That Heartbreaking Moment When...

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hauntedmyst

Lifer
Feb 1, 2010
4,012
20,786
Chicago
As pet lovers, we've almost all dealt with it - that heartbreaking moment when you realize your best pal is not getting old, he is old. I've had that sneak up on me recently with my dog Riggs. We've had him for 11 years and he's starting to show his age. For some background, he's the first "normal" dog we've ever had. I've always been a German Shepherd guy ever since we started thinking about getting a dog 25 years ago.

Since so many dogs need adoption, we’ve always adopted from local shelters. Our first German Shepherd was Sam. When we got him he was 3 years old, had been chained to a fence his whole life. He weighed 45 pounds and was very under nourished. He had to be kept alone because he was alpha. Most of the staff was afraid of him but whenever I would come to the shelter he was always really sweet to me and they said you have to take him.Within the first year of having him he jumped up to 75 pounds and was a mass of muscle. He was very smart and very protective, We we’re probably the only people in Chicago that left their door unlocked. I knew if someone broke in, we would find their body the next morning while he sat their with a cocky look on his face. “Look what I did pop! He thought he could get past me. Yeah, He couldn’t!” Unfortunately after about five years he developed a fear of thunderstorms. We did what we could control it with medication I need my ignorance I didn’t think that crating was good for him and he started jumping out of the windows of the house. He never got a scratch on him and sometimes he was jumping out 2 1/2 floors. Until one day he got hurt jumping out of the basement and we ended up having to put him down.

Our next dog was Bear and he was a white German shepherd who had no idea he was a German Shepherd! He was the sweetest soul ever. He had been pretty abused and he would sit with his face hidden under or behind the couch for the first few years of his life with us. He’d eventually warmed up to us and would sleep under my desk until the kids got home from school. I was pretty sure if anybody ever broke in the he would negotiate his life for mine with the criminal if they let him go free! That was until we discovered that he would actually do anything for my daughter and my wife and when threatened his instincts will kick in and he became a German Shepherd! Then after, he’d act like he scared himself with his own ferociousness. He passed away from cancer and I didn’t want to get another dog because he was so sweet.

I didn’t want another dog but my family did so I started looking again and found Riggs, a 9 month old. When we got him we didn’t we didn’t know that there was anything special about him. I just asked the adoption lady to make sure he was smart and house broken. And the adoption lady brought him and said “I have a surprise! This isn’t your average adoption dog. I have his papers and hes not just pure breed, he’s the son of a double grand champion and a grand champion. The breeder wants him back but I agreed to give him to you so it’s up to you.” Papers don’t really matter to me but how often does your adopt a mutt turn out to have them. Turns out he’s more than smart, he’s brilliant. I could teach him anything. We had to change the handles on the doors when we redid our kitchen and family room because he figured out how to open them and let himself out.

But I didn’t like him. He wasn’t Bear. Then one day after a couple of months my daughter found her iPod which she had lost a few months before. Riggs was outside and my daughter screamed and he broke through the screened in window to make sure she was OK and I was like “all right this dog will do!” Since then he and I have been best pals and he's part of our family. FYI, if you ever want your daughter to feel safe and secure, get her a GSD. Some how they know your daughter is the one to protect at all cost. Even when people have been goofing around with her and she's squealed, Riggs is like lightening, growling at them letting them know whatever they are doing is not ok. All her guy friends in jr high and high school were scared of him!

Just recently I noticed he’s having trouble getting up on the bed and sometimes doesn’t hear it when people come up on the porch. And I know he’s getting older. So I hope I get a few more years with him. People my age grew up with Lassie and you always wanted your own Lassie. I finally got my Lassie. This turned out to be a lot more long winded than I though so thanks for your patience.
A9E42961-2A18-4456-8257-A74591B844D8.jpeg
 

Pondfisher

Might Stick Around
Dec 23, 2019
65
314
East Lansing, MI
Never had a dog as a kid. Adopted my first dog Harriet the Brit Spaniel when i was in my late twenties . Hardest thing losing her to cancer. Now we have Maxwell the Brit Spaniel who is 13 and his eyes are milky with cataracts and his joints are creaky. He too used to bark when he heard someone at the door. Knowing that he is reaching the end of his race i just remember to actively be there for him that much more. Nice post Sir! Thanks for sharing.
 

Trainpipeman

Can't Leave
Feb 4, 2021
496
1,845
Rhode Island
As pet lovers, we've almost all dealt with it - that heartbreaking moment when you realize your best pal is not getting old, he is old. I've had that sneak up on me recently with my dog Riggs. We've had him for 11 years and he's starting to show his age. For some background, he's the first "normal" dog we've ever had. I've always been a German Shepherd guy ever since we started thinking about getting a dog 25 years ago.

