Double heartbreak

M

Moobli

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I had to make the difficult and sad decision on Saturday night to have my old collie, Rip, put to sleep. He had gone off his food (not at all like him) and looked uncomfortable in himself. The emergency vet took two hours to get out to us, so I spent that time chatting and comforting my old boy and the vet felt it was likely had had a tumour that had started bleeding, as his belly was all distended and his colour not good. The kindest thing was to let him go. He was 15 years old and I took him on when he was 3 years old after his original shepherd owner died suddenly, leaving eight sheepdogs looking for new homes. He was a great working dog, and an even better friend and I would say he was probably the most loyal dog I have had the pleasure of knowing.

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The second heartbreak was that my husband's 16 year old collie had stopped eating and the vet had actually been booked to come out to him two weeks previously but he rallied for a while and so the vet was put off.
The emergency vet who came out for Rip examined Bill and said she thought it would be a kindness to let him go.

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Both boys are buried together on the hill where they gathered sheep, opposite our cottage.
 
What gorgeous boys, how horrible for you both, especially losing 2, do you still have another dog in the house? Hardest thing I found when we lost our collie was the empty house. Sounds like they had fabulous lives with you.

Just to add our 13 year old collie had lost a bit of condition then went off food and was found to have a huge tumour, fine on the Monday gone by the Saturday ...
 
I am just so so sorry. I will be in the same position in a couple of weeks as my BC has an aggressive oral tumour so I know how you must be feeling. A pair of beautiful dogs. RIP to both of them.
 
meesha said:
What gorgeous boys, how horrible for you both, especially losing 2, do you still have another dog in the house? Hardest thing I found when we lost our collie was the empty house. Sounds like they had fabulous lives with you.

Just to add our 13 year old collie had lost a bit of condition then went off food and was found to have a huge tumour, fine on the Monday gone by the Saturday ...
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Yes I have two GSDs in the house and my hubby has his retired collie bitch. I couldn't stand not having any dogs in the house. It is definitely strange not seeing the two boys in the usual places though :(

So sorry to hear about your collie too :(
 
paddy555 said:
I am just so so sorry. I will be in the same position in a couple of weeks as my BC has an aggressive oral tumour so I know how you must be feeling. A pair of beautiful dogs. RIP to both of them.
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I am so sorry to hear that Paddy. I think the build up is actually almost worse than the aftermath. Sending you strength to get through it x Thanks for your kind words.
 
Faracat said:
I'm very sorry for your losses. :(
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Thank you.

JennBags said:
I'm so sorry WGSD, they looked like beautiful dogs and I'm so sorry you lost them both together. They bring us so much joy and heartbreak :(
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They were both gorgeous boys - in looks and temperament. You are so right - they bring joy and heartbreak, but the joy they bring most definitely outweighs the pain of loss, otherwise we wouldn't keep putting ourselves through it.
 
WorkingGSD said:
……..

…….. - they bring joy and heartbreak, but the joy they bring most definitely outweighs the pain of loss, otherwise we wouldn't keep putting ourselves through it.
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It was H Frank Wallace from Corriemoney who wrote — 'I sometimes wonder if the pleasure of owning dogs is worth the pain of parting' — it is of course because in time it's the happy memories which come to the fore, for us those days when sheep and weather contrived to work against us, those days when the most difficult ewes eventually gave in and bent to the will of the dog.

I'm truly sorry for your loss.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
It was H Frank Wallace from Corriemoney who wrote — 'I sometimes wonder if the pleasure of owning dogs is worth the pain of parting' — it is of course because in time it's the happy memories which come to the fore, for us those days when sheep and weather contrived to work against us, those days when the most difficult ewes eventually gave in and bent to the will of the dog.

I'm truly sorry for your loss.

Alec.
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Thank you Alec.
 
WorkingGSD said:
I had to make the difficult and sad decision on Saturday night to have my old collie, Rip, put to sleep. He had gone off his food (not at all like him) and looked uncomfortable in himself. The emergency vet took two hours to get out to us, so I spent that time chatting and comforting my old boy and the vet felt it was likely had had a tumour that had started bleeding, as his belly was all distended and his colour not good. The kindest thing was to let him go. He was 15 years old and I took him on when he was 3 years old after his original shepherd owner died suddenly, leaving eight sheepdogs looking for new homes. He was a great working dog, and an even better friend and I would say he was probably the most loyal dog I have had the pleasure of knowing.

vh9mjo.jpg


2vxrhxk.jpg


The second heartbreak was that my husband's 16 year old collie had stopped eating and the vet had actually been booked to come out to him two weeks previously but he rallied for a while and so the vet was put off.
The emergency vet who came out for Rip examined Bill and said she thought it would be a kindness to let him go.

29b1p3q.jpg


sfxo9f.jpg


Both boys are buried together on the hill where they gathered sheep, opposite our cottage.
Click to expand...

What a lovely dogs, who loved his job. You did the kindest thing as you knew something serious and very hard to make the decision but the right one - RIP Rip and Bill boys sleep well
 
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So sorry for your loss, they leave a massive hole in our hearts when they go but probably because having them in the first place made our hearts so big. Take comfort in knowing they had a wonderful life with you and neither one had to grieve for the other one x
 
So sorry GSD, such beautiful dogs and look at where they lived, a perfect place doing what they were bred to do. I took comfort when my vet came out to put my Weim to sleep because he said he had never been to such a wonderful spot for any animal and that my dogs always looked so happy , the same could be said of yours. xx
 
Thanks for all the messages of sympathy and support. It is very strange without them around the place and I feel kind of flat and hollow, but I know things will get better. It is a godsend to have the other dogs and animals to focus on.
 
Only just seen this WGSD, so very sorry. One leaves a big enough gap, terrible to lose two. At least they have each other, if that’s how you like to think of them. Sounds as if they a perfect life with you. Glad you have the others for some comfort.
 
Sorry to hear about your boys. What a sad day that must have been for you. It sounds like they couldn't have had a happier life with you.
 
Sorry to hear about your loss. . They were both a good age and have had a lovely life. , they don't ask a lot from us do they and give us their all.
 
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