Fellow TLer in the dumps today....
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The DVD-A Script Guy
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 186
From: CT
He's gone now
I can't believe how fast the cancer took him after we found out on 11/4 that it was back after 2 years of being "clean". Two Friday's ago I though he was getting sick again but by last Wednesday I realized he hadn't started getting sick again, he had started to die.
The cancer attacked his nervous system so fast that by Tuesday he had trouble walking. He stopped eating on Thursday and I started having to carry him up and down the stairs and out back to pee. Friday morning he couldn't get up on his own anymore so I carried him out to the back yard to let him pee and he could hardly stand. His front leg was turning inside in an awkward way and his right eye was droopy. It was all he could do to keep from falling. I felt he gave me a "look" that said "It's OK, you can let me go". While the kids were at school, my wife and I took him to the vet and took away all his suffering. We know we did the right thing but we still miss him very much. He was 8 years and 7 days old.
The kids seem to be doing fine, just as many of you thought they would. It is the times of the day that I always crossed paths with Rusty that get me. In the morning nobody gets up, shakes off and comes to the side of the bed. Nobody at the door when I get home. Nobody to let out back before bed time. I know it will pass.
Again, thanks to all of you for letting a fellow TLer wander a bit off topic. Your thoughts and prayers really helped me through a tough time.
Sincerely,
The cancer attacked his nervous system so fast that by Tuesday he had trouble walking. He stopped eating on Thursday and I started having to carry him up and down the stairs and out back to pee. Friday morning he couldn't get up on his own anymore so I carried him out to the back yard to let him pee and he could hardly stand. His front leg was turning inside in an awkward way and his right eye was droopy. It was all he could do to keep from falling. I felt he gave me a "look" that said "It's OK, you can let me go". While the kids were at school, my wife and I took him to the vet and took away all his suffering. We know we did the right thing but we still miss him very much. He was 8 years and 7 days old.
The kids seem to be doing fine, just as many of you thought they would. It is the times of the day that I always crossed paths with Rusty that get me. In the morning nobody gets up, shakes off and comes to the side of the bed. Nobody at the door when I get home. Nobody to let out back before bed time. I know it will pass.
Again, thanks to all of you for letting a fellow TLer wander a bit off topic. Your thoughts and prayers really helped me through a tough time.
Sincerely,
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Originally Posted by Adobeman
I can't believe how fast the cancer took him after we found out on 11/4 that it was back after 2 years of being "clean". Two Friday's ago I though he was getting sick again but by last Wednesday I realized he hadn't started getting sick again, he had started to die.
The cancer attacked his nervous system so fast that by Tuesday he had trouble walking. He stopped eating on Thursday and I started having to carry him up and down the stairs and out back to pee. Friday morning he couldn't get up on his own anymore so I carried him out to the back yard to let him pee and he could hardly stand. His front leg was turning inside in an awkward way and his right eye was droopy. It was all he could do to keep from falling. I felt he gave me a "look" that said "It's OK, you can let me go". While the kids were at school, my wife and I took him to the vet and took away all his suffering. We know we did the right thing but we still miss him very much. He was 8 years and 7 days old.
The kids seem to be doing fine, just as many of you thought they would. It is the times of the day that I always crossed paths with Rusty that get me. In the morning nobody gets up, shakes off and comes to the side of the bed. Nobody at the door when I get home. Nobody to let out back before bed time. I know it will pass.
Again, thanks to all of you for letting a fellow TLer wander a bit off topic. Your thoughts and prayers really helped me through a tough time.
Sincerely,
The cancer attacked his nervous system so fast that by Tuesday he had trouble walking. He stopped eating on Thursday and I started having to carry him up and down the stairs and out back to pee. Friday morning he couldn't get up on his own anymore so I carried him out to the back yard to let him pee and he could hardly stand. His front leg was turning inside in an awkward way and his right eye was droopy. It was all he could do to keep from falling. I felt he gave me a "look" that said "It's OK, you can let me go". While the kids were at school, my wife and I took him to the vet and took away all his suffering. We know we did the right thing but we still miss him very much. He was 8 years and 7 days old.
The kids seem to be doing fine, just as many of you thought they would. It is the times of the day that I always crossed paths with Rusty that get me. In the morning nobody gets up, shakes off and comes to the side of the bed. Nobody at the door when I get home. Nobody to let out back before bed time. I know it will pass.
Again, thanks to all of you for letting a fellow TLer wander a bit off topic. Your thoughts and prayers really helped me through a tough time.
Sincerely,
Truly, they are man's best friend. I know it is very hard, Adobeman. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Adobe, u look like a real peaceful dude, and I am not a big fan of pets, but my heart goes out to you and your family here. Everything happens for the best and I guess this is one of those things, keep positive brother!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
So very sorry. I've had to do it 3 times. It never gets easy. I read these kinds of threads all the time and I cry every time. And then I go and hug dog #4 and she looks at me like I'm nuts. I guess I probably am.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,687
Likes: 5
From: Boston, MA
My heart goes out to your family and Rusty. Sometimes losing an animal is just as bad as losing a loving family member. Remember the good times and don't dwell on the fact that you might not have him for much longer. I personally don't know what I'll do without my lab but I'd rather not think of it. Good Luck!!
B A N N E D
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
Originally Posted by midas69
So very sorry. I've had to do it 3 times. It never gets easy. I read these kinds of threads all the time and I cry every time. And then I go and hug dog #4 and she looks at me like I'm nuts. I guess I probably am.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Rusty
Adobeman, as someone who's had lots of pets - dogs and cats (yes, I love both) please accept my condolences. We know pets have limited lifespans but that doesn't make them any less of family members. Nothing is consolation in a situation like this but I do hope you have a chance to reflect upon a couple of things as time moves forward:
1. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being optimal, Rusty's quality of existence on the measurement scale for all beings on earth was probably somewhere around 125 and you and your family made that possible (realizing that you got far more in return from Rusty).
2. One of your most sacred obligations with a pet is knowing when to end its suffering and acting on that obligation. I've had to do it and know the difficulty. But by doing that you delivered on Rusty's quality of life at the end as well as in the beggining and the middle.
If and when you decide to bring another dog into your family I am confident that it too will live a life that any other being would envy.
1. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being optimal, Rusty's quality of existence on the measurement scale for all beings on earth was probably somewhere around 125 and you and your family made that possible (realizing that you got far more in return from Rusty).
2. One of your most sacred obligations with a pet is knowing when to end its suffering and acting on that obligation. I've had to do it and know the difficulty. But by doing that you delivered on Rusty's quality of life at the end as well as in the beggining and the middle.
If and when you decide to bring another dog into your family I am confident that it too will live a life that any other being would envy.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 2
From: ralegih triangle area nc
Originally Posted by LazloToth
Adobeman, as someone who's had lots of pets - dogs and cats (yes, I love both) please accept my condolences. We know pets have limited lifespans but that doesn't make them any less of family members. Nothing is consolation in a situation like this but I do hope you have a chance to reflect upon a couple of things as time moves forward:
1. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being optimal, Rusty's quality of existence on the measurement scale for all beings on earth was probably somewhere around 125 and you and your family made that possible (realizing that you got far more in return from Rusty).
2. One of your most sacred obligations with a pet is knowing when to end its suffering and acting on that obligation. I've had to do it and know the difficulty. But by doing that you delivered on Rusty's quality of life at the end as well as in the beggining and the middle.
If and when you decide to bring another dog into your family I am confident that it too will live a life that any other being would envy.
1. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being optimal, Rusty's quality of existence on the measurement scale for all beings on earth was probably somewhere around 125 and you and your family made that possible (realizing that you got far more in return from Rusty).
2. One of your most sacred obligations with a pet is knowing when to end its suffering and acting on that obligation. I've had to do it and know the difficulty. But by doing that you delivered on Rusty's quality of life at the end as well as in the beggining and the middle.
If and when you decide to bring another dog into your family I am confident that it too will live a life that any other being would envy.
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.
M. Acklam
The Dog
"The best friend man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son, or daughter, that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and good name may become traitors to their faith. The money a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our head.
"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only to be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.
"When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
"If fortune drives his master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies,. And when that last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there, by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death."
--Senator George Graham Vest, speaking to a jury about Old Drum, shot in 1869. Johnson County Circuit Court, Warrensburg, Missouri
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 129
Likes: 6
From: Glen Ridge,NJ
Originally Posted by Adobeman
I know this is off topic and hopefully the mods will humor me and look the other way for a few hours before moving or closing it.
If you have seen my other posts you know that I really love my 05 6MT ABP/Camel TL. One of the other things in my life that I love is my dog Rusty. Yesterday I found out that he has very limited time left with my wife, kids and me. He was treated for cancer two years ago and up until yesterday seemed to be a success story. Two years ago when we treated him we had to amputate a front leg. So when he started having trouble with stairs I thought it was arthritis setting in because of the additional stress of life with only three legs. As we found out yesterday it is not arthritis. His cancer is back and has spread to his lungs and most likely his bones. The vet says from this point it will be a quick downward progression towards the inevitable. Perhaps a month at best. Today is his birthday. He is 8 years old. My kids are little (twin girls just turning 5) so I'm not sure what I am going to tell them. So far we have just told them that Rusty is old and dogs don't live forever. They know something is up and they are hugging him a bit more than usual.
If you never had pets then you probably won't understand why I feel so badly. That's OK, it's a pet owner thing.
So, pour one of whatever is typically in your glass when you raise it, and raise it in honor of my pal Rusty and his having a good run at what he has left.
Thanks for listening
If you have seen my other posts you know that I really love my 05 6MT ABP/Camel TL. One of the other things in my life that I love is my dog Rusty. Yesterday I found out that he has very limited time left with my wife, kids and me. He was treated for cancer two years ago and up until yesterday seemed to be a success story. Two years ago when we treated him we had to amputate a front leg. So when he started having trouble with stairs I thought it was arthritis setting in because of the additional stress of life with only three legs. As we found out yesterday it is not arthritis. His cancer is back and has spread to his lungs and most likely his bones. The vet says from this point it will be a quick downward progression towards the inevitable. Perhaps a month at best. Today is his birthday. He is 8 years old. My kids are little (twin girls just turning 5) so I'm not sure what I am going to tell them. So far we have just told them that Rusty is old and dogs don't live forever. They know something is up and they are hugging him a bit more than usual.
If you never had pets then you probably won't understand why I feel so badly. That's OK, it's a pet owner thing.
So, pour one of whatever is typically in your glass when you raise it, and raise it in honor of my pal Rusty and his having a good run at what he has left.
Thanks for listening
Rusty
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