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Avatar universal

Let's not forget what really counts

I have just come from taking my aging infirmed shepard-mix to the vet.  I wasn't sure it was her time yet but it was. When I got home, eyes almost closed from balling I took a final walk on our favorite walk. While walking I gave a lot of thought to the last couple of years of my life, encompassing my wife's leaving, losing my job, losing my house, filing bankruptcy, depression, anxiety, motorcycle accident and yes, of course my new friend, Hep-C. Of course the one constant through this was my dog, Coco.  She was always there to greet me at the door with a sock in her mouth, squealing like a puppy when she saw "daddy." Life was simple for her.  A dry and warm place to sleep, an occasional outing, legalized begging, a regular meal and permission to use any piece of furniture she could wiggle up to.  Pretty simple. She was never concerned over viral loads, or side-effects of interferon, or genotypes or any of the other concerns we are so obsessed with. Naive? Yes. But I thank God for the lessons that wonderful friend taught to me. I hope when it's my turn I can be as classy as she was and I want to tell everyone how much I loved her. So my friends I hope you will take a moment and if you have a pet give it some lovin' and if you don't consider getting one and try to remember what counts in this world cause it's all condensed into some brown eyes I'll never gaze into again. Love you all.
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Avatar universal
oh darlin, i am SO deeply sorry that it was time for your 'pal' to leave...but as painful and difficult as it is, it is a true kindness and selfless thing to allow them to part when the time is right.  my heart and thoughts are making the cyber jaunt to you....i feel yah!
i have had to put down one of my horse several years ago, and she was my magical healing soul mate for many years, but after doing all i could for her (nevicular)nerve blocks etc...it just became the time for me to allow her to leave, and it is a loving act i believe, because we accept thier pain and suffering and do what is best in the end for them, not dragging it on and on because we love them so and can't bare the thought of parting with our dearest pals....also lost both my eaderly cats 6 months ago, one 18 yrs and one 17...they were barely hanging on,and i made that meloncoly..spl? drive with them to the vet as well....
so again...i feel deeply for you....
hugs
kimmy
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the kind words, I hope we are not upsetting anyone
You are very kind
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146021 tn?1237204887
Of course I am crying but you shouldn't worry about upsetting someone after what u just went through.  I lost my beloved dachsund the day after I had surgery last year. After bawling my eyes out I immediately started trying to find a new dog. I just could not stand the thought of not having my little dog asleep under the covers at my feet every night. Winston hasn't replaced Vito in my heart, but right now he's asleep beneath the covers waiting for me to come back to bed. I am so so sorry for you and I'm sure everyone shares your pain.
Bug
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Avatar universal
well looky what the shepperd mix just dragged in! Hello, kimmy! I hope you are well and enjoying your SVR!

doglover' life is simpler for the non human species> getting food to eat, a place to sleep, mating and keeping the species going. We humans complicate things by analizyng everything we do and are going to do. We dwell on things forever and deliberately make ourselves miserable. Many lessons we can learn about life by watching other animals.  I am so sorry your companion could not stay with you longer, it looks like she tried but trusted you to give her a little shove to let go of this world and move on the one she will be waiting for you, it seems she was not able to leave you no matter how ill she was getting. I hope your pain gets better with time, and the fun memories dont bring too many tears later on. RIght now, tears are the best medicine.

