Lost a great friend today

[BobsSmith]

Greetings Everyone..

I lost a great friend today, 9-10-13. My dog Ginger had to be put to sleep.

She was 16.5 years old. She came into my life on July 12, 1997 at age of 4 months. She was a Siberian Husky mix.

Had many good times together...loved to run, go camping go for long walks.

I never thought the day would come. Gradually as she aged, her back legs started giving her trouble when she was 15. Meds helped keep her going.

She got to the point where she could not get up without assistance and was losing control of bodily functions.

So it was today, I finally decided to have her put to sleep in fairness to her.

I am 55 years old, if there was a way to keep her going rest of my life, believe me I would have done it!

I would post her picture here, but not sure how to do it.

Thanks

Bob

[MattLarmore]

I am sorry to hear that...losing an animal is hard, especially one that has been in your life for that long...my condolences.

[Marshwheeling]

Sad news. You have all my sympathy.

[jimmyj]

Good Morning:
As painful as it is, its the right thing to do. I had to do it for my "Ginger" in 2009. The most difficult thing in my entire life.
Still get teary eyed and choked up just thinking of her.
Perhaps someone will post "The Rainbow Bridge" poem for us.
Its too soon to consider, but there is another dog waiting to love you and you her. Consider Rescue dog.
Jimmy

[pace40]

So, so sorry to hear of Ginger's passing, Bob. I, and many here, know first hand the sadness and sorrow of losing a beloved four legged friend. The little girl in my avitar passed in July. I think of the good times often. Time does ease the pain but the memories, especially the fonds ones, last forever. God bless.

*********************

The Rainbow Bridge


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[gunlovingirl]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss Bob. You can find peace in knowing you gave Ginger a great life. She'll be waiting for you at The Bridge. God bless.

[Arik]

Very sorry to hear that.

Seems like she led a full life surrounded by her pack!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

[Jessie]

Sorry for your loss. Take comfort in knowing you gave her the best life possible.

[Engineer1911]

The worst day in every pet owner's life. You have our sympathy. You did what you had to do for Ginger.

[big&slow]

Very sorry for your loss.

[Dano]

Sorry for your loss. My little Buddy is 11 yrs old now and
has a collapsing trachea so he won't live to many more years.
I'm 64 and retired and he's my constant companion 24/7.
It's going to kill me when he goes so I can imagine how you
feel and how hard a decision it was to make.
Dano

[gdnagle]

The hardest part of losing a friend is having to put them to sleep. I've had to do it with most of my best friends through my life time. It is so mush easier if they went on their own. The thought that maybe you could still have helped them stays with me and I always think that did I do the right thing. I know deep down inside that I did, but it still hurts. When this life ends for me I hope my family and all my friends will be there with me forever.

R.I.P. Ginger and prayers to you Bob to ease your pain.

[labworm]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

But it is our duty to make sure they suffer no more, as hard as it is.

Many of us truly understand how you feel as we all have been there.

I still miss my Lady and she left in 1980.

"Man's Best Friend"

[Old TexMex]

Sorry to hear it, Bob-
Ginger will be waitin for you.

[shouldazagged]

Bob, I hurt for you. This is part of the contract we make with our beloved pets when they adopt us (and they do, regardless of what the paperwork may say), but it's terribly painful.

Prayers for healing for you and your family, and prayers of gratitude for the wonderful life you and Ginger shared.

RIP, little girl. You served your humans well.

[gunlovingirl]

Here's a picture of Ginger that I am posting for Bob.

[Iggy]

The hardest, but most responsible and loving thing we can do for a pet is keep them from suffering.. For me it was harder than losing my parents.

My parents knew and understood what was happening, not so with my pets and that is the hard part. You can't really tell a pet goodbye.
When the time comes, there is another pooch out there that desperately needs a job taking care of and loving a family.

Find one and give him a job. You'll both reap the rewards.

[kennyb]

sorry to hear of your loss bob...they do indeed become family

[kozmic]

We have had to put our last six dogs down in the past 20 years. It doesn't get any easier. Each took a part of my heart when they left us.

I'm glad the last earthly vision they had was of the family that loved them. I would have felt worse if any of them had to die all alone.

It's a part of the deal my friend. Our pets give us unconditional love and all of their affection. In turn we must insure their health and safety. And when the time comes, put an end to their suffering and allow them to pass with dignity.

I'm saddened by your loss of Ginger Bob. The void left behind is immeasurable. I hope you find comfort in the years of fond memories you were able to share together.

[kozmic]

Originally Posted by gunlovingirl

Here's a picture of Ginger that I am posting for Bob.

Ginger was a beautiful pup Bob.

What a wonderfully nice gesture Misty. Thank you for posting.

[M29since14]

Sorry to hear about Ginger. Quite a few of us have been where you are now so if it is any consolation, you know you have lots of company here. Hang in there until better days come along.

[rwsmith]

One thing you can be happy for is with her living to be sixteen and half. Surely you took the best care of her all along.

[dpowers311]

Sorry for your loss. I am glad you had 16.5 years together.

[the ringo kid]

Sorry a bit late but--I am sorry for the loss of your fine pal.

[ralph7]

You give part of your heart out on a 12-15 year loan.
Does the love and companionship you get trump the absolute heartbreak at the end?
Yes, it does, but it's a very close match.

So sorry, I have been where you are.

[rags]

Tough stuff Bob. We've been through it a few times. It breaks your heart. Sounds like your friend had a VERY good life. Nobody can ever take the memories from you. No one.

[BobsSmith]

Thank You everyone!

It is a blessing to know that there are others out there who care.

From reading I know many of you experienced the same thing.

I have faith that we will see our Friends again when that day comes!

No matter what happens in life, I'll never forget that Saturday, July 12, 1997 when she came bounding into my life and all our good times together!

Thank You

Bob

[amazingflapjack]

Our condolences Bob, and prayers for all the pets, Dano's buddy, et al. Flapjack

[S&W45Colt]

I'm sorry to hear it Bob. Prayers sent for your loss. anybody who thinks "it's only a dog," never had one.

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by BobsSmith

...I have faith that we will see our Friends again when that day comes!

We WILL, Bob.

[pawncop]

My condolences and a prayer that Ginger finds the Rainbow Bridge quickly.

[shouldazagged]

Originally Posted by M29since14

We WILL, Bob.

I seem to post this a lot here, because so many of you folks have had this heartbreaking experience, but here it is again:

If there isn't a place in heaven for my beloved little Moose and other pets I've lost over the years, I have no interest in going there.

I believe there is.

[Fishslayer]

I'm sorry for your loss. Sometimes saying goodbye is the kindest thing but it's never easy.

We have chosen tears...

A long long time ago, the Loving Ones went to the Angel in Charge. They were lonesome and asked the Angel to help them. The Angel took them to a wall of windows and let them look out the first window at all sorts of things - dolls and stuffed animals and cars and toys and sporting events. "Here are things you can love," the Angel said. "They will keep you from being lonesome."

"Oh, thank you," the Loving Ones said. "These are just what we need."

"You have chosen Pleasure," the Angel told them.

But after a time the Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "Things are okay to love," they said. "But they don't care that we love them."

The Angel in Charge led them over to the second window. It looked out at all sorts of wild animals. "Here are animals to love," he said. "They will know you love them." So the Loving Ones hurried out to care for the wild animals. "You have chosen Satisfaction," the Angel said.

Some of the Loving Ones worked at zoos and wild animal preserves, some just had bird feeders in their yards, but after a time they all came back to the Angel in Charge. "They know we love them," they told the Angel. "But they don't love us back. We want to be loved in return."

So the Angel took them to the third window and showed them lots of people walking around, hurrying places. "Here are people for you to love," the Angel told them. So the Loving Ones hurried off to find other people to love. "You have chosen Commitment," the Angel said.

But after a time a lot of Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "People were okay to love," they said. "But sometimes they stopped loving us and left. They broke our hearts."

The Angel just shook his head. "I cannot help you," he said. "You will have to be satisfied with the choices I gave you."

As the Loving Ones were leaving, someone saw a window off to one side and hurried to look out. Through it, they could see puppies and kittens and dogs and cats and lizards and hamsters and ferrets. The other Loving Ones hurried over. "What about these?" they asked.

But the Angel just tried to shoo them away. "Those are Personal Empathy Trainers," he said. "But there's a problem with their system operations."

"Would they know that we love them?" someone asked.

"Yes," the Angel said.

"Would they love us back?" another asked.

"Yes," the Angel said.

"Will they stop loving us?" someone else asked.

"No," the Angel admitted. "They will love you forever."

"Then these are what we want," the Loving Ones said.

But the Angel was very upset. "You don't understand," he told them. "You will have to feed these animals."

"That's all right," the Loving Ones said.

"You will have to clean up after them and take care of them forever."

"We don't care." The Loving Ones did not listen. They went down to where the Pets were and picked them up, seeing the love in their own hearts reflected in the animals' eyes.

"They were not programmed right," the Angel said. "We can't offer a warranty. We don't know how durable they are. Some of their systems malfunction very quickly, others last a long time."

But the Loving Ones did not care. They were holding the warm little bodies and finding their hearts so filled with love that they thought they would burst. "We will take our chances," they said.

"You do not understand." The Angel tried one more time. "They are so dependent on you that even the most well-made of them is not designed to out live you. You are destined to suffer their loss."

The Loving Ones looked at the sweetness in their arms and nodded. "That is how it should be. It is a fair trade for the love they offer."

The Angel just watched them all go, shaking his head. "You have chosen Tears," he whispered.

[shouldazagged]

Fishslayer, that is the most beautiful thing on this subject that I've ever read. Did you write it? If not, who did? And if you did, may I pass it along to some friends?

[Doug M.]

Pretty girl. She got a good life from her time with you, and she deserved the consideration you gave her when the time came in return for all the good times she gave you.