On Saturday July 31, 2004, my husband and I had to make the hardest decission in our lives to let our dog go. Our dog, Ryko (or my youngest son as I so often refered to him), was 17 years of age. Back in September of 1988 my husband, myself and my two children from a previous marriage started our lives together. It was only fitting that we adopt a dog to make our family complete. We used to joke that he was the child we adopted together. Ryko was a beautiful Chow / Australian Shepard mix all black except one white patch on his chest. As the years went on and the children grew into adults and both went off to school, we moved from a house to a townhouse. Ryko had no problem with this as he was a 50 pound dog that thought he was a lap dog. He always was an indoor dog, and always slept with our oldest until the day she left for college. Then he decided he would sleep with us because she was gone. When my youngest went off to school, my friends were just amazed at how easy I handled them being out of the house. I would just reply, well I still have my youngest at home, and he does not talk back to me. Just listens. I work days, and my husband works nights, so he kept up both company at all times. He started showing his age a few years back when he could not quite roll over on command anymore. He had several cateracts, but could still see for the most part. He developed Renal problems, but it was treatable with prescription food and lots of love. He had some stiffness in his legs, but the vet just raved at how well he was able to still get around for his age. About 1 week ago we noticed that Ryko was dragging his right back leg. He had already given up dog food, and only wanted veggies, chicken and rice. Within 2 days his back legs were not able to hold him up for very long. I took him to the vet, and was told that he had developed great bone loss in his back which was causing the leg problems, and this was not correctable. We started some medication, steroids and pain meds. After 48 hours of this, our dog was no longer able to stand at all. He just layed on his bed with an empty look in his eyes as if he knew that he was defeated. He was unable to keep any food or water down. We layed with him and cried, and came to the conclusion that this was life for him. He had stood for his last time. So Saturday afternoon we took him on his last and final car ride to the vet to have him put to sleep. We had to end his pain and his suffering for his sake. My mind knows that we had to do this. He lived a great life, a long life, and had a family that truly loved him with all hearts and souls. I have cried for days now, the guild is overwealming at times. But, I try and tell myself that we had to do this. I miss him so much as I sit here and type this. I also had to make the 2 worst phone calls that I ever had to make and tell "HIS BROTHER AND SISTER" what had happened. I have spend the last 15 years with this wonderful creature, and now truly feel the emptiness without him. He had the best personality I have ever seen, and always was there with a hug and his unconditional love whenever we needed it. He got us through our hard times, and my daughter used to tell him that she wished he was human because he would make the best man ever. I truly hope he knows that all 4 of us think of him every moment of the day, and he was truly a large part of our family. Thank you for letting me share my story, and thank you for having this website.

donna: sorry to hear about your lost, im sure your at a very low time now, if it was my dog i'll start right off with a new dog jmo

Sorry to hear about your loss. At the very least you had a loving companion for many years. The only fault I can find with a dog is they don't live long enough. I don't know that rushing out to by a new dog is always the answer. There is nothing wrong with taking time to grieve. Best wishes to you and your family.

Geez Donna, you actually made me cry!! I was right there with you, the pain you feel was so real!That being said...don't feel guilty, you gave that dog a wonderful life, and he loved you for it. What a wonderful thing to have experienced. You were blessed with such a special dog, and he will always be with you in your heart. My sincerest condolences to you.

donna, it sounds like you are going thru what my husband and i went thru 7 months ago....and we are still bawling. it won't make the pain go away, but maybe you can find some comfort in knowing that you don't suffer alone.

Thank you all for your wonderful and kind words. It is a comfort knowing that there are people that truly understands our loss. Each of your posts have touched my heart deeply.
God bless all of you, and our wounderful family members that have passed.

Donna,

I am so sorry for your loss and truly understand how you feel. My husband and I put our 13yr old Abbey down in June. She was my angel. On days when I was maxed out with work, kids and husband, I would tell her "Don't ever get married and don't have kids" and she would just wag her tail and smother me with kisses. She knew I was being silly, and was right there to always make me feel better. She was my protector when my husband was out on 6mth cruises with the Navy. We were best friends.

I nursed Abbey through bone cancer in her jaw for for 6 months. Day by day I could see her slipping away. I slept with her on the floor at night and told her to let me know when it was time. One Friday night she didn't feel like eating dog food. I made her cheeseburgers and she ate a few of them. I sat there and cried as I fed her each piece. The next morning, she could barely get up, did not want to eat, and when I looked in her eyes, they were just hollow. I asked her if it was time, and she put her head to my chest and gave my this big sigh. I called my husband at work and told him to call the vet, and when he got home we took her in. A part of my heart died that day and know I will never have that bond with another dog again.

The house was so empty after that and I hated to go home and not have my girl to greet me at the door. My husband and I researched Goldens and found a local rescue group. We still had so much love to give, and saw how many dogs were out there that really needed what we had to offer. We adopted a 4yr old Golden mix, Dreyfus, who had been abused and neglected. He was heartworm positive and needed treatment, but was the sweetest, smartest boy (he learned to Shake in a few hours and Heel in 2 days!) and we wanted to give him the chance to a loving life that he never had before. We had Dreyfus for 2 wks to get him settled in the house before he started treatment. One week into it, he died in his sleep from a pulmonary embolism. Once again, my heart was broken.

Eventually, we got a call from rescue about a Golden whose owner was sick and had to give him up. He was coming into town and could go to foster until we were ready. Hesitantly, we said we'd take a look. The moment we saw him, we were hooked. We have had "Splash!" for 3 wks now and I find myself watching for the rise and fall of his chest as he sleeps like a mother would with a newborn child. I asked my husband the other night how we got so lucky to get such a beautiful dog. He told me he felt this was God's way of rewarding us for all that we did for Abbey and Dreyfus.

I have both Abbey's and Dreyfus' ashes at home and tell them at the start and ending of every day that I love them. And the "good" that has come out of all this is that we are becoming more active in the rescue group to do what we can to help these beautiful animals that need a loving home. It's a new purpose for us, and a way to honor Abbey and Dreyfus. I still cry because I overwhelmingly miss Abbey, but Splash helps me pick myself back up again. He even has a lot of the same goofy quirks Abbey did, and I wonder sometimes if that's her way of telling me she's still with me, just in a healthier body.

Donna, give your heart time to accept this and be at peace. For all those years you had Ryko, it may take you 5 yrs to fully accept it. Meanwhile, cry your eyes and out and let your heart ache - it's normal and necessary to heal. My thoughts are prayers are with you.

SOrry to hear about your dog donna. I known it is hard on you for loseing such a good friend. Just be thankful for all the years you had him. GOD bless you for a long time with him!!! All my prayers go out for you. Maybe after sometime you can get a new dog. I known it will not replace him but GOD has a plan for us all.
sorry Randy

Again, I want to thank all of you for your wonderful support. I am normally a very positive person, and have been trying to look at the positive side of this. I think I have found it. I have found such comfort in kind words from complete strangers on this board.
Kate thank you for sharing your story with me. It has helped me more than you will ever know. I am starting to realize that nature was taking course with my Ryko, and his life was coming to an end and he would have passed on within a short period of time even if we had not put him to sleep. His body was shutting down, and I see that now. I am so sorry for both of your losses which had to have been devestating. It truly shows what kind of a person you are to open your heart and your home to yet another wonderful dog. That to me is a sign of a very warm heart. I do hope to find the strength in the future to adopt another dog, and give him or her the love and attention that these wonderful creatures deserve. I have always said the love of a dog is unconditional, and some human beings in this world should learn from this. God bless you all!