OT: Coping with putting our dog down

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 5:53 pm

You guys have all been tremendous in your support. It's amazing the impaact a domesticated animal, whether it be a dog or a cat can have on a human's life. While they can't speak, they communicate their feelings unbelieveably through their actions.

Anyways, my wife walked to the mall with my daughter this morning. She needed to get some time away from the house. She wandered in to the pet store to look at the Puggles, but didn't have that overwhelming feeling that she wanted another dog. Starting over seems like such a chore right now with two young children. Plus, she thinks it wouldn't be right to Zoe if we got another dog right away. I can understand where she's coming from. She's still very much mourning the loss. We both have a lot of regret for not taking Zoe to the vet the first time she started showing signs of not feeling well.

icvu42 · Post by **icvu42** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:23 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Damn Dan...I'm sorry to hear that. What's really weird is that I have a good friend that just had to put her dog (Zoe) down as well last week. Must be a bad week for dogs with that name.

Dan, my condolences to you.

My dog, also named Zoey, didn't die, but I am going through a divorce and moved out 2 weeks ago. Since Zoey was a gift to my wife, she stays with her.

Dogs are great. They are so loyal and really just want to spend time with you and be loved.

Rick

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:43 pm

Weird. We have two dogs and the little pomeranian is named, "Zoey" as well.

Boltman · Post by **Boltman** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:47 pm

MizzouRah wrote:Weird. We have two dogs and the little pomeranian is named, "Zoey" as well.

I lover Pomeranians, I like when people shave theirs to look like little lions LOL.

I have long haul drivers that work for my company (married couple) and they have the cutest little Pomeranian that looks like a little lion.

They are nice looking if properly groomed often.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:17 pm

Well, it's been some time since Zoe has passed. The wife and I have toyed with getting another dog. First, we checked out the pet stores, but I never have believed in purchasing a dog from there. Then, we responded to an ad on Craigslist about some people here locally selling lab puppies. I just couldn't give a definite yes, as the thought of bringing home a puppy with a 3 and 5 year old sounded a bit stressful.

So, for the heck of it I posted an ad requesting a chocolate lab female. After no responses for a few days, we got an email from someone who lives an hour away. They have an 11 month old. She's completely potty trained, fixed, up to date shots, and spends most of her days outside swimming in the lake. The family who owns her has four children, and they simply can't devote enough time to the dog.

Obviously, we need to get the dog checked out. She already weighs 85 pounds, so she's the labrador retreiver with the blocky head. Zoe was an American lab, so she was smaller and weighed about 25 pounds less. I'm kinda excited primarily because she's already trained and she's exactly the kind of breed and color we were looking for.

We're set to go meet her tomorrow with the kids. I want to see to how the kids interact with her. I'm not 100% about this, but this seems like a good fit.

Anyways, just wanted to update you guys on our situation. They're asking $250 her, and I wonder whether or not I should try and negotiate. Thoughts?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:26 pm

Wow...I didn't know you could "request" a dog on craigslist. Interesting.

I probably wouldn't try to talk them down or negotiate the price. But who knows...not sure what kind of etiquette would apply.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:26 pm

That's a reasonable price considering all of the major 1st year vet bills are out of the way.

Of course, I personally love the first 12 months of having a puppy, having them imprint on you and training them myself.... I've always bought dogs from breeders and taken them home at 8-12 weeks, that's when they're most fun (pre-destructive stages).

Bringing a 1yr old dog home is like adopting a 2yr old toddler, you got non of the sweet baby/puppy stuff, it's straight into terror mode.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:11 am

sportdan30 wrote:Well, it's been some time since Zoe has passed. The wife and I have toyed with getting another dog. First, we checked out the pet stores, but I never have believed in purchasing a dog from there. Then, we responded to an ad on Craigslist about some people here locally selling lab puppies. I just couldn't give a definite yes, as the thought of bringing home a puppy with a 3 and 5 year old sounded a bit stressful.

So, for the heck of it I posted an ad requesting a chocolate lab female. After no responses for a few days, we got an email from someone who lives an hour away. They have an 11 month old. She's completely potty trained, fixed, up to date shots, and spends most of her days outside swimming in the lake. The family who owns her has four children, and they simply can't devote enough time to the dog.

Obviously, we need to get the dog checked out. She already weighs 85 pounds, so she's the labrador retreiver with the blocky head. Zoe was an American lab, so she was smaller and weighed about 25 pounds less. I'm kinda excited primarily because she's already trained and she's exactly the kind of breed and color we were looking for.

We're set to go meet her tomorrow with the kids. I want to see to how the kids interact with her. I'm not 100% about this, but this seems like a good fit.

Anyways, just wanted to update you guys on our situation. They're asking $250 her, and I wonder whether or not I should try and negotiate. Thoughts?

Dan,
Great to hear you might have a new companion. We still haven't replaced our german shepherd, but I think we will look into it when the weather breaks in March or April.

I think I would definitely attempt to negotiate. People who are trying to get rid of a dog are generally just looking to find it a good home, not recoup their investment. I would just give them a story about how you can only spare $150-$200 due to taxes or something and see if they bite on it.

Someone gave my mom and dad a $600 cockatoo a few years ago because they didn't have time to spend with it. Not only did they give them the bird, but two cages as well.

Good luck to you and let us know how it turns out.

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:36 am

well, the time came for my parents to have the family dog to be put to sleep this past Friday. He was a 14 year old English Springer Spaniel named "Boomer" (brother & Dad named him when he was a pup for Essaison, then the Jets QB). Boomer suffered from arthritis in all his legs, & walked around with a bad limp. At one point months back, it looked pretty bleak as he had severe trouble walking, but after taking some medication, he seemed to be doing better. Just recently however, he started to "gag" while eating, & the day or two prior to his "leaving", he would not move from his spot by the front door. My mom called me Friday at work to tell me, at which point I turned to a puddle of tears. It really pains me as he was "my buddy", always by my side & would always great me at the door when I came to visit after moving out. I still get emotional about this, & the fact that my parents have decided not to get another dog at this point (I live in an apartment & cannot have a pet atm) leaves a hole in my heart.. To top it off, his birthday was 3 days prior to mine..

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:23 am

Sigh... sorry to read about your loss. It sucks so much to lose a family pet. We just got 2 dogs ourselves and just the thought of losing them brings tears to my eyes... I cannot imagine what I will do if I do lose them. They are the best additions to our family (no kids yet).

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:26 am

Sorry to hear, Isles.

14 years is a good run for a dog, though!

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:44 am

webdanzer wrote:Sorry to hear, Isles.

14 years is a good run for a dog, though!

that it was... & it had to be done because of the problems he suffered..

but i'll tell ya.. it will be hard going to see my parents now without seeing him around.. very hard

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:46 am

my GFs dog died in my arms about a month back. it sucked. was such a horrible experience.

thoughts and prayers.

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:55 am

Sudz wrote:my GFs dog died in my arms about a month back. it sucked. was such a horrible experience.

thoughts and prayers.

Yes, it might be horrible but I bet the dog couldn't have died in a better place. You know my dogs love to be in my arms so as hard as it is that the day comes, I know I want to be the one giving them the final hug.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:11 pm

WillHunting wrote:
Sudz wrote:my GFs dog died in my arms about a month back. it sucked. was such a horrible experience.

thoughts and prayers.

Yes, it might be horrible but I bet the dog couldn't have died in a better place. You know my dogs love to be in my arms so as hard as it is that the day comes, I know I want to be the one giving them the final hug.

yeah. he could have died when we were at work. it was a tough night...but he was sick..and it was time.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:12 pm

WillHunting wrote:
Sudz wrote:my GFs dog died in my arms about a month back. it sucked. was such a horrible experience.

thoughts and prayers.

Yes, it might be horrible but I bet the dog couldn't have died in a better place. You know my dogs love to be in my arms so as hard as it is that the day comes, I know I want to be the one giving them the final hug.

Ditto that. One of our two Pomeranians had always been rather stomach ill but took a bad turn a day before a family trip last August. My inlaws were supposed to watch the two girls, but we opted to leave Maggie under the care of our vet. We were in touch with the vet for two days before we got the bad news that she'd passed away. She was only eight and we miss her very much. The vet did a commendable job keeping her in a condition for us to see her one last time. My wife and I wept as we patted her and said our goodbyes and we'll likely always regret not being with her on her last days.

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:15 pm

GameSeven wrote:
WillHunting wrote:
Sudz wrote:my GFs dog died in my arms about a month back. it sucked. was such a horrible experience.

thoughts and prayers.

Yes, it might be horrible but I bet the dog couldn't have died in a better place. You know my dogs love to be in my arms so as hard as it is that the day comes, I know I want to be the one giving them the final hug.
Ditto that. One of our two Pomeranians had always been rather stomach ill but took a bad turn a day before a family trip last August. My inlaws were supposed to watch the two girls, but we opted to leave Maggie under the care of our vet. We were in touch with the vet for two days before we got the bad news that she'd passed away. She was only eight and we miss her very much. The vet did a commendable job keeping her in a condition for us to see her one last time. My wife and I wept as we patted her and said our goodbyes and we'll likely always regret not being with her on her last days.

that will be my regret - i wasn't around to say my "goodbye's"....

It's funny though.. the next day I went away for the week to see my buddy & his family. They have a begal.. Anyway. the first thing the dog did was to jump up in my arms & put it's head on my lap.. almost like saying "I know..."

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:39 pm

Sorry, Isles. I'm not a dog guy, but I'm a pet guy. I've buried two of of our cats, and it's never fun.

Hang in there.

Take care,
PK