RIP Solitary Man

[zx6rider]

So sorry to here that Strika, my thoughts are with you mate

[Whickle]

Its always sad to let go of your pets. I feel for you mate. Its not the same for a long time after, not hearing them run around, sleep on the bed or be under your feet when your on the lounge.

Condolenses Strika. Soli will always be in your memories and hold a place in your heart.

[hoffy]

RIP Mate !

[Slow and wobbly]

Touching - I mean that. Not being a smartarse tonight.
Made me shed a tear.
Hounds are special to their owners and each one has specific traits and their own unique character.
You did the right thing Marty.
All the best
Adrian

[aardvark]

Have never had to make that decision, but with our old boy slowly getting arthritis in his back I'm dreading that it may be getting close. I only hope I have the strength to make the same decision mate.

Sorry for your loss.

[Nelso]

Sorry to hear mate.

[swabio-ACT]

Hey Marty, sad to hear it matey, but you were big enough to put his interests and quality of life before your own mate, and that is a hell of a lot more than many pet owners can do! Take care matey!

[Strika]

Thanks for all the thoughts guys and girls. I don;t mind admitting that I found yesterday very difficult. I managed to hold it together for Soli, keeping his tail wagging right till the end. But after that, I fell to bits. It's amazing how much we get emotionally involved with an animal. I grew up on a farm and back then, my father would shoot a dog if it didn't carry it's weight. Nothing was thought of it. But, pet ownership is a different thing to having a working dog. Living with an animal for nearly ten years, develops strong emotional bonds. I think it would be impossible not to!

I used to refer to Soli as my Million dollar dog. Well......he cost me a bomb to keep alive over the years. First his triple eyelids had to have cosmetic surgery, then he had a double lip in his mouth which went the same way. After that I hoped all the financial pain might go, but not long after, he managed to chew up an irigation pipe, which contained a gate valve with a thick rubber O-ring in it. He managed to swallow it whole. Two weeks, two operations and 6K later, he was back home again a little light on, but alive. He then got ear mites, then kennel cough and finally, his little heart gave out. So all in all, the little bugger has had a tough run throughout his life. The fact that he was one of 4 pups to survive from a little of 14, I thought he might have been bullet proof and hoped he wouldn't inherit his mums heart issues. But, in the end, it got him. Where as, His buddy Strika, hasn't cost me a cracker!! He really is bullet proof. Grey hair...yep, losing body muscle...yep, going deaf...yep, but still as active and on the ball as he always was and without a medical hiccup in his 13 years!!!

While I was sick last year, he and Strika, were at my side constantly once I got home from hospital. I'd often wake up and there right in front of me, with his chin resting on the bed, would be Soli. Just watching me and making sure I was OK. (Or maybe he was hoping I would feed him....he was a food pig!! ) That's the sort of stuff I'm going to miss. But now, my main focus will be making sure that Strika doesn't suffer the loss too much. He is a little older than Soli (13 this year) and we had him before we had Phoebe (Soli's mum). We got the 2nd dog to keep Strika company, as he hates being on his own. So I intend trying to spend as much time with him as I can. I'm going to go grab him today and take him for a walk down to the beach. It's going to feel odd, walking one dog after all these years

[boozatboo]

Dude... so sorry to hear...
He was a beautiful looking dog... looks very loving...
I feel your pain... Our dog called Boozatboo has been with us for 11 years now.
She's still in top shape... well a bit pudgy around the edges... but we had to get
another dog (Mikey), for the transition... Not looking forward to the day she's not around...
She is our first baby...she is just amazing...

Andy...

P.S : made me cry you bugger... hope you're feeling better, but these things take time...
I don't think when the time comes I'll be strong enough to face that day... Hope Richo
can do it...He has always been the stronger one when it comes to saying goobyes and all that.

[dave#3]

Condolences Marty, that's really tough to take.

[Dizzi]

Oh dude I read your first part on Wednesday at work, man had tears in my eyes and now have tears again, I am so sorry for your loss dude, it's aweful loosing any pet.

[mohawk miss]

you have my sympathy.

have had to euthanise more animals than I care to remember, including 2 horses (it's an awful feeling leading your best friend into his grave) and it never seems to get any easier. Lucky for me I have a great long-time vet who is very sympathetic.

hugs

[Strika]

Thanks again everyone. It's funny you know........even though I know I'm not the only one to ever go through this, just you guys n gals sharing your stories makes me feel better. It's almost like when it happens you feel like the only person in the world who has had to deal with this type of situation, yet, in reality I know most have had to go through similiar experiences. So thanks once again, I pop in here and read the posts and it makes me feel much better. I can't believe how much a dog effects me. I was the same when Soli's mum died.

[Glen]

I used to refer to Soli as my Million dollar dog.

Know the feeing mate, we've got one of those. She's a 13 yo miniature poodle (yeah i know, poodle, but she's an awesomely loyal dog)

About 5 years ago she got a shit arse disease called Immune Mediated Haemalytic Anaemia. Basically the dogs immune system flips out and decides that it's time to die so it starts munching red blood cells. Took us two blood transfusions, two weeks in hospital, 6 months of steroids, cortizone and who knows what else to get her right. Total cost was about $6k at the time but ever since she gets ear infections, skin infections and whatever else because her immune system has had the crap beaten out of it, so we've probably laid out another $4k since. After she had it treated the vet said she'd have about another 12 mths to 2 yrs of quality life. Five years on she's going deaf and slowing down but she still acts like a puppy. Would i spend the money in hindsight, absolutely. The days she goes is gong to be pretty ordinary.

Are you going to get Strika another buddy?

[cookeetree]

Sorry to hear of your loss, mate. Making that decision must have been tough. It was truly beautiful that you gave him such an amazing last day and I don't think there's a pet owner here who hasn't shed a tear over a lost animal. (Sh*t, I'm doing it now and I don't even KNOW you!)

With respect to the money he cost you over the years, I recently tried to quantify at what point would I say, "Nah, that's too much, let's just put her down". Didn't matter how high that figure got, I just couldn't arrive at a number that could make me do it.

It's only when you know your pet is suffering and that you can't alleviate that pain that you can finally make the call.

Take care.