This seems like a great idea. We have her collar and get her remains and paw prints back over the next week or two. Definitely getting some pictures printed and framed for my home and work offices.
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Irish Setter. What about Abbie? Border Collie?
Glad to hear you had her cremated. I buried my first two in the backyard, but it’s not my backyard anymore. That convinced me to have my last one cremated.
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We weren’t really sure. I think she could have been border collie due to how skiddish she could be. But definitely had some lab in her (her mother).
Thanks for responding on this post, fellas. It’s really helped me get through today.
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Several years ago I was infected with a flesh-eating bacteria. Several emergency surgeries and an extended stay in the hospital I finally got home (wound-vac attached). I was sitting in a chair, feeling sorry for myself, and little Boo jumped up and looked at me, almost saying “it’s okay Daddy, I’m here.” He passed away a month later.
Saw a couple of his photos the other day, and I broke up. Still hurts. I’ve lost a number of family members and Marines over the years, and losing Boo still bothers me.
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How did you contract the flesh-eating bacteria?
On a pastors recommendation, we got a book called Tears and Laughter, full of stories about hunting dogs. The cover features a Brittany, just like my first dog, Tucker. We had to put him down in October 2001, and I read some of that book then.
Our second dog, Annie, was a chocolate lab who got sick and went at 5 years old. I read aloud from the book again, the essay titled Brown Dog. Still can’t make it through that essay 17 years later. “Every boy should have a brown dog sometime in his life.”
Now my son’s best friend is Churro, a 3 year old shepherd mix. I know that they will probably make it to the end of high school together. All of it is borrowed time. We don’t deserve them. Embrace the grief and pain, it’s cleansing and shows you what you care about most.
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The top picture was my dog Tank. We had to put him down a few days after Thanksgiving in 2018. That was hard as I held him while he died at the vet’s. He didn’t want to leave which still makes it painful to think about. My wife made a video collage with a cute song for me of my dog and I. 6 months later my 1st and only child was born.
The 2nd picture is of my mom and myself on 2004 in the 8th grade. My dog’s death in some ways helped me somewhat prepare for the grief 6 years later when my mom died unexpectedly in 2024. HS football season was starting the next week. Ganado won our 1st state championship ever in football 4 months later. I was fortunate enough to be the color commentator for a radio station calling the game for my hometown in a suite at Jerry’s World.
Memories. There is always a piece that misses from you for a dog especially as he was always there for me in hs, college, and into adult life. I had my mom also for 34 years in my life. That’s what you do is appreciate the time and memories you had with them.
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Oh wow. Now my heart is breaking. Great pictures that you’ll be able to cherish forever. Very sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing the memories and stories, fellas. Extremely therapeutic. I’m hoping all of our lost pups are up in heaven having the best time.
She was the best girl. And she still looked so healthy. Other than the 7 cm tumor that ruptured in her stomach. It was so unexpected. Laying with her as she took her last breath took a piece of me. But I would have never left her side.
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The more unexpected the harder
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She was 11. So we figured the time was coming. But still thought we had 2 more years, at least.
My retirement gig is working at a home with 4 men who have various disabilities. One of them developed a cyst type thing on his chest. Turns out it was flesh eating bacteria. They ended up having to fly him by helicopter to a bigger city hospital. Scary stuff.
Over the years I have had so many different breeds; Labs, Boxer, Chow, Rotti, Boston, Cockapoo, and now Toy Poodles. Love them all, just know about the breed before you get one.
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Our youngest daughter has a dog who is mostly chocolate lab. She’s a little over a year old. It’s so sad how fast her time will go. Maple is her name.
The hope is you can get 12-15 years out of them. Still, that is not nearly long enough.
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Rottie is my favorite, followed closely by rescue mutts. Unconditional love from both.
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Love the UH attire! Great looking dog. Sorry for your loss.
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Thank you. I put her ashes under a tree I planted by the kitchen sink window. 5 years later I still say good morning and good night to her as she was my first non childhood companion. Be weird if it helps.
And truly, thank you for sharing. We men tend to suffer grief in silence.
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That sounds like a great way to allow them to pass without the stress and noise at the vet.
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