Sharing a Story

[paxton]

I got Bob from the pound in Montgomery, AL when I was stationed at Maxwell AFB. It was in March of 1994.

He ate everything, including the blinds in my apartment, some video tapes, and a TV remote.

I got married in 1996 and he was there.

We moved to Huntsville in 1998 and he was there.

I had a boy in 2001 and he was there. My son loves him.

I got divorced in 2002 and he was there.

Bob died last night. I buried him this morning.

My boy and I were in Target on Sunday and he wanted to buy Bob a toy. It's still sitting on the counter in the kitchen.

 

[brianhoberg]

Sorry to hear about Bob, sounds like he was a reliable friend and companion. I think people tend to forget the impact that dogs have in our lives and how many times they've really been there.

I had a yellow lab that we rescued after a thunderstorm when I was about 15. She lived for 14 years, had survived cancer, had hip dysplacia, had even ripped herself open with a 12"x6" wound from running across some old angle iron on an old trailer requiring 72 stitches. HArdest thing for me was having to be the strong one in the family and see her last breath as well as dig a hole deep enough to bury a 75lb labrador in the back yard by myself (with a slipped disc).

Dogs can't really be replaced, but they make for awesome memories. I've got another yellow lab now that is 3yo and have the same bond.

Best of luck with your son on his first loss of a dog. It's tough.

Thanks for sharing....

 

[Nargun]

An eloquent eulogy

 

[gmookher]

sorry for your loss, I lost mine of 14.5 yrs this year. thats alot of memories.

I can tell from the gaze on the doggie's face in that photo that this here was a special dog!

Carry on with the joy your dog would have wanted you to share and feel

 

[JustAddMtns]

It sounds like Bob had a great life with a great owner...remember that not all dogs experience that.
Sorry for your loss.

Dogs are truly something special.

 

[slangel]

I am sorry for your loss. My dogs have been through every thing with me also. My beloved Alaskan Malamute passed away two years ago from cancer. It is still hard for my son, they were great playmates. My malamute had gone to stay with my dad as I was in the hospital and couldn't care for him, my son went with him to my dad's (so Jubal wouldn't be lonely). My son goes to his grandpa's house in the summer and still mentions I can't wait to see Jubal and then he remembers that he is gone. When Jubal died my dad had him cremated and we all took an Alaskan cruise and spread Jubal's ashes along the way. Our other dogs are 8 and 6 , and I dread when their time comes.

 

[jimjet]

Sorry for your loss.
Im sure bob is fine.

im watching my Lab Indy ,everyday he wakes up is a good thing.

A story
Ive told it here before
its true no shit.

My fatherinlaw raised my first Lab Pluto. Charlie lived with us after we purcased his home and raised Pluto from a pup , beaches , trips,walks ,everything.

Charlie came down with cancer and a bad heart , he died on the operating table and was brought back to life after a long time out.
He told us he had seen the light ,heard people calling him , his wife (passed from cancer )his friends , realitives.
he said it was an experience.

A few years later Charlie got sick again and needed another operation.

Pluto died 2 weeks before Charlies operation
we did not tell charlie as it would have realy upset him ,something he didnt need before an operation.

charlie died on the table again and was brought back again.

Charlie explained that he heard everyone calling him again
but
This time, he said there was something very different.

He heard a dog barking ,
we told charlie it was pluto , he had passed away.

we cried a real lot that day.
Charlie died a few weeks later, hes with Pluto.

No Shit
True Story.

Jim

Bobs Fine You Will See him Again.

