One Man's Best Friend
Submitted: Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 15:15
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GU-Nissan
Hi All,
Today I have had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, and that is to have my best mate and companion of 12 and 1/2 years put to sleep tomorrow. His name is Kirby and he is a Doberman cross. He has the most wonderful disposition and personality I have ever come across in any living thing.
About May/June last year he was diagnosed as having Osteo Sarcoma, a very aggressive and virtually untreatable form of bone cancer, and at that time the vet gave me an estimate of about 3 months to live. The initial location of these tumours were on his left shoulder blade and his lower jaw, but the most damaging has been his RR leg/ankle area progressively swelling to the size of a large
orange.During these last months I have had to watch as this horrible disease gradually robbed him of his mobility, suffering in silence an ever increasing
level of pain and discomfort that I was powerless to prevent or halt. It has now advanced to the point that this horrible disease has erupted through the skin of his ankle in a large running sore.
He has been with me through some rough times in my life, and has been one of the very few things that I could absolutely rely upon, without being critical//negative. He has been a
rock of comfort for me during these periods, and his happiest moments seem to have been when he is lying close to me, and I have taken great joy and comfort from his presence.
I now have to try to remain strong while I comfort my 16 yo daughter (who will take this very hard) and somehow help her through this, and don't know if I can. (I am in tears as I write this).
I don't really know how to finish this letter except to say that I had a need to write this somewhere, and hope that you understand I was not really simply fishing for some sympathy.
To all of out there who have lost pets I think you will know how I feel.
RIP Kirby
Ross Thomson
Reply By: True Blue - Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:24
Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:24
Certainly do know how you feel
Ross. Our sympathy to goes out to you and your family.
Ross (gee now I'm teary as
well) this dog will never cease to exist in your heart as long as you have the memories of that loving, unconditional bond between your dog and yourself. The animal has certainly supported you in his lifetime in exchange for having you as an equally adoring master. The dog knows that you love it and I feel mother nature (my god) will look after the animal from hear in.
One last thing you can do for this dog
Ross is too cuddle it, in an act of love, whilst it is being put to sleep. Don't look, just concentrate on the animal.
Ross, the injection is so fast you won't believe it, and the dog's pain will be history.
Your pain will go on but will be consoled by memory. In the meantime your dog's soul/spirit (take your pick) will go on. It won't have gone, just moved. Seek it elsewhere and you will find it.
Till next time Kirby ......
With sympathy, Wayne.
AnswerID:
226382
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:30
Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:30
Ross,
Same with us a few years ago. Male blue heeler / rotweiler cross. Agressive bone cancer in the shoulder. When diagnosed by the vet we asked what shall we do and when. He said you will know when, and it is terminal.
After watching him struggle to eaven leave his kennel, we knew it was time, so the vetwas good enough to come around our place and put him down laying in the sun in his favourite place. All the family were there and had a last pat. Buried him in the front yard. Still say hello sometimes as I go past.
You have got a couple of tears going here to from the memory.
Just remember, real men cry, go and have a few tears with your daughter. It is only those wimps who won't allow themselves a few tears, because they don't / can't commit themselves to a friend or mate.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: where2go - Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 20:51
Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 20:51
Well said.
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Reply By: Voxson - Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:42
Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 16:42
Hey
Ross....
I am already dreading "The Deed",,, and
mine is only 5....
I will tell you a little secret mate,,,,, dont tell anyone....
"if i was driving down the road and a dog and a person jumped out in front of my car i would probably swerve at the person"
I know how you feel,, feeling it a bit now actually....
Last time,,, 6yrs ago,,,, my last little mate,,,i almost had to send him in with a friend because i couldnt walk through that vet door...
Every time i take my dog to the vet he gives me that "look",,,
well within their rights arent they???..............................................................
All the best,,, it's enevitable when you inherit a dog that this day will come....
The next one is always better though because in every dog that you have had you can train a little bit of each of your last into him/her...
AnswerID:
226388
Reply By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 20:05
Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 20:05
with you there mate. has happened to me three times. damn i wish they would live longer than us. don't think i can go through it again so am holding off getting another dog.
still, take with you the joy that Kirby was yours and you shared so much together. Kirby was also attached to your daughter and she will have many stories to keep close.
gather the photos you have, plant a tree for him, give thanks, you have experienced a tremendous gift called Kirby, still and always your mate eh?
grand name, grand mate eh
Ross?
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 10:52
Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 10:52
Ross,
My sympathy to you and your family as
well.
Went though a similar experience a few months ago, but in my case decided to buy a new companion straight away. It has worked out
well for us.
To help you guys come to terms with your loss, may I put the following perspective across:-
What was best for the dog?
Prolonged suffering or a painless release.
Just remember the good times you had together and be happy for those times.
Our new puppy is a little bugger but we know he will mature into a faithful companion like our previous one was.
I trust you guys will get over your loss in time.
Good luck and just keep smiling over those memories!
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Mary W (VIC) - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 19:44
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 19:44
Hi Ross,
When my dear old Donny had to go a kind friend sent me this poem.I trust it will be of comfort to you and your daughter as it was for me.Mary
A DOGS LIFE
Three score and ten are given to man
But ours is a much briefer span
And though I give you all my heart
The time will come when we must part
But all around,you will see
Creatures that speak to you of me
A tired horse,a hunted thing,
A sparrow with a broken wing,
Pity,and help,I know you will
And somehow,I'll be with you still
And I shall know,although I'm gone
The love I gave you lingers on.
In loving memory of
KIRBY
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 21:31
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 21:31
Ross,
Not much to add to the other posts, but enjoy your memories.
Like others I too have had to make that decision in the past, never easy.
My current friend/mate/companion/dog is a beautiful german shepherd, and I do not give a RA about what people say about different breeds,,,,,,you get out what you put in...
Ben is now 13yo, pretty deaf, has arthiritis and farts like a brewers horse, (bit like others in the family I guess), we are not looking forward to the inevitable, but we will know when the time is right, just as you have for Kirby.
Enjoy your memories.........
Michael
AnswerID:
226804
Reply By: GU-Nissan - Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 09:27
Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 09:27
Thanks to all of you who replied with such sympathy and kind words, this has given both my daughter and myself a much needed boost.
As for the event itself, I cannot speak highly enough of the compassion and professionalism of the vet and staff, they managed to do what was necessary in a very quiet smooth way that allowed Kirby to not be at all stressed or intimidated in any way, and also allowing my daughter and myself room to be close to kirby if we wished.
I think Kirby had some understanding at the end, because he was calmly looking directly into my eyes at the moment the anaesthetic kicked in, and then simply laid his head down onto my arm.
We laid him to rest in a beautiful place underneath a big old ironbark tree on a friends property at Silvan (a place he loved) to the sound of bellbirds filling the air with their song.
Once again to all of you out there, thank you.
Ross Thomson
PS I am also going to post this as a new thread, as this one is now a fair way down the list, and I want to be sure that this gets to all of you.
AnswerID:
226886
Follow Up By: RichieK - Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 at 15:37
Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 at 15:37
So glad you took the time to come back and tell us how it all went...Sounds like Kirby's suffering ended in a beautiful way, surrounded by his loved ones..
Peace
Rich
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