Little Gifts

I really love your cross - it is beautiful! My sister bought me this ceramic heart container that is covered in sparkly angel wings. Everything I find of Ricky's (still covered in her dna) goes into the container. It's got things in there like her unwashed pink sock and well worn name tag. I used to swap between two collars with their own tags on them so one is buried with her as well (but no collar - don't like the idea of dog's being buried 'enslaved'). I did the same with her son's tag. Maybe in 50 years someone might come across them and understand it was their final resting place. I've also succumbed and let Stussy wear her winter coats. It feels ok now. I know you cremate - do you do something special with the ashes or put them in special containers?

That is so wonderful for Alaska! The start of a new life for her all thanks to you Rach!

Rach I've commented before about these visions I get and a few months ago I had a very strong feeling that Whitey had had enough and that it was only that you weren't ready for him to go that kept him around. I think I mentioned it to Cazstaff but didn't want to say anything to you because I think having hope is very important. So if you feel like he is still around banging doors and nudging you with his nose then it is his way of telling you he is ok, gone from this earth physically but never forgotten. He will always have a place in your family and he knows that. He'd had enough and had to leave his broken body behind is all. The rainbow bridge had been calling him for a while. He's where he was meant to be. Alyson

Mine is bad. Rescue pup (who never left) went under my feet while I was carrying a huge basket of wet washing. I fell butt first onto the concrete. I then developed an abcess on the base of my spine which started leaking. The most hideous pain I have ever experienced for 3 or so weeks. A bit like an alien trying to burst out of my body. I had late night emergency surgery and then drains in for 7 weeks before having more surgery to put some experimental pigs bits into the gaping hole the abcess left behind. I was off work for three months and could either only lie on one side or stand for the entire time. Even better it chewed through a third of my core body muscles and as I get older I will get incontinent from both ends! YAY! The dog in question is now heading on to 4 years old and she is my heart dog so I would forgive her anything!

Happy Birthday Gemma! You gorgeous old girl!

Having spent most of my childhood on the unpatrolled beaches of Wollongong (patrolling wasn't a thing back then) and my teens on the unpatrolled beaches of the Gold Coast (only the tourist sections were patrolled back when I was a teen) we were taught about rips and how to deal with other sea dangers. I know it is a risk to jump in and try to restrain a panicking dog but my instinct would still be to try and calm them down, keep their head above water and ride the rip back with them to shore. I would of course do the same for a stranger in the absence of a proper surf lifesaver or someone on a board, however I would not expect anyone to risk their lives for my dog on my behalf.

What a beautiful tribute to your boy. Love the paw print. Rest easy Casper - you were one of a kind and will never be forgotten by your family. XXX

And hands up who else here would probably do the same thing for their beloved dog? Me x 2 dogs

We actually had a rescue keeshond in Dec/January last year and he was the reason I joined DOL as we were trying to rehome him. He too was the most lovely natured boy despite not being very well cared for. His owners even had him shorn due to his being so matted and he ended up with severe razor burn on his genitals yet he would let us put cream on it without showing an ounce of aggression. He is now with someone who has always loved the breed and is a feline foster carer. I get to hear and see updates on him from time to time.

Oh I know exactly what you are talking about! In late may I lost my old girl. She is buried in the yard on top of her son who was buried there 3.5 years ago. At all times this area if fortified with wire that is weighted down with besser bricks. Since Ricky got buried there though there seems to have been significant attention paid to the area. Our two 'effers' have dug her up THREE TIMES! Well not all of her. First time they just exposed the bag but the next two times they got right through to her and exposed her thigh, spreading a now shredded lovely blankie she was buried in all over the yard. Oh the trauma! They have been using a new gopher side tunnelling technique to get to her and I'm sure they had been strategising about it for weeks trying to come up with just the right method. Ricky's grave is now subject to the kind of security used to protect the Hope Diamond. As the weeks wear on and especially now the bag surrounding her is gone, I am none too keen to see bits of her reappear again.....

If I had the choice of a dog or $10 million I'd take the dog without even thinking, even if the dog was my naughty girl here who has cost me a fortune in all the things she has ruined! Oh how I love that rascal! You can't buy the joy, comfort, love, forgiveness or memories that come with owning a dog. I think they give far more than they take.

Cordelia you join a lot of other beloved dogs who gave their all to us humans but whose time on earth has unfortunately ended recently. You will all live on in our hearts and memories. XXX

I don't have the words tonight Rach but please know that I'm feeling your pain. This is a significant loss for you and your family. You and Whitey both so hard for it to be otherwise. I'm sure Jay Jay has greeted him and welcomed him over the bridge. Rest easy now boy.

Sorry, I have no words of comfort as I'm still grieving over the loss of my own staffy girl almost a month on. Stella obviously got the life she deserved, even if it wasn't a long one. She looked like a bright and happy girl with a lot to give a family. She obviously made a major difference in your life too Rach and how wonderful that you got to watch her blossom and be loved given she was your first rescue. I think that in itself is special. big hugs - the losses suck. Alyson XXX

I got some books from the library yesterday - Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul and a book of pics and stories called Old Dogs. I looked at the ages in the Old Dogs book and realised that Ricky was pretty freaking old for a dog. Certainly older than any other dog my family or friends have ever owned. Then I looked up studies on the Internet and only 8% of dogs make over 15 years and the average age for an SBT is only 10! I'm sure that figure would be even lower for a dog like Ricky who was originally trained to protect her owner's ute and tools during the work week and go pig shooting with him on weekends! I don't think I really realised how significant her age was before because I've been so focussed on thinking did I let her go too early. She had certainly slowed down this year but was still a very integral and active part of this family rather than just an old dog who spent her time laying about waiting to draw her last breath. I think the feeling of loss really stems from how much of my life I have shared with that one animal. Every major decision in my life for the past 16 years has included factoring Ricky's needs into it. But I'm trying to think more about how much she fitted into such a long life because she was right there in the thick of things right till the end. She never let her age or health problems stop her from doing anything and in turn I guess we kind of forgot that she really was very old for a dog. I hope I am so lucky to be oblivious to age too when I hit my twilight years. We still miss you Rick but you lived life to the fullest and that is the best thing I could ever offer a dog.

Congratulations on your new dog Ruthless! Ha ha! What about a name like Marlow which sounds similar to Bruno. I think there used to be a detective in the old film noir days called Phillip Marlow and Bruno needs a cool name. Or even something like Pluto? He is very purty and already thinks he's home so you may as well stop being in denial!

My morning routine is something like this - alarm goes off, I get up, do some chores, get myself organised for work and head to the kitchen. My stafford Stussy crawls out from under the doona and blankets, races outside and pees as quickly as possible before running back inside in time for her bowl of biscuits to be placed before her. While she eats I remove her hoodie. As soon as her bowl is empty she turns 180 degrees to sit next to me while I eat my toast and coffee. Sooky la la face normally results in some corners of toast. Once it is clear all the toast is gone Stussy goes back to bed while I have a shower. I come back to the room to get dressed and put my make up on. I must be careful where I sit on the bed as those doona lumps could very well contain Stussy. Once I am ready to leave for work I grab a couple of dog cookies, which brings Stussy out from under the doona again and out the back door where she sits nicely for her biscuit and takes it to her outside undercover bed and blankies to eat. On a nice sunny day I know she sleeps on her other outside bed that is in the sun but apart from that I think she just curls up in her fleecy blankets till I come home again! Oh to be a dog!

Thank you everyone. I didn't realise I would take it this hard given Rick was never a smoochy/cuddly type of dog that I could fuss over. But she and I have a long history together which has bonded us in a special way. My sister bought me this beautiful heart shaped dish that is covered in angel wings and I have put her tag and some other mementos in it. The small painting she did has been mounted on a little easel and is with me at work while the big painting is part of a collage of three now in our lounge room. Ricky is buried in the back yard on top of her son who passed away 3.5 years ago now. I can't plant a tree there but I am happy she is safe there. I also did a big spend up on some collars and leashes for some rescue groups across three states and kind of did it as her legacy given Ricky was a temp care dog who just never left.

I thought I'd be able to be as strong as you always were and recall all the funny stories about you or remember the time you stayed by my side when I had an accident and couldn't call for help or the night when we had a home invasion and you protected me from harm. But despite having you for almost 16 years out of the almost 17 you lived all I can still focus on is whether I did enough. You were old and you had your issues but I still can't move on from wondering whether I could've made more adjustments for you and kept you with us just that bit longer. The whole house is very empty without you. My sister and I keep looking for you and calling you, forgetting you are gone. The other dogs are just moping around like they don't know where you went. I put all your stuff away last weekend but it seems like it is still there where it has always been. We stayed with you while you went and I felt it was the right decision then but as the days move on I feel sadder and am not so sure the timing was right. I've only just been able to look at the pics we took of you the last morning doing doggy paintings (pics below) and you look so alive and happy. You were riddled with very serious ailments but you were the toughest dog I have ever known and never gave up. I feel like maybe I did and that you deserved better given all you have done for me over so many years. I'm missing far more than I expected. There is just sadness that you no longer get to experience a sunny day, a good rub down or a home made biscuit. All things you loved in your old age. I hope you are happy wherever you are now, playing up a storm, licking to your heart's content and never, ever again having to visit the vet. Love you tough girl - you and I have a lot of shared memories. XXX

`He looked like a gorgeous boy Wendy and you named him after my favourite vampire! It is hard to lose a little one that fought so hard but you gave him more than his parents did and he obviously loved you back with all his chirping. Big hugs. XXX

Rach I'm so sorry. I know how you feel because I had to let my old girl go the day before you lost Jay Jay. I'm not sure went wrong with Jay and I know you have also been facing constant battles with Whitey. You have a huge heart but that also means it is more susceptible to pain and loss. Big hugs coming your way during such an awful time. Alyson XXX

As planned I said goodbye to my old girl this afternoon. This morning we played in the sun and made doggy paintings. I gave her a brush and just tried to make things as normal and pleasant as possible. I didn't start crying till in the car going to the vet (and didn't stop) but the deed itself is so quick and peaceful (although I have heard some dogs respond differently). She is buried in the back yard and despite the house feeling so empty I do not regret my decision at all. Once at the vet I had no doubts about whether it was the right time or whether she still had a few more days or weeks. She will still be part of this household in spirit just like her son before her is still part of my little family that is no longer with us physically. But I am so very sorry you are having to face this with such a young dog. Life can be unfair but if you believe in fate then trust that even if his time is short Oscar was meant to be with you and help you learn and grow.

I was heading to my vet here in Beenleigh at lunchtime today and the traffic was crazy, like I've never seen before. The vet assistant told me there been a major accident on the highway (further south I think) and they were detouring all the cars inland and through Beenleigh then back on the highway. I heard a truck was involved, that 3 people were dead and another had been rushed to hospital. Missed the news tonight so don't know any more than that but will keep my eye out too just in case I can help.

My sister had a really old, manky smelling and looking cat and no-one liked to pat it because of said mankiness. I used to take all my dogs over to visit some nights and one of my SBT's was a real licker so she'd get stuck into the cat and groom it to within an inch of its life. It would be dripping wet, even inside the ears and the teeth got cleaned! I'm not sure it liked smelling like dog slobber but it certainly loved the attention and used to prop itself up and purr away while it was getting its makeover. My dog was always very satisfied with her work!

My old girl is totally deaf now and I can run the vacuum right beside her and she doesn't even wake up. So instead of moving toys so I can clean I have to move her.