 

[Ed Cheung]

Sorry to hear your loss. I lost one of my Golden Retrievers, Travis 2 years ago. I had him since he was 6 months old, 10 years ago. He will know what I want him to do even without telling. Even my GF says I laugh more happier when I am with Travis than woth her...I took him out one late afternoon, he got heat stroke, passed away on the backseat of my disco when I was speeding to the vets. Now I have with me another Golden Retriever that was adopted 6 yrs ago and a 5 years old Husky joined the family in just 2 months, the bond to each one of them is different. Travis is always the special one.
For the first 6-7 months is really tough, sometimes you forgot he is gone. After a stressful day at work, reached home, opened the door, and expected 2 Retrievers at the door to greet me, but can sees only one and start looking for the missing one..... then memory came back....Oh, yeah he is gone a while ago.... A lot of unintentionally looking for him. Have him cremated, on his case, I had his picture and wrote down, "thank you for the joy he brought into my life"

I had a friend said something to me that is pretty close to what JustAddMtns had said.
Not all dogs got a happy life and a great owner.

 

[Slappy]

Sorry about your loss, losing a pet is tough. I'm not looking forward to our pound dog nearing the end of her days.

 

[Drillbit]

Bloody hell, thats a tear jerker Pax. Dogs are much better than people as they don't have all that self interest thrown in there. My dads dog (who both me and my little brother claim is really "our dog") was rescued off a nerve gas depot. She has lived with our family for 13 years now and was grown when we got her. She has been ran over three times, shot at least twice, had two litters of puppies and god knows what else. Now she is old and tired and will go to hang out with Bob before to long.

I am sorry for your loss and hope you and your son remember the good times.

 

[ChrismonDA]

Sorry to hear about Bob. I have three dogs two yellow labs and a small mutt, I dont know what I would do if I lost any of them. The good thing is you have those great memories.

 

[ptschram]

Sorry for your loss. He's in good company though, I've sadly sent way too many pets to puppy and kitty heaven.

Tell Bob to watch out for Yinnie, she was not always the nicest kitty when dogs were around. I'd hate for him to have his nose scratched in dog heaven.

 

[DiscoJen]

It sounds like Bob had a wonderfully full life with you. He won't be lonely, he's got lots of new friends to roam greener pastures with. My thoughts are with you and your kid while you get through this difficult time.

 

[EJB90]

I'm really sorry to hear about Bob. Dogs are always the best companians, they always love you and never get mad at you.

Story:
We adopted my last dog max in the summer of 1999. He was about 4 months old. He was rescued from a person that had abandoned him in the city.

He was a great dog, very active, would run laps around the house every morning patrolling the yard. He chased everything from birds to bugs to airplanes in the sky.

One day he was perfectly fine. The next day he was hemmoraging and we rushed him to the vet. The next day he was dead from what was believed to be aplastic anemia. Alive one day perfectly fine, dead the next.

 

[dtl]

So sorry! I've lost a few along the way but give it time and you will be alright. A friend of my father had labs and would get a new one every six years. When the older one would go he and the younger one would have an easier time with the passing as they had each other. The irony is that he was flying with both labs in his plane in bad weather and flew into the side of a mountain. My fathers friend and the older lab both died an the younger lab not only survived but managed to find his way back to the ranch. F#&*ed up huh? Give yourself time to regroup and get another one..........

 

[paxton]

Thanks for all the kind words.

I think once my boy has finished grieving, we'll get another one. He's still crying. He gathered up all the pictures he had of Bob and shows them off. And then cries. I want him to deal with this without masking it with another dog. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

I keep walking past the back door expecting Bob to be there. I grilled out for the first time since he passed and expected him to bum food from me.

I miss that dog.

Thanks again.

 

[lynchee]

I think you are doing the right thing(letting your son grieve before getting a new dog) I have a 2 yr. old mutt, my first dog in 24 years. I can't imagine losing him.
Dogs are just great.

 

[Ed Cheung]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGQVX8iGbgk

 

[Roverlady]

Paxton, I'm so sorry to hear about Bob!! It's always hard to lose a pet that is so loved, but it sounds like he had an excellent life with you.

My best friend had to put her German Shepherd down on Thursday...she was 8 years old and in kidney failure. I was there when she got her as a puppy.

I'll give my pups an extra hug for you.

 

[wooderson]

sincerest condolences