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Avatar universal
I am soooo sorry. You have lost a best friend, and a special member of your family. I DO know how that feels. I was sad for you as I read your post.
crying can be a good thing sometimes.
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Avatar universal
Many here can connect with what you are going through and our hearts are with you.
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Avatar universal
I too love animals and am so sorry for your loss. I have grown up having dogs and know their unconditional love. Even on my worst days my dog can bring a smile to my face when I walk through the door.
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Avatar universal
I too love animals and am so sorry for your loss. I have grown up having dogs and know their unconditional love. Even on my worst days my dog can bring a smile to my face when I walk through the door.
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Avatar universal
i am deeply sorry for your loss..not alone...remember the rainbow bridge you'll meet again...lost so many myself..still greive..they become part of you...lost my boy less than a year ago, red&white siberian, 6 months earlier lost my girl,alaskan malamute, 1 year earlier lost my doberman, as i said lost many but will see them again..prayers for you today girl shelly
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Avatar universal
Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
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Avatar universal
I am soooo sorry for your loss...I wish something could ease your pain. My heart goes out to you along with some prayers this morning. God bless you dear friend, Mkeela.
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Avatar universal
So, so sorry. I know what you are going through. You sound like us, me and my husband. Loosing a dog, to a dog lover, is not just loosing a "pet", as some might think. To a dog lover, it is a "child," of theirs that has died. They bring such joy and love. My husband and I had a discussion one night and said that if someone offered us 10 million dollars and promised to give our dog a great home, would we give her up? We both agreed that even with that, no way would we give our dog up for ANY price, no amount. Loving parents wouldn't give up their child for any amount and neither would we for our "child." If my husband didn't agree with that, I  probably couldn't be married to him, but I made sure he was a genuine dog lover before we married.To someone who is a dog lover, they understand that, agree with that and wouldn't think we were insane. To others, we would be considered nuts. With that said, we worry at times about the day we don't have our dog that we have now and somethimes say that after her, maybe no more, because we can't take the grief when the dog passes. But that's what we say now. Never been without a dog, so we probably would get one again, who knows. It just gets harder to part as we get older our selves. "Man's best friend," who am I quoting? We should all know who originally said that, because how true.

If you do  get a dog again someday, which I think would be good in your situation,(sorry about the other tragic events you have been through)you might want to check out petfinder.com. So many dogs needing homes and just as with us, your dog gets the "life of Rielly," which would be nice for a dog without a daddy to call his own. Sorry to be so lengthly, but I feel your pain and I have tears running down my cheeks as I type this.

You're in my prayers. Things will get better in time. Your dog had a great life with you and though your baby is no longer with you, fond memories will never die. I wish you the best.
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132578 tn?1189755837
Hey dog. Sorry for your loss. I remember you telling me some time ago how much your dogs meant to you and that they helped get you through this.

Go to the animal shelter and save a dog , give him a home and try and make a difference in his life , it will make a difference in yours.

Take care

Mark
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Avatar universal
way
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your post did make me very sad, but we DO tend to lose sight of "WHAT REALLY COUNTS" so it was a very welcome reminder...

I know what you mean, and absolutely understand where you are coming from--Coco was your best friend. I think it would be good to get another pet after some greiving time.

We have (in order of seniority)a black Austrailian Shepard named "Daisy", She is 11 years old and very arthritic,due to frisby chasing. I would NOT recomend this activity for anyone who wants their dog to any kind of QOL in their golden years.
Also we have a Shetland sheep dog (9yrs)and a Jack Russel (2yrs)

I live with Brother and they got the Jack Russel for the Sheltie because the Austrailian Shepard was aging and very sedentary. Kind of like dog rotation.
Three is two many when you don't have enough time for them...
for three years I have taken over as "dog mom" and Zoo Keeper.

I give the The Shepard a supplement called "SynoviCre" it has glocosimin and creatine and she is WAY more active then before. They were thinking about putting her down and now  after losing some weight and getting more exercise she may have 3-5 more healthy years.

KNOCK ON WOOD.
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Avatar universal
I too am sorry for your loss, I think what makes a pet so giving is the unconditional love that they give us.. You usually don't get that from the "more Intelegent species" Maybe we could learn something from them. God Bless


Diana
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Avatar universal
Thanks Kalio for your response. I feel OK, just scared about TX but definitely made my mind up and I'm going to go for TX with no regrets. I only have mild pain in the side but I know that scarring goes asymptomatic... Is either me or HCV.

As for my aunt, she's being cared for my 2 cousins (which are good doctors) but to them the erlichia theory sounded like I was talking science fiction. I had to pull up a CDC report in the internet about Lyme and Rocky Mountain ticks so they would take me seriously. After 80 yo doctors don't wanna treat patients, f++++ing incredible..
I also think that my HCV status made me loose credibility with my family. They patronize & judge me sometimes
However, my sys is doing all she can talking to vets and infection experts to test for the erlichia thing. Maybe I'll have an answer tomorrow.
Is incredible how doctors can be smarta***s some time u know?

