lost our little friend

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi all.
just had to post this. we have lost our little dog that had been our companion for the last 14years we are both devistated and the wife has not stoped crying since. allthough at that age you know the end is never far away but nothing prepares you for when it happens. she was a happy little sole and allways there to greet you with a wagging tail when you arrived home.
life will not be the same without her nor will the time spent in the van. I was going to post a photo but cannot bear to go through the albums to find one just now.

colin

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Colin
And some people will say it's only a dog! They don't understand it's just like losing a child imo.

I really feel for you and Mrs Colin . Let the tears flow uninterrupted.. Neither I nor SWMBO could help cry when certain music came on or the chin failed to rest on my hand. All those little things we took for granted

Our last Springer made it to 12 1/2 . 3 weeks later by an absolute fluke we came across a Springer litter of 3 week old pups near Worcester. Spookily they were descended from Dusty's Badgercourt working strain. Don't ask me why, it is very personal to each family and individual, we now have two bitches from that litter of 4 years ago.The house and caravan without a dog was so lonely.Their personalities are different , they trained very well but as much as we love them to bits they will never replace Dusty. Her ashes are still in an urn on the mantlepiece awaiting scattering at her favourite walking place. Again , I expect one day we will let them go.
Look back and enjoy all those good times and be proud you gave that little dog a caring loving home.

 

[Soozeeg]

Sorry to hear that, Colin. We as a nation get so attached to our dogs and cats, they're always our friends and love us unconditionally. I'm sure you've got loads of happy memories that you will be glad to look back on, and of course your photos.Kind regards, Sue

 

[mucky pup]

Hi Colin
We are very sorry to hear of your sad loss, we lost our best friend a year ago and still miss him every day.
I am in my office writing this and have a picture of him on the wall in front of me.
We only had the privelage of being his friend for 4 years as he was 10 years old when we adopted him but it was among the best 4 years we ever had.
We only came back to caravaning due to the fact that he was getting on and we did not want to leave him when we went on holiday so it is down to him that we now enjoy our trips in his van.

 

[thursdays child]

Colin and wife, I am oh so sorry for you at this time of sadness.The pain is so intense and I can remember very clearly how desperate I felt when my old pom passed away. At the time I would have done a deal with the devil to get her back!! My family were very supportive and gave me this comforting thought."She was loved every minute of every day, never went to bed hungry,cold or alone or frightened". I am sure this is the case with you too.It is a tribute to our dogs that their passing has such an impact on us. Treasure your memories and time will make the loss easier to bear.
My worst time was coming through the door and she didnt come running wagging her little tail.My sister, very wisely,and against my vehement objections, arranged to get a substitute.The wants and needs of my new companion took my mind off my grief enough to cope better. I have 2 little bears now and they remind me of Zoe and comfort me when I feel sad again. I look at them and I am glad they have a loving caring home when so many are not so fortunate. So the pain of your loss is testament to how much you care.
My thoughts are with you both.
Thursdays Child

 

[JimD1]

Hi Colin & Mrs Colin,
So very sorry to hear of your loss. I promise that it does get easier with time. You will never forget her - we lost Ben 3 years ago & even now we think about him every day. We both still miss him & SWMBO still has tears now & again.
You probably can't think about this now, but when the time is right, please do consider finding another 4 legged friend to live with you - we 've got 3 border collies now which are real bundles of fun, & if it wasn't for Ben, we wouldn't have any of them......he's got so much to answer for !!!
Take care,
Jim.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

So sorry to hear of your loss Colin. We have three little friends and god only knows how we'll feel come the sad days. But we've had so much fun and companionship from them and they will always be with us. Our daughter lost her 3 year old dog a few months ago due to a brain tumor and she was devastated, but time heals and she collected a St Bernard pup last week. She just had to fill the void that had been left in her life.
Ros

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

So sorry to hear of your loss ya ol' tyke, always an extremely sad time, and I know exactly what you are going through. I couldn't bring myself to look at pics of Misty, the first dog we lost in 2000, for a few years and it must have been at least 5 years before I could watch a video of her. She was only 6.
Two years ago we also lost Suki, a Lhasa Apso, from Cushings disease and she was almost 12.
Then last March we lost our eldest and first dog we'd ever had, Muffin, and she was almost 16. I still choke up when talking about her or looking at her pic. I still feel guilt because it was me who gave the vet permission to put her to sleep although in my heart I knew it was the right thing to do. Still hard to accept though.
We still have two dogs, both Mini Schnauzers, as was Misty and Muffin. Bailey is only 12 months but Polly is almost 9 and tomorrow she goes to the vet for a liver scan and maybe a liver biopsy. She gets pancreatitis and colitis which as flared up twice when away in the van in the last few weeks, Carlisle and Norwich. I pray that she'll be with us as long as Muffin but know realistically that she wont.
Like DD, we have 3 caskets of their ashes and I've left instructions that they are to go in with me when I pop my clogs. Some might think this is sad, or even emotional madness, but it gives me a sense of wellbeing or happiness. Hard to put into words.
Time will come when you will be able to look at her photo, although it will still be hard, but believe me after the initial sadness it will bring a smile to your face by just thinking of the happy times you spent together.
I still miss Muffin terribly but in her 16 years she had a good life. My youngest son said that Muffin had seen more of our country than he had in his 32 years

Just a pity that dogs have such a short lifespan.
Keep your chin up mate, your better half needs you

 

[Damian]

I cannot add anyting more than has already said.
Losing a pet is a devastating experience especially after a long time as one of the family.
Hopefully you will be able to offer a home to one of the many dogs in real need in the future.

I hope you dont mind Colