I just laid one of my favorite climbing partners to rest
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Sam, |
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Lucky to be adopted by a climber; dog got outside, chased a few critters! |
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Oh that sucks man! You put the dog 1st the whole time, as you should. You did what you could and I'm proud of you for the way you handled it the whole way through. crap. |
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TheBirdman wrote:Not to undermine any sort of family dog, but I really think there is something different about being young and getting your own dog. I wanted a dog my entire life and my parents always refused, telling me when I got my first house, I could get a dog. The minute I signed the lease for my first house, I went out and got Sam. I was 18, in college, with no money and no experience with dogs. None of that mattered. That dog taught me more about myself and about what it means to care for something else than I would have learned in a lifetime without him. I would give that dog anything and everything. We've had some epics chasing deer through the woods, him being stolen once (yeah, that's for real), dumpster dives, etc. He's been my hiking partner, my roadtrip buddy, gear protector, my friend, and my companion since the moment I picked him up. Lately, he has been having some serious health issues so the thought that he will some day pass (something you never consider when you have a healthy dog) has been frequent in my mind. I really appreciate your story and while I can't exactly empathize since I haven't lost my dog, I can truly appreciate the relationship you guys had. Like I said, there is just something different about a dog you get when you're young and on your own for the first time; a indefinable bond. Take solace in the fact you did all you could for him, made it as good as it could have been, and did the right thing. I often wondered what I would do if Samson (a husky) was unable to run, or play in the snow, or do the things he loves to do and honestly, I would make the same choice you did. A life of pain for a dog is no life at all and it would have been selfish to force him to endure it any longer. I feel for you man and like many others who have read this thread, got tears in my eyes. Stay positive, pet your other dogs, and try to take the sweet with the bitter. You were lucky enough to find each other and enjoy the time you had together. Try to stay focused on the good and look at it from the perspective that you gained so much from knowing him, not how much you'll miss him now that he's gone.You put into words what I've been trying to get right recently. I knew there was something special about it being just me and him from the get go, but you nailed it. Thanks. |
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i am so sorry for your loss. My family is on our second lab, the first one had to be put down, he was part of the family for everything, including pacing with my wife all nite while she was in labor with our first child, he was her shadow. The new one wants to be attached to my hip and I find my self at times telling him to go away, after reading your post I called him into the den to hug him, thanks for sharing |
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Sorry for your lost, I have been there myself. It was my then 8 year old daughter wondering why I was so distraught that said "all dogs go to heaven" Somehow it made it OK. |
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We've been there. (Those of us with tears in our eyes.) Things will improve, but there will ALWAYS be that connection, and it will move you. My mom died, and while the unconditional love was deep, we get it on some intellectual level, and we (and they) get it: life is short. (my dog died and I was devastated) Your connection with your dog was unconditional and somehow, maybe because they depend on you, hits us at some gut level that we can't sort out. You gave the best to a dog who took it at the level that it's all good: time out with us was the best moment of their day/life. They just couldn't say how important it was. (Cry, scream and mourn: you hurt.) Thanks for your mourning, we're all more human for it. |
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Brutal man... Sorry for your loss... |
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So sorry, and no words can really console how you feel. Time does heal ...but it still feels like an empty void. You did the right thing. Tucker can romp and play with my companions in the Elysium fields. Never really believed in the afterlife, until something I love so much departs forever. |
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I have had 4 of my dogs die in my life. Only one was a true "climbers dog". I miss him the most. He was a daschund that loved to swim and drag big rocks out of the water and up the hill, only to turn around and roll them down the hill back into the water. He was something else. So sorry to hear about the loss of your best friend. |
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rob bauer wrote:We've been there. (Those of us with tears in our eyes.) Things will improve, but there will ALWAYS be that connection, and it will move you. My mom died, and while the unconditional love was deep, we get it on some intellectual level, and we (and they) get it: life is short. (my dog died and I was devastated) Your connection with your dog was unconditional and somehow, maybe because they depend on you, hits us at some gut level that we can't sort out. You gave the best to a dog who took it at the level that it's all good: time out with us was the best moment of their day/life. They just couldn't say how important it was. (Cry, scream and mourn: you hurt.) Thanks for your mourning, we're all more human for it. If you have a dog: go for a walk. (You'll all feel better.)Are you saying that you were more devastated when your dog died than when your mom died? Thats kinda f'ed up. |
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Phil Lauffen wrote: Are you saying that you were more devastated when your dog died than when your mom died? Thats kinda f'ed up.No he is saying that a dog's love and your love in return is the most simplistic form of affection. There is no conversation to intellectually stimulate you, no shared financial/family goals, and no relation to keep your bonded. It is pure, simple love for the sake of loving a living creature. Judging him for the way he grieves is f'ed up. Sam, I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even talk about my dogs dying without getting choked up. I'm giving my two mutts extra love tonight |
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At first I thought this was about a person, almost x'd the window out. Then I realized it was a dog, not cool man, not fucking cool. RIP Tucker. |
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Sorry for your loss. Some dogs are loved like family members. We lost our little climbing buddy last summer to cancer as well. It was a tough loss. We buried him in the mountains near one of our favorite hiking trails. Sorry again for your loss. |
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Rich F. wrote:Sorry for your loss. Some dogs are loved like family members. We lost our little climbing buddy last summer to cancer as well. It was a tough loss. We buried him in the mountains near one of our favorite hiking trails. Sorry again for your loss.That dog looks like he was rad. |
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Sam, |
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Evan Horvath aka Evan1984 wrote: No he is saying that a dog's love and your love in return is the most simplistic form of affection. There is no conversation to intellectually stimulate you, no shared financial/family goals, and no relation to keep your bonded. It is pure, simple love for the sake of loving a living creature. Judging him for the way he grieves is f'ed up. Sam, I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even talk about my dogs dying without getting choked up. I'm giving my two mutts extra love tonightThats not what I read. Judging me for how I judge other people is kinda f'ed up. |
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sam, sorry to hear the news. just remember that you were lucky to find him, and he was really lucky to find you. sounds like you gave him a fantastic journey. |
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RIP Tucker. So hard to go through! Sorry for your loss. |
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That blows dude. May he rest in peace and may you get some peace here, too. |