Some people on these forums might remember my problematic but nonetheless charming Diablo, for which I requested several advices in the not-too-distant past.

Last Friday I had to let him go not because of his behaviors, but because of his health.

Diablo was a handful but damn did I love him still. I only brought his behavior problems here but he always was a dog with physical issues as well. Last one was too much as bloody flesh started to pour out of his anus a couple weeks after vets spent a lot of time eliminating the causes of his bloody poop and said it would require a 1000$ colonoscopy just to find out what it was.

He was still (excessively, as usual!) active despite his injury and I didn't want him to end in suffering and agony. He didn't whine when doing his business but still... Partly because I couldn't afford the thousands of $ needed just to find his problems (let alone cure them), and partly because he's been having this kind of issues for years (skin allergies, anal gland removal to name a few), I took the hard decision end his pain.

So for his last day, we went in the woods and I made everything I could to give him the best day of his life. We ran and played for hours and he ate more than 1/3rd of a raw deer liver in small bites I chopped for him. But the same day, he started to show pain and dragged his butt in the grass... and flesh bites were actually ripping off on the ground.

Holding him at the vet was the hardest thing I've ever done. I don't think I've ever cried like this in the past 20 years. After that I went back in his favorite playground (the woods behind my father's fields) and buried him there with his favorite toy.

He took a huge chunk of my attention due to his hyper nature, so the hole it leaves in my life is proportionally deep. It saddens me to not hear him bark when the door bells, to not have him follow me around the house all the time, to not have him sitting next to me with that expectant and innocent look you see on the picture when I'm having a snack. It's the simple things that I miss the most. I'm missing even his bad habits which were a fair price to pay for the good times we shared. Boy he gave me headaches, but every single one of them were worth it, and I would take the most furious migraine any day to have him back in top shape.

Goodbye, Diablo. I really miss you.

My deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. I am so sorry Francis.

I am so sorry for your loss.
9 yrs ago I lost a tri color that looked quite a bit like your little guy.
I miss him still.
I'm so very sorry.

My sympathies

Francis, I'm sorry for the loss of your little Diablo. It sounds that in spite of his health issues, he was a feisty guy till the end.

Sorry for the loss of your little buddy.

So sorry Francis! They certainly do leave big holes.

What a cutie! I am so very sorry for your loss.

leih

Francis, I am very sorry for your loss.

Diablo had an angelic face in the photo you shared, but it sounds as if he lived up to his name.

Very sorry for your loss Francis. Sending thoughts and prayers your way.