saludos
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Avatar universal
I'm really sorry about you loss, and I do hope you'll feel better with time
However, these may sound a bit cold hearted and unsensitive at this moment, or is not the right place to post.. this but maybe it can have some relation to this post..Hope you you can help me with this.If the webmasyer feels I'm out of line plz delete.
Now as I write, my 84 year old aunt (always been super healthy)is in bed quietly fading away (fatigued, does not wanna eat, etc). She had a sharp drop in WBC, anemia, high liver enzymes, cough, etc... Doctors don't know what it is...Did CT scan and she's got swollen linf nodes in the stomach area.The docs says she's too old for a BX or chemio and is probably cancer. No definite dx
Now , the strange part, a vet friend of mine tells me that these symptoms ressemble marrow cancer or even HCV but can be caused by a dod transmitted bacteria called erlichia (transmitted by a tick like Lyme)..And guess what, my aunts sleeps with and is always in contact with her dog (that suffered erlichia some time ago)...
we already order a blood test, but I wonder if any of you have had or know of a human erlichia case? since you know so much about hemodynamics and blood borne diseases
thanks and regards
scuba
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Avatar universal
I am so deeply sorry, I too am a dog lover and had to put mine at rest some years ago and would never want to relive doing it again.  However, I know some day I will, as my beagle Bailey is 9 years old today and before I read your post I thought back to the day I had to put Shane to sleep, it made me sad and now reading your post my heart goes out to you.  If you can, in time find another best friend with puppy eyes, wagging tail and loyality that will never waver.  
You have gone through much my friend and you deserve some happiness.

Beagle
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Avatar universal
So sorry to hear your Aunt is ailing. Is she on any new medications? I hope you get some answers soon. It is possible to pick up some illnesses through ticks or fleas. Maybe you could consult with another doctor, possibly a Hemotologist or a Geriatric specialist who could offer your family some help? It sounds like her doctor isn't very willing to find a solution. 83 isn't that old,  my father in law is 91 and still drives the car and plays golf every week and is as feisty as ever. I hope you are not feeling too bad from your Hep C, Scuba. Keep us posted on what you find out about your dear Aunt.
Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for letting me use this forum for a technically non-hep-c issue.  Sharing my grief has helped me put into perspective just how important Coco was to me and what a critical element she was to my life. My VA psychiatrist just called and talked with me for an hour, my sister must have told her what happened. Perhaps Coco dropped her a line.  Well, I guess I had better get out of bed and start to let this first day alone pass. It's useless to try but I just want to thank each of you for taking the time to pass along your support. I continue to wish the best to all of you and if you would each take just thirty seconds today and wish Coco a happy after-life it would mean the world to me.
Dog_Lover
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86075 tn?1238115091
Having lost my wonderful pit bull of 11 years, Sweetie, (about 8 months ago I guess) I know what you're going though...but like Chev said, the initial greiving will finally be replaced by smiles whenever you think of her, those memories will be a comfort to you if you have to withstand something unpleasant, or pleasant...

I finally went out to an adoption outfit and fell in love with my present doggie, Petunia! A little runt pit bull who is all white with little brown spots, with personality plus!...It was love at first sight...as corny as it sounds, I like to think that Sweetie brought her to me...grace to you in your period of loss...remember, one day, you'll be looking back on these problems as just another part of your life...
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Avatar universal
I'm so sorry to hear about Coco!  As a fellow dog lover, they're not just dogs but members of the family.  We treat them like children and love them for the joy they bring.  When I get home from work each day, there's my silly Ridgeback there to greet me with a huge smile and a coffee table clearing tail wag. It's very important for her to select a toy from the toy box and prance around the house with it, finally depositing it in the dining room.  She only has about 12 toys in her basket (she's NOT spoiled, LOL).  This routine goes on about 20 mins.        

SIGH....Dogs are such wonderful family members and it hurts so much when they go.  I had a Queensland Heeler for 15 years and it was a crushing blow when he passed.  He was my buddy and never left my side.  Someday, when the time feels right, there's a buddy out there who is waiting for you.  None can replace Coco, but you will always have a piece of her with you in your heart.  Dogs love you no matter what.  

Gail
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Avatar universal
I already did wish Coco a happy after - life and a prayer for you to get through this.

Beagle
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Avatar universal
I am so sorry. We lost 2 of our beloved dogs in 2004. We now have 4-we did not mean to have so many, they just all needed homes and we ended up with them. They are our little friends. When it is time, I am sure you will remember dear coco,  and how many dogs are destroyed daily merely because there is no one to take them home, and find the courage to care for another dog. This may seem silly, but we have always felt our dearly loved dogs who died sent new "needy" dogs to us from doggy heaven to comfort us in our loss. Best wishes, JoAnn
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