I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
and we took him to the vet to be euthanized. We had actually done that
6 months ago when we thought that he had lost control of his bowels, but
that turned out to be colitis and was easily fixed up with some
antibiotics and steroids. However, he was deteriorating with age and
the vet said that it was time to put him down when he could no longer
stand up on his own. He had been getting steadily worse but yesteday
the back end gave out and he could no longer get up or stand up on his own.

Sonny was a Katrina rescue (from Florida) who came to us 9 years ago at
the age of 5, after he had been evicted from the trailer park where his
owners spent their winters. The woman dropped him off on the way to a
conference in Toronto and said she would check on the way back in three
days and if things weren't working out she would take him back. She did
not check in. Nor did she return phone calls or emails. He was so bad I
was going to send him back. He is the only dog I was never able to
train to heel off leash and to come when called. He never really ran
away. He would always come back eventually.

He used to scare the hell of visitors, barking and growling as if he was
going to rip them apart if they tried to come in. He was even worse when
they were leaving. The second day he had him my brother came by with
his Lab to walk with the digs. Sonny was acting so vicious that my
brother would never bring his dog back. I know that he would have been
fine off the leash, but given the way he had been acting I can't blame
him for not wanting to risk a repeat.

He was a high energy dog who needed to run. If he had been out for the
daily two mile walk (5 mile run for him) he burned up enough energy to
behave. He finally started to settle down at age 10 and turned into a
really nice dog.

On Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:37:26 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>and we took him to the vet to be euthanized. We had actually done that
>6 months ago when we thought that he had lost control of his bowels, but
>that turned out to be colitis and was easily fixed up with some
>antibiotics and steroids. However, he was deteriorating with age and
>the vet said that it was time to put him down when he could no longer
>stand up on his own. He had been getting steadily worse but yesteday
>the back end gave out and he could no longer get up or stand up on his own.
>
>Sonny was a Katrina rescue (from Florida) who came to us 9 years ago at
>the age of 5, after he had been evicted from the trailer park where his
>owners spent their winters. The woman dropped him off on the way to a
>conference in Toronto and said she would check on the way back in three
>days and if things weren't working out she would take him back. She did
>not check in. Nor did she return phone calls or emails. He was so bad I
>was going to send him back. He is the only dog I was never able to
>train to heel off leash and to come when called. He never really ran
>away. He would always come back eventually.
>
>He used to scare the hell of visitors, barking and growling as if he was
>going to rip them apart if they tried to come in. He was even worse when
>they were leaving. The second day he had him my brother came by with
>his Lab to walk with the digs. Sonny was acting so vicious that my
>brother would never bring his dog back. I know that he would have been
>fine off the leash, but given the way he had been acting I can't blame
>him for not wanting to risk a repeat.
>
>He was a high energy dog who needed to run. If he had been out for the
>daily two mile walk (5 mile run for him) he burned up enough energy to
>behave. He finally started to settle down at age 10 and turned into a
>really nice dog.

A four year old child's wisdom.

Why dogs do not live as long as people?

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old
Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa,
and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they
were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of
cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and
offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their
home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it
would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.
They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's
family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for
the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy
seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or
confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering
aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next
stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said,
"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life --
like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The
four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so
they don't have to stay as long."

On 4/18/2019 2:25 PM, wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:37:26 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>> and we took him to the vet to be euthanized. We had actually done that
>> 6 months ago when we thought that he had lost control of his bowels, but
>> that turned out to be colitis and was easily fixed up with some
>> antibiotics and steroids. However, he was deteriorating with age and
>> the vet said that it was time to put him down when he could no longer
>> stand up on his own. He had been getting steadily worse but yesteday
>> the back end gave out and he could no longer get up or stand up on his own.
>>
>> Sonny was a Katrina rescue (from Florida) who came to us 9 years ago at
>> the age of 5, after he had been evicted from the trailer park where his
>> owners spent their winters. The woman dropped him off on the way to a
>> conference in Toronto and said she would check on the way back in three
>> days and if things weren't working out she would take him back. She did
>> not check in. Nor did she return phone calls or emails. He was so bad I
>> was going to send him back. He is the only dog I was never able to
>> train to heel off leash and to come when called. He never really ran
>> away. He would always come back eventually.
>>
>> He used to scare the hell of visitors, barking and growling as if he was
>> going to rip them apart if they tried to come in. He was even worse when
>> they were leaving. The second day he had him my brother came by with
>> his Lab to walk with the digs. Sonny was acting so vicious that my
>> brother would never bring his dog back. I know that he would have been
>> fine off the leash, but given the way he had been acting I can't blame
>> him for not wanting to risk a repeat.
>>
>> He was a high energy dog who needed to run. If he had been out for the
>> daily two mile walk (5 mile run for him) he burned up enough energy to
>> behave. He finally started to settle down at age 10 and turned into a
>> really nice dog.
> A four year old child's wisdom.
>
> Why dogs do not live as long as people?
>
> Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old
> Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa,
> and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they
> were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of
> cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and
> offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their
> home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it
> would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.
> They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
> The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's
> family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for
> the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.
> Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy
> seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or
> confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering
> aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
> lives.
>
> Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
> Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next
> stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said,
> "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life --
> like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The
> four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so
> they don't have to stay as long."

Â* Out of the mouths of babes ...

--
Snag
Yes , I'm old
and crochety - and armed .
Get outta my woods !

On Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 1:35:14 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>
> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
> and we took him to the vet to be euthanized.
>
Sorry to hear about his death and glad he finally he settled down and realized
he had a good home. I know you'll miss him but you did the right thing and
not let him suffer.

wrote:
>
> A four year old child's wisdom.
>
> Why dogs do not live as long as people?

> We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering
> aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
> lives.
>
> Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
> Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next
> stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said,
> "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life --
> like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The
> four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so
> they don't have to stay as long."

That sounds like another "cutsey" made-up internet story but I do
like it. Explains why ferrets die so young. The most loving pets
I ever had. Still doesn't help the loss of any pet though...ok
maybe a little. At least it's something you can cling too until
time heals the pain.

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> I just came in from burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
> and we took him to the vet to be euthanized.

Sorry to hear this, Dave. ;-(

Nice story you told about Sonny. Sounds like he became a good
friend. Lucky that you were not able to send him back in the
beginning. New training just takes time.

On 4/18/2019 2:37 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>
I'm sorry to hear this but least you gave him a good life.

Jill

On 2019-04-19 4:54 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
> On 4/18/2019 2:37 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
> I'm sorry to hear this but least you gave him a good life.
>

Now we have another pet problem. Our new dog is in serious grief mode.
He wasn't too bad until last night when my wife took out for his night
time pee. He suddenly got really upset and insisted on going back to
the house. He ran upstairs and hid behind a chair instead of beside me
like he usually does. Instead of sleeping in his bed where he usually
does, he slept by the kitchen door. After his morning walk he
disappeared again and we found him sleeping under the dining room table
where Sonny used to spend most of the day. He would not eat his
breakfast this morning and he even refused the offer of some bits of
fish when he had diner.

The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the time.
He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to Sonny than
we had thought.

On Fri, 19 Apr 2019 17:11:44 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2019-04-19 4:54 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>> On 4/18/2019 2:37 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>>> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>> I'm sorry to hear this but least you gave him a good life.
>>
>
>Now we have another pet problem. Our new dog is in serious grief mode.
>He wasn't too bad until last night when my wife took out for his night
>time pee. He suddenly got really upset and insisted on going back to
>the house. He ran upstairs and hid behind a chair instead of beside me
>like he usually does. Instead of sleeping in his bed where he usually
>does, he slept by the kitchen door. After his morning walk he
>disappeared again and we found him sleeping under the dining room table
>where Sonny used to spend most of the day. He would not eat his
>breakfast this morning and he even refused the offer of some bits of
>fish when he had diner.
>
>The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the time.
>He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to Sonny than
>we had thought.

Written bij te man who said animals don't have real feelings and
that's why it's ok to seperate a calf from its mother shortly after
birth.

On Friday, April 19, 2019 at 4:09:30 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>
> Now we have another pet problem. Our new dog is in serious grief mode.
> He wasn't too bad until last night when my wife took out for his night
> time pee. He suddenly got really upset and insisted on going back to
> the house. He ran upstairs and hid behind a chair instead of beside me
> like he usually does. Instead of sleeping in his bed where he usually
> does, he slept by the kitchen door. After his morning walk he
> disappeared again and we found him sleeping under the dining room table
> where Sonny used to spend most of the day. He would not eat his
> breakfast this morning and he even refused the offer of some bits of
> fish when he had diner.
>
> The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the time.
> He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to Sonny than
> we had thought.
>
It may take a few days for him to overcome this. Don't be harsh or scold
him and try to give him a bit of extra attention.

On 4/19/2019 5:11 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2019-04-19 4:54 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>> On 4/18/2019 2:37 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>>> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>> I'm sorry to hear this but least you gave him a good life.
>>
>
> Now we have another pet problem. Our new dog is in serious grief mode.
> He wasn't too bad until last night when my wife took out for his night
> time pee.Â* He suddenly got really upset and insisted on going back to
> the house. He ran upstairs and hid behind a chair instead of beside me
> like he usually does. Instead of sleeping in his bed where he usually
> does, he slept by the kitchen door.Â* After his morning walk he
> disappeared again and we found him sleeping under the dining room table
> where Sonny used to spend most of the day.Â* He would not eat his
> breakfast this morning and he even refused the offer of some bits of
> fish when he had diner.
>
> The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the time.
> He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to Sonny than
> we had thought.
>
>
I truly believe that pets grieve when they lose a "friend", even though
the attachment might not be apparent to us humans.

I used to cat-sit for a former neighbor. Even though the cats didn't
hang out together, the other cat was clearly upset when the first one
left [taken to be euthanized after having a stroke] and didn't come home
again.

Jill

On 2019-04-19 6:00 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
> On 4/19/2019 5:11 PM, Dave Smith wrote:

>> The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the
>> time. He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to
>> Sonny than we had thought.
>>
>>
> I truly believe that pets grieve when they lose a "friend", even though
> the attachment might not be apparent to us humans.
>
> I used to cat-sit for a former neighbor.Â* Even though the cats didn't
> hang out together, the other cat was clearly upset when the first one
> left [taken to be euthanized after having a stroke] and didn't come home
> again.
>


My friend and his wife usually have at least two dogs. He told me that
they once had an English Setter and a Jack Russell Terrier. They had to
have the setter put down and the terrier when into depression. He would
not eat and lost so much weight they had to take him to the vet. They
got another dog and the terrier perked right up.

Over the 42 years we have lived here we have always had at least one dog
and more than half that time we had had two. This is the first time
that one of them has gone into such obvious grieving. This little guy
is really upset.

On 4/19/2019 7:54 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2019-04-19 6:00 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>> On 4/19/2019 5:11 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>>> The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the
>>> time. He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to
>>> Sonny than we had thought.
>>>
>>>
>> I truly believe that pets grieve when they lose a "friend", even
>> though the attachment might not be apparent to us humans.
>>
>> I used to cat-sit for a former neighbor.Â* Even though the cats didn't
>> hang out together, the other cat was clearly upset when the first one
>> left [taken to be euthanized after having a stroke] and didn't come
>> home again.
>>
>
>
> My friend and his wife usually have at least two dogs. He told me that
> they once had an English Setter and a Jack Russell Terrier. They had to
> have the setter put down and theÂ* terrier when into depression. He would
> not eat and lost so much weight they had to take him to the vet.Â* They
> got another dog and the terrier perked right up.
>
> Over the 42 years we have lived here we have always had at least one dog
> and more than half that time we had had two.Â* This is the first time
> that one of them has gone into such obvious grieving.Â* This little guy
> is really upset.
>
>
I'm sorry to hear it! Make sure he gets attention but I'd give him a
little bit of space for a day or two.

Jill

On Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:00:09 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 4/19/2019 5:11 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2019-04-19 4:54 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 4/18/2019 2:37 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>>>> I just came in form burying Sonny, our Malinois rescue. His time was up
>>> I'm sorry to hear this but least you gave him a good life.
>>>
>>
>> Now we have another pet problem. Our new dog is in serious grief mode.
>> He wasn't too bad until last night when my wife took out for his night
>> time pee.* He suddenly got really upset and insisted on going back to
>> the house. He ran upstairs and hid behind a chair instead of beside me
>> like he usually does. Instead of sleeping in his bed where he usually
>> does, he slept by the kitchen door.* After his morning walk he
>> disappeared again and we found him sleeping under the dining room table
>> where Sonny used to spend most of the day.* He would not eat his
>> breakfast this morning and he even refused the offer of some bits of
>> fish when he had diner.
>>
>> The odd thing is that we got this guy a year ago. He was 6 at the time.
>> He seems that he had developed a much stronger attachment to Sonny than
>> we had thought.
>>
>>
>I truly believe that pets grieve when they lose a "friend", even though
>the attachment might not be apparent to us humans.
>
>I used to cat-sit for a former neighbor. Even though the cats didn't
>hang out together, the other cat was clearly upset when the first one
>left [taken to be euthanized after having a stroke] and didn't come home
>again.
>
>Jill

We keep the unlaundered bedding of a departed cat for a few weeks and
that seems to suffice to ease the emotional loss of the other cats.
Even if they didn't interact much together they do miss the one that
is gone.... for several days they constantly search the house, these
guys are all still looking for Peach, they all know she is missing.
They all are constantly sniffing the rug under the chair where she
would sleep. I see that empty spot and I'm bothered.