Since so many dogs need adoption, we’ve always adopted from local shelters. Our first German Shepherd was Sam. When we got him he was 3 years old, had been chained to a fence his whole life. He weighed 45 pounds and was very under nourished. He had to be kept alone because he was alpha. Most of the staff was afraid of him but whenever I would come to the shelter he was always really sweet to me and they said you have to take him.Within the first year of having him he jumped up to 75 pounds and was a mass of muscle. He was very smart and very protective, We we’re probably the only people in Chicago that left their door unlocked. I knew if someone broke in, we would find their body the next morning while he sat their with a cocky look on his face. “Look what I did pop! He thought he could get past me. Yeah, He couldn’t!” Unfortunately after about five years he developed a fear of thunderstorms. We did what we could control it with medication I need my ignorance I didn’t think that crating was good for him and he started jumping out of the windows of the house. He never got a scratch on him and sometimes he was jumping out 2 1/2 floors. Until one day he got hurt jumping out of the basement and we ended up having to put him down.

Our next dog was Bear and he was a white German shepherd who had no idea he was a German Shepherd! He was the sweetest soul ever. He had been pretty abused and he would sit with his face hidden under or behind the couch for the first few years of his life with us. He’d eventually warmed up to us and would sleep under my desk until the kids got home from school. I was pretty sure if anybody ever broke in the he would negotiate his life for mine with the criminal if they let him go free! That was until we discovered that he would actually do anything for my daughter and my wife and when threatened his instincts will kick in and he became a German Shepherd! Then after, he’d act like he scared himself with his own ferociousness. He passed away from cancer and I didn’t want to get another dog because he was so sweet.

I didn’t want another dog but my family did so I started looking again and found Riggs, a 9 month old. When we got him we didn’t we didn’t know that there was anything special about him. I just asked the adoption lady to make sure he was smart and house broken. And the adoption lady brought him and said “I have a surprise! This isn’t your average adoption dog. I have his papers and hes not just pure breed, he’s the son of a double grand champion and a grand champion. The breeder wants him back but I agreed to give him to you so it’s up to you.” Papers don’t really matter to me but how often does your adopt a mutt turn out to have them. Turns out he’s more than smart, he’s brilliant. I could teach him anything. We had to change the handles on the doors when we redid our kitchen and family room because he figured out how to open them and let himself out.

But I didn’t like him. He wasn’t Bear. Then one day after a couple of months my daughter found her iPod which she had lost a few months before. Riggs was outside and my daughter screamed and he broke through the screened in window to make sure she was OK and I was like “all right this dog will do!” Since then he and I have been best pals and he's part of our family. FYI, if you ever want your daughter to feel safe and secure, get her a GSD. Some how they know your daughter is the one to protect at all cost. Even when people have been goofing around with her and she's squealed, Riggs is like lightening, growling at them letting them know whatever they are doing is not ok. All her guy friends in jr high and high school were scared of him!

Just recently I noticed he’s having trouble getting up on the bed and sometimes doesn’t hear it when people come up on the porch. And I know he’s getting older. So I hope I get a few more years with him. People my age grew up with Lassie and you always wanted your own Lassie. I finally got my Lassie. This turned out to be a lot more long winded than I though so thanks for your patience.
View attachment 70160
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this with is!

No, it is not easy to have to say goodbye to our friends, so enjoy every moment that you can, and by doing so, you will have great memories!
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
60,638
Savor these golden years. Aging is no fun, as with people, but the understanding and bonding often grows even stronger. I have always needed to have my pets put down at the end, to spare them discomfort and panic, but the last one we lost died in my arms, after a soft announcement. I thought I'd go to pieces, but no, it was one of the highest honors of my life, in some way anointed, by an eight pound cat. Trust 'em. They trust you.
 

saltedplug

Lifer
Aug 20, 2013
5,192
5,116
I love my family but I love my cat more. Despite having 15 different, and conflicting impulses, going through her at the same time, still being scared of me despite that I love on her constantly, you know, in general being a cat, to me she shows a fine disposition, at least sometimes.

I adore her.

She's about 12 but hasn't gone into decline. With the last pair that I had it was more sad to see them go into their final decline than the actual death.

Haunted, sorry about your dog.
 

Cotton1

Can't Leave
Nov 3, 2020
445
1,936
South Carolina
OP,
Sometimes folks who are not of a farming background such as I express to me their notion of the great "farm life". I admit it is a great life but also that it is not all roses and sunshine.

I have experienced the loss you reference with dogs, cats, sheep, hogs, horses and cows. Some are pets\pals and some are of a daily working together bond.

Sometimes I have had to be the hand that put down my animal friends when cure was not attainable. Over time my callus has not increased as would be expected. As I get older I seem to be extending the time I try to exhaust all means on preservation, but time marches on.

I am currently enjoying a puppy somebody gave me last summer and a cat that showed up in the fall and refused to leave. I'm also dreading this summer and it's fate for a couple 14 year old cows who have been faithful working companions but who surely will suffer if they must make another winter.

All this just to say I'm sorry about your friend\s. You have plenty of company. I hope your next pup will be your trusted pal for a long happy time.

Cotton1
 

didimauw

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 28, 2013
10,729
37,725
SE WI
Our first child is an old boy now. We have had him almost as long as the wife and I have been together. He'll be 15 this year. Rescued him when he was about a year old. He's always hated being kennelled up till about last year when we got our new puppy, now he doesn't mind it. He used to break out of them.

He's also been a window jumper his whole life. Screens, glass doesn't matter. Last year at 14 he jumped out of a window that sat 5 1/2 feet above the ground. And he has busted through many wooden doors. Figured out door knobs, turn handles, and sliding glass doors. Nothing could contain my old boiii.

He's very slow to get up, his back legs are shaky and he hates going upstairs now....

I know the feeling you are going through hauntedmyst.

Kane is also a German Shepard/ possible bear wolf combo.

IMG_20200426_172121.jpg

IMG_20200806_163832.jpg
 

kurtbob

Lifer
Jul 9, 2019
2,131
12,762
58
SE Georgia
As pet lovers, we've almost all dealt with it - that heartbreaking moment when you realize your best pal is not getting old, he is old. I've had that sneak up on me recently with my dog Riggs. We've had him for 11 years and he's starting to show his age. For some background, he's the first "normal" dog we've ever had. I've always been a German Shepherd guy ever since we started thinking about getting a dog 25 years ago.

Since so many dogs need adoption, we’ve always adopted from local shelters. Our first German Shepherd was Sam. When we got him he was 3 years old, had been chained to a fence his whole life. He weighed 45 pounds and was very under nourished. He had to be kept alone because he was alpha. Most of the staff was afraid of him but whenever I would come to the shelter he was always really sweet to me and they said you have to take him.Within the first year of having him he jumped up to 75 pounds and was a mass of muscle. He was very smart and very protective, We we’re probably the only people in Chicago that left their door unlocked. I knew if someone broke in, we would find their body the next morning while he sat their with a cocky look on his face. “Look what I did pop! He thought he could get past me. Yeah, He couldn’t!” Unfortunately after about five years he developed a fear of thunderstorms. We did what we could control it with medication I need my ignorance I didn’t think that crating was good for him and he started jumping out of the windows of the house. He never got a scratch on him and sometimes he was jumping out 2 1/2 floors. Until one day he got hurt jumping out of the basement and we ended up having to put him down.

Our next dog was Bear and he was a white German shepherd who had no idea he was a German Shepherd! He was the sweetest soul ever. He had been pretty abused and he would sit with his face hidden under or behind the couch for the first few years of his life with us. He’d eventually warmed up to us and would sleep under my desk until the kids got home from school. I was pretty sure if anybody ever broke in the he would negotiate his life for mine with the criminal if they let him go free! That was until we discovered that he would actually do anything for my daughter and my wife and when threatened his instincts will kick in and he became a German Shepherd! Then after, he’d act like he scared himself with his own ferociousness. He passed away from cancer and I didn’t want to get another dog because he was so sweet.

I didn’t want another dog but my family did so I started looking again and found Riggs, a 9 month old. When we got him we didn’t we didn’t know that there was anything special about him. I just asked the adoption lady to make sure he was smart and house broken. And the adoption lady brought him and said “I have a surprise! This isn’t your average adoption dog. I have his papers and hes not just pure breed, he’s the son of a double grand champion and a grand champion. The breeder wants him back but I agreed to give him to you so it’s up to you.” Papers don’t really matter to me but how often does your adopt a mutt turn out to have them. Turns out he’s more than smart, he’s brilliant. I could teach him anything. We had to change the handles on the doors when we redid our kitchen and family room because he figured out how to open them and let himself out.

But I didn’t like him. He wasn’t Bear. Then one day after a couple of months my daughter found her iPod which she had lost a few months before. Riggs was outside and my daughter screamed and he broke through the screened in window to make sure she was OK and I was like “all right this dog will do!” Since then he and I have been best pals and he's part of our family. FYI, if you ever want your daughter to feel safe and secure, get her a GSD. Some how they know your daughter is the one to protect at all cost. Even when people have been goofing around with her and she's squealed, Riggs is like lightening, growling at them letting them know whatever they are doing is not ok. All her guy friends in jr high and high school were scared of him!

Just recently I noticed he’s having trouble getting up on the bed and sometimes doesn’t hear it when people come up on the porch. And I know he’s getting older. So I hope I get a few more years with him. People my age grew up with Lassie and you always wanted your own Lassie. I finally got my Lassie. This turned out to be a lot more long winded than I though so thanks for your patience.
View attachment 70160
Well done sir. The pain and worry over another living thing that you feel means that you are doing life “right”. Guess what that makes you? Yup, a good person!?
 
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