Today was one of the toughest days of my life. I know that members here have posted about loved ones passing on and sadly I have to post about our beloved dog, Mushka. My parents were out of town this week and I had to take her down to the vet's to be euthanized. She was 15 and lost all usage of her back legs. The vet said it was some neurological problem. She has seen each of my four children grow up and cared for them as if they were her puppies. My family is mourning her loss. I know some people think that mourning a pet is silly but she was more than a pet, she was a faithful, loving companion. She never judged, criticized or condemned anyone, she just gave out unconditional love. If only we humans could do the same (I speak from a WS point of view) how much heartache would we not have in our lives?
My boyfriend has been a wonderful comfort to me today. He understood my pain and helped me get through it. I don't know what I would have done without him. I now have to explain it to my three youngest children when they come home tomorrow from their dad's.
I totally understand your pain - no need to apologize for your loving your dog. We have 5 dogs and each is such a dear to us; sometimes I don't know if I would have made it through H's A without their unconditional love. They always seemed to be able to read my pain - and give me solace when I needed it most.
It will be hard to tell the kids because you know how hurt they will be; there are no words that will make the telling easy, but in the past it always helped us to grieve together as a family, and eventually learn to focus on the good times.
JJ
Peace is not just the absence of war; it's an exercise in compassion. -Dalai Lama
Coming to you from JJ
<<some people think that mourning a pet is silly>>
Absolutely not!! As you said, she was a faithful, loving companion -- something we all need. My heart goes out to you. I don't know what I would have done without my sweet four-legged companion during these trying times, so I completely understand your anguish.
My heart goes out to you too.. it is so hard to lose a pet and we morn the loss because they are faithful, loving and never talk back, my dog has been my salvation thru all the A stuff following D-day .. I know how old she is because she was born the same month as D-day.. when she leaves me I will also be heart broken.. just sending you big hugs because I totally understand what you are feeling.. we have also had to put a few dogs down and it hurts.. my kids were upset and missed their best friend..
(((((hugs))))
Pat
"Time is precious, but truth is more precious than time."
Very much understand DH - I decided, eventually, and after many times put off, to let the vet and her assistant come to my house and put my dear dog to sleep (as we say here). I held her in my arms as the injection went in and looked into her eyes as they lost life. I am still profoundly affected even at the memory of this.
I still also have to stop myself holding blame for what I did. Of course there is love for a dog like that, of course.
She was cremated and lies at the foot of a special tree in the garden - I always think of her when I pass that tree - And she still remains with me even now - I expect to see still - and even think she his here sometimes. For me there is no true final ending and love is something that holds in our hearts
Of course you are hurting. To lose a being that provided undonditional love and affection, especially during those time when we need it most is a huge loss. During my darkest times what would I have done if I had not been met daily by my warm and loving dog waking me in the mornings and greeting me joyfully when I walked in the door? When I was feeling most rejected and low there he was, wagging his tail in happiness just at the sight of me.Who could ask for more?
“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”
I have tears for you and me both. My sweet boy Pinto was struck with fast-growing cancer two summers ago. Like Jerry, I was with my wonderful, loving, FAITHFUL boy at the end. I STILL miss him.
We know your pain. Your feelings about Mushka are natural. We understand and sympathize. I am so sorry for your loss.
My beloved Pepper is 9 and I can get tears in my eyes just thinking of the day when we take her in the pass over the Rainbow Bridge. Your pain is real and I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to Mushka. What a blessing that your b/f understands your pain and isn't minimizing it. That makes such a huge difference! He sounds like a good guy.
I feel for you when you have to tell your kids. There's no denying it, it'll be a really hard conversation to have. As a mom I can only imagine, since we hate to see our children hurt more than we care about ourselves. My heart goes out to you.
Thank you to all for the condolences. It is very hard because my parents had gotten Mushka when she was 10 months old. Though she was far from looking like a puppy (she was a Siberian Husky), she had the energy of a puppy at that time as well as the personality. She never ceased to amaze me in her capacity to love. She almost came to blows towards humans and animals who she perceived were a threat to my children, particularly my oldest son. I am sure that this has been extremely difficult for him. She is now with our other dog, Sam, who we had to put down as well due to his age (17) and Callie (a calico cat, who died in her sleep). I know she is in a far better place, where she is no longer in pain and can run like she used to. It just hurts to be left behind, as we all know from experience with the death of a loved one or our pet.
I was browsing in Barnes and Noble a few months ago and saw the book, Marley and Me. I picked it up and read the back and decided to buy it. I loved the author's story of Marley and the trials and laughter he went through. It was very poignant when I read about Marley's demise. I cried, knowing that one day, Mushka would be going. Another book that helped me was called Rescuing Sprite. It is about the author and his family adopting a yellow lab mix and the VERY short time they had with him (he was older than originally thought and ended up having some health problems, like Mushka).
It is comforting to know that there are good friends out there that have experienced what I'm going through. It makes the pain more bearable, knowing that I'm not the first. I wished it didn't have to hurt so much but I suppose it always does when you love someone so deeply.
I feel guilty, as if Mushka's death was my fault. Sunday, June 29, my parents left for Atlanta and I was taking care of her for the week. I had checked on her earlier and then went off to my boyfriend's for the evening. When I got back, I went immediately to check on her but when I started shutting my parents' garage, it came back up (they have a sensor that lets the door know when something is blocking the path and doesn't crush someone). It started coming back up and I thought that Mushka had gotten around the other side of the car and was trying to escape. So, I went around and found her stuck on a box. Her front legs were stuck on the front part and her back legs were stuck on the back part. She had struggled so hard, that the floor was littered with her fur, as well as the box. I lifted her off and thought she would walk, but she ended up on the floor in a heap and I tried to get her up again. I called my parents and told them what had happened and they told me to take her inside the house and let her sleep there for the rest of the time. Monday her legs were pretty useless, though by the end of the night, she was getting stronger. I now wonder if that hadn't contributed to the neurological damage and if I could have prevented it. I know it is fruitless to wonder what if? but I can't help but think that if I hadn't been gone, then maybe I could have prevented her from injuring herself, because maybe she injured her spine in that struggle and it didn't manifest itself until Saturday.
Thank you for listening and the comfort, you are all true friends.
Dear DH - I too have been in that place wondering about ifs and but if onlys etc. I appreciate the hurt. It helps me to understand that the chain of events in the universe is far to great for me to comprehend and it is wise sometimes to just accept that this is how it is - and seeing that, understand that I am not responsible for everything. This helps me sometimes.
I am also reminded of another book you may have read already: "Dogs that know when their owners are coming home - And other unexplained powers of animals" by Rupert Sheldrake.
may you and all creatures be safe and well, contented and happy
The only truly unconditional love in this world is the love of a dog (or cat) for its family, or a mother for her child. Grieving such a loss needs no apology. I am sorry for your loss... I know how it feels.
BB
DH,
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I understand what it is like to have a companion like your pass on.
I've been on here myself after the loss of my pet rooster, which I know sounds ridiculous, but he was part of our family. I too will soon have to face the loss of my wonderful Yellow Lab, she has cancer, and is 14 years old.
Someone told me once, and I can't remember if it was here or somewhere else, but, they said, dogs don't live as long as humans because when we are put on this earth we are not able to leave until we learn the true meaning of unconditional love. Dogs have that at a much younger age than us hard headed humans.
I am so sorry for your loss. We have a cat who is 15 years old and our very first "baby". I know his time will come soon and I already miss him just thinking about it.
We also have 3 dogs, two of them are about 7 years old and the other is 2. The two year old dog we got shortly after the A and he was my salvation. I can't believe how a puppy can make one smile during a horrible time. I dread the day my dogs need to go (and the cat). They are amazing creatures and sometimes are the best therapy!
I am sure that your kids will be okay. Very sad, but okay. Maybe do something special in memory of their pet?
It's hard to believe that today is one week since Mushka died. I have had a rollercoaster of a week, dealing with her death, and then discovering my children came home from their father's with HEAD LICE. UGH!!!!!! It hasn't been an easy road, because my daughter and both my sons got it from their step-brother. Then to boot, ex refused to help pay for medicine and doctor visits and so I overdrew my account MAJORLY. Anyway, thank you for the kind words of condolences. Even though we are left behind to mourn, I know she is in a better place, free from pain.
EWWWW! Gross! I am so sorry you have to deal with this. Poor kids. I feel sorry for the child. Did his mother and your X have any clue he had head lice? Was he being treated for them? I know they can be easily spread (ask any elementary school teacher!), but they are a pain to treat.
Oh NO, not LICE! What a pain!!!
Doctor's visits really aren't necessary though, are they? I worked at a daycare and unfortunately they came around more than once, and over the counter stuff took care of it along with time-consuming washing of everything and combing out of the hair. I never heard of a child going to a doctor for headlice.
In answer to your post, I could only WISH that ex gets them. Makes me soooo angry to think that he checked his step-son and neglected his own children because, and I qoute, "they weren't scratching as much". Shows you how much of a father HE is!
Sun, usually no, you don't have to go to the doctor but when my daughter was 3 or 4, she had a BAD infestation (I had no clue that she had them because she didn't itch her head). When I found out about them, I tried the over the counter stuff, but it didn't kill the lice eggs or lice. So, I took her to the doctor to get a prescription and that killed them off immediately. So, since I had had a bad experience with the OTC stuff, my mom suggested that I go to the doctor and be done with it. Trust me, the meds that the doctor gave me killed the lice INSTANTLY! I no sooner put the medicine in her hair than all the lice that were hatched, came up to the surface, dead. We all had to endure smelling like Pine Sol heads LOL LOL (it was that strong that it reminded me of Pine Sol).
So, today was the last day that I had to check for lice eggs in her hair (I still got out about 15 or so). I declared her lice and egg free and she gave me a big hug and kiss. She is sooooooo happy to not have buggies in her head (she was worried that the eggs would hatch, even though we treated her head with medicine, but that's an 8 year old for you). So, I can put this nightmarish week behind me.
Mom told me today that Baxter (her other Husky) is feeling lonely without Mushka. He has his moments of where he is very sad and knows something is terribly wrong. My mom has her moments as well.
As a mom I can only imagine, since we hate to see our children hurt more than we care about ourselves. My heart goes out to you. 
