My old friend is nearing the end!

Your friend reminds me of a dear old friend that I used to have. His name was Hobo, he was our dear little bum. We had him for about 16 yrs. I knew he wouldn't be with us much longer too. He insisted on being in my room. I would carry him up and down the stairs so he could go outside. I gave him aspirin to help with his arthitis. He wasn't in any paricular distress neither. I knew the end was soon when he stopped eating and drinking. I made him up an area in my room with a pee pad, his food and water. The last fews days he never left my room. The last night I had him was a total nightmare, my poor little guy couldn't get comfortable, he would get up and then couldn't lay back down. I would position him and try to make him comfortable. He cried at different times through the night. I was up all night with him, I just kept praying and begging God to please take him, it was time. Finally towards morning my little Hobo went to sleep and didn't wake up. I was so relieved for him. I have tears as I am writing this. he was such a special pooch, I had him since he was a few weeks old. I do hope your friend goes peacefully and without any pain. Our four legged friends are so special to us.

Loosing a pet is just as hard as loosing a family member. At least your not going to put her to sleep, your going to let it happen when it happens. That's beautiful, I don't think she would want it any other way. Maybe just having the feeling of home will make leaving even better for her. Have a good one and God bless.

I can completely empathize with what you are going through. It is hard to watch a friend we love and whom knows us sometimes better than we know ourselves in this situation. We lost our beloved Scheyenne last year on July 3rd. She went to sleep at the foot of our bed and never woke up. This year, just about one year later, we are faced with having to say goodbye to another of our old friends. Taz is 14 and a cocker/jack russel mix. He was rescued from an abusive home as a pup. Has sustained being trampled by a horse. (What can he say, he thought it was a big dog and wanted to play). Has thrown his back out three times. The last time his doctor said he didnt think he would pull through another time. He had a lump removed from his paw last spring. It was not cancer but we were warned at the time he could develope more of these lumps. Two weeks ago at bath time, we noticed three more lumps. One is now the size of a golf ball. All in his throat. He is also losing weight. It is not a decision we would like to make and is causing much sorrow. I pray every night that he will join his Scheyenne in the manner she left us. It is weird because sometimes I could swear she is calling to him. They were a match made in heaven. Unfortunately due to the circumstances, we can not let fate play out her hand. Taz is not comfortable, and whimpers more frequently. I do not want to make the call, but will have to for him. My only solice in this is that he will have friends waiting to play with and show him the ropes. I firmly believe in a heaven for animals. Enjoy her while you have her and keep her close in memory when she is gone. It is the only thing we have left.

Oh my dear, This made me so sad...it is so very hard to see our faithful pets pass, and though we know that there time on this earth is not long, they give us great times and wonderful memories for all of our lives. I lost my "baby" just before the twins were born. It just about crushed me, but we had to have him put to sleep. He was in excruciating pain and could no longer move his back legs after surgery for a cancerous tumor. I remember giving him a kiss before he left us, and crying for days afterward. I vowed never again to have another dog...but alas, we got another. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your sweet and faithful friend until God decides. Hugs!

Hi friend, God I remember when I was 16 and my dog Tammy was also 16. We could tell she was getting old and the Arthritis was getting to her. She was the most loyal animal you ever met. She loved our family and we loved her so deeply. Eventually we (the family) had decided it was time for Tammy to go to sleep. She did seem to be in some pain. We had decided to put her down within the week. However on what ended up being her last night with us, her legs went out from underneath her and she peed on the floor. She was totally disgraced with herself for doing such a thing. You could tell by the look on her face. We decided then and there that we would have her put down tomorrow. I spent all night sleeping on and off on the floor beside her. My mom ended up having to take her. My dad and I couldn't do it. Well my mom came home (in quite a state) and I will never forget she said, she went out like the lady she was. I will never forget Tammy. I am now 47 years old and it is like yesterday to me. Rest in peace my beautiful girl. Cheryl

Your dog is two years and one day younger than I am. I cannot imagine how hard it is for you, knowing that it may not be as long as you would like it to be from now that she will pass. I am glad that you care for her so much. My mother's friend had a wonderful dog, I am not sure of the breed. His name was Kuma, which means "bear" in Japanese, or so I have been told. He was the same age as me always, and for as long as we knew mother's friend, it was always Her and Kuma, Kuma and Her. They were inseparable, like life-long friends. A few years after we moved away, we traveled back to the place where we used to live, and Kuma had gotten so old. He was someone that I remember playing with every day when we were young, and now he was an old man. About a year later, she called my mother crying, and we all knew what happened. Kuma was an old friend.

It's so sad to have had a companion like this for such a long time, and to see them coming to the end of their life Raydene. As long as she isn't in any pain, then I would let her see her days out naturally. A few years ago I had an old poodle that started to get sick - to the extent that near the end, nothing was working properly in his body, so the kindest thing was to put him to sleep; it broke my heart, but he was in pain and couldn't go on. We get so attached to our pets, it's hard to face the inevitable when it comes, and my heart goes out to you sweetie - just love her while you have her. xx

I almost didn't post because I couldn't see the keyboard for the tears. I lost my best friend Midnight, a black shepherd, a couple of years ago due to old age, and it is still very painful to think about. He was a loyal faithful companion til the end. The doggie ambulance came to pick him up when he could no longer stand and was semi-conscious. I was with him at the vet when he passed. After looking at several options, I chose to have his remains cremated. So in a way, he is still near and I find this comforting. Now my oldest dog is Pee Wee and he too is showing signs of old age. I hope I can find the strength to endure. Please keep us informed and I am praying for you.

I had a golden that was 14, she got to where she was having a hard time getting around, couldn't see as well as she used too and I didn't have her put down. Had she been in pain, I would have considered it, so as to not have her suffer. She was a great dog, and her and my oldest daughter pretty much grew up together. I got up one morning, and sensed her breathing wasn't right. I sat down by her on the floor, and she laid her head on my lap, I patted her head til she took her last breath. She had been very loyal, and one of the best dogs I had ever had, and she had been a pound puppy, a friend got and then couldn't keep her due to a move he was making. I got her when she was 9 months old.

Oh I felt sad for your story because I really adore dogs too. We have two dogs in our house. Actually, they're my best friends; they make us happy everyday. I know time will come, that they will be like that just like your friend and I hope I can be as strong just like you. I don't know how to comfort you really, but I'll just pray that God will give your friend more strength and also for you too.

One of the reasons I don't have friends like that is that I get too attached and that is something which is just going to cause trouble for me. I used to have a dog which nobody liked and nobody understood him except for me. We were together one summer when the whole family went for a whole month's vacation. I fed him and he guarded me and the house really well. Everyone was afraid of him except me. I knew he was a softie but I did not let on to anyone because I did not want to risk him losing face. I guess he understood that and there was mutual, unspoken respect between us.

Awww, that's a very touching story. It's always hard to lose those close to us, regardless of whether they are people or animals. It's even harder to watch them deteriorate so. I think it is good that you are there for her and caring for her in her last days. Anyone, animal or human, should at least be able to spend their last moments surrounded by those they love. Kudos to you.

aaaw.. that's sweet of you to think of her. well i hope she'll have more years to come. i don't have an old friend, as old as her but we do have a cat before that's very old. she don't know how to pee in the right place anymore and sometimes she can't go home probably because she forgets her house. hehehe.. until she was gone. she's old like 10 years i guess.. well i hope she's in cat's heaven now.

I had an old friend, Peety was a little toy poodle that made it to 17 years old. My parents got her when they got married, she was a pup from my moms other dog. When she passed she had become deaf and nearly completely blind, but she still was loving and caring. dogs are amazing creatures...

it is so sad to hear your story raydene... 16 years old is really an old age for a dog... i bet you already have lots of wonderful memories with her... and you are kind enough not to put her to sleep... she is still alive and even though she is struggling, just let her live until God calls her back to heaven... i never have a dog until that old before... it must be very sad when you lose her... take care and have a nice day...

It's sad when our beloved furbabies are getting old and we sense their time is coming to an end. Since he's not in any obvious pain, I would let nature take care of him. I had a cat once, Snoopy, a beautiful white cat, that lived to be 21 years old! He too, wasn't in pain, and a bit arthritic, but otherwise as fiesty as ever right till the end. Here's a picture of him

Oh Raydene this is such a bitter sweet discussion as she is just suffering from old age so no there is no way I would put her down I agree. I would also leave the decision to God. I had tow labradors myself for many years and even though one had suffered epilespy they both grew into grumpy old men and to a ripe old age, one 11 and one 14 not as old as your gal eh and it was like the loss of a family member and I have never had another dog since. They were irreplacable. Ellie :D

hi raydene yes I had my old friend Pat who was always my dog, and when he was about twenty my parents had him as we were buying a house, and had to do a lot of moving in. sadly instead of asking me as he was my dog, my mom decided he was just too 'old to go on living, I came to get my dog, and was told'by my younger sister that my mom had taken him to the vet and had 'him put to sleep was the way she worded it. now they knew I wanted my dog back the moment we got our furniture in my house and that he was still in pretty good shape for his age. I just bawled my eyes out and could not stop even after myhusband kept saying they just thought he was too old and too ill. but he was not ill. he was my dog.they had no right to interfere. after allthey had only taken care of him for two days, just two lousy days. it took awhile for me to forgive my mom. Pat was my pal.I would have let him wait for God to take him.