Penumbra

Sounds like she went the same kind of way that Caesar did. Although, in his case it was his bad leg that went. Anyway, I am sorry. What can be done though, right? We all leave this world at some point. And it's always got to be something that causes it... Death isn't the opposite of life. Death is the opposite of birth. Life is eternal... Thank you, Clover.

Thank you very much all. Thank you, Kajtek. He was beautiful, corrie. The kindness of his nature was just incredible. A complete gentleman. I was terrible yesterday, Clover. I just started having a good think about him, and then bang, depression... 11 months, eh? Yeah, I can definitely see that happening with me as well. When I call him a brother, I truly mean it. He was practically all the family I had left. And because he was still with me when the rest of my family died, I didn't have to get any therapy. I owe him everything. Clover is beautiful! I am so glad that Caesar made it to 14. But at the same time, he died within 36 hours of going bad. It was just too fast. Too soon. And that's the main reason I believe I'm traumatized by it. Regarding support from others, have any of you found that it can be hard to get? Have you come across people that just don't want to talk to you about it? As if it's "too deep" for them or something...?

Thanks guys. :) Only some of the pain has gone, Zug Zug. Luckily though, most of that was of the physical kind. Which is not a nice sensation at all... With regards to emotional pain, there is still plenty of that lingering. And no doubt it will linger for quite some time yet. On a more positive note, things are definitely better now than they were a couple of weeks ago. Talk about the lowest point of my life... Anyway, when things get too hard, I just try and focus on something different. And remind myself that I don't have to get all of my grieving done at once. It can be hard taking each day at a time when you're unemployed though. Constantly thinking about your prospects of the future... I'm just hoping that this job I'm meant to start next month will actually start. Then it will be much easier for me to focus on something different. Cheers, Zug Zug. Peace.

Only 4 replies? I guess that you just get less attention if you're a newb, eh? That's fair enough I guess...

They cost a bit don't they... Oh well, unless somebody would do it for less (like Boronia said), I guess I've got no choice. Thanks guys.

No, I'm after a memorial stepping stone. Thanks.

Very nice, mixeduppup. Thank you. This is the best quality version that I could find. Whether or not you look at the photos is up to you.

Does anybody know where to get customized stepping stones in Adelaide? I haven't been able to find anywhere yet. Thanks.

Rest in peace, Mae. Mae Hong Song

Thank you, persephone. Funnily enough, your name showed up in my research of the date Caesar died... :)

Thank you very much guys. I am still really up and down, but I have hope that the pain will leave soon enough. Knowing full well that it will still return from time to time. Somebody else recently told me that. :) He was definitely the king of the house. Thank you fellow Great Dane lover. :) And in regard to Caesar's colour, I know that he's a Merle... but apparently there are different kinds... http://www.all-about-great-danes.com/merle-great-danes.html It looks like you're right though, in that he appears to be just a standard Merle... He's definitely not a Tri-Colour or a Mantle(oops), and if I was going to place a bet on any of the others I would say Silver... Anyway, whatever the case, I absolutely adored his patterns. The fact that Merles can't be show dogs is complete rubbish IMHO. Peace.

Dear Caesar, You were amazing, brother. A true if ever I saw one..... You were always such a gentleman. And always so grateful. That I don't think you even realized that you saved lives. But you did... Especially mine..... I always knew that there was something special about you, but I could never pinpoint it. Now I know... :) You were the best mate I could have ever hoped for. And I thank you so much for sticking with me as long as you did. It was a complete and utter privilege to be your friend. Rest in peace, brother. I will see you again when the time is right. alexgrey.com

Not being able to withstand his own weight anymore, Caesar was put to sleep on the 13th of last month. He was outside near the spot in the photo, and was wrapped in a red blanket (sound familiar?)... He was obviously a Merle, but I'm not sure if he was a Mantle one or a Tri-Colour. Because his coat did have some red, brown and orange in it... Anyway, if he looks like he's sad, it's just because he had a cyst growing on his right eyelid at the time. He had it removed a couple of years ago (along with a serious tumor), and luckily survived. That of which I'm extremely grateful for. Thank you.

Edit: Replaced the original version I posted with this HD one

Thank you, Missymoo. Your kind words are much appreciated. I went back to sobbing and yelling again last night. "Ups and downs", eh? I had a feeling that I didn't yell enough early on... :p

I recently had my 14 year old Great Dane put to sleep. It cost me $125. That's $100 less than the Kelpie (my uncle's dog)... I still have no regrets going to the vet who put the Kelpie down though. Because for one, it allowed me to be with her (unlike if I were at the AWL). And secondly, I just think that the vet was trying to make some money back for some of the free tests he gave us. Veterinary clinics are money-relying entities after all. Both situations were quite different when it came to payment. With the Kelpie, I paid the full amount right after she was put down (not a good feeling). And with the Great Dane, he was put down, and then I was given an installment plan the day afterwards (much better). So, like others have said, you really should work out a payment time before going ahead with the euthanasia. It really does help. Just speaking from personal experience, I was so glad that I didn't have to work out a payment plan/time on the day my dog died. It's the last thing you want to be thinking about. Even paying right before it happened would be better than paying afterwards I reckon. Because afterwards you most probably wouldn't want to do anything but go home. Peace.

I was forced to get a general cremation, as they need all of the money up front for a private cremation. That's fine with me though, as I don't know what I would have done with his ashes anyway. For one, I think that scattering them on the back lawn would have been kind of redundant, being that he had already passed away there-e.g. the spirit has already flown. And for two, I think that having his ashes in a box would depress me now and again. But that's just me though, and everybody has their own perspective on things. If I could have gotten his ashes back, than I would have. I guess I'm gonna do the next best thing though... I'm gonna visit the garden where his ashes were laid. And it's not just the garden where his ashes were laid either. It's also the garden where the Kelpie's ashes were laid. :) We were gonna go the other day but it was pouring down. We have to go on a day that's sunny, ya know? :) I couldn't have him put in the Double Digit Club, as they said that they couldn't find the name of his breeder... Who in their right mind would breed Merles?! Anyway, it's a real shame, as he would have been the second oldest on the list! I've been coping okay, but it's still gonna take a while yet to truly adapt. As far as I can tell though, the shock is pretty much gone and the healing has begun. I just thank "God" that I've still got my cat to keep me company. Thanks for listening. Peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JSUXaY-tw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEJgL70SSt4

LabTested - I remember that one. :) Perfect choice. Inka3095 - Wow... I would prefer most of the songs to be uplifting, but I know what you mean also... Beautiful...

Thank you very much, Niki. Both for the kind words and the sweet song. :) Here is a touching one from one of my favourite bands. Hope it helps to heal...

Thanks, persephone. I hope that I'm not gonna be the only person with recommendations though... Anyway, here's another: