ... when the time is right of course. I'm glad the time is right now for you. I know what you mean about their scent on a blanket. I couldn't cope with keeping a lot of Jimmy's beds etc but I do have a bag with collars a few of his toys etc, I also kept a blanket that had his scent, sadly over time his scent has faded from it though, which upsets me (even 4yrs on). I have always planned to get a drawing of him done still not got there yet!
Lost Bella on the 24th of September 2015; probably the hardest thing i've ever been through.
Not looking forward to either of these two leaving me -
It's so horrible. Especially feel sorry for you not being able to say your good byes.
Dogs are just the most wonderful thing on the planet.
Not looking forward to either of these two leaving me -
It's so horrible. Especially feel sorry for you not being able to say your good byes.
Dogs are just the most wonderful thing on the planet.
hondafanatic said:
juice said:
I'm so sorry for you loss...I hate reading these threads, always some bugger chopping onions when I do...
I'll second that. Very sorry to read about your loss. Dam dusty in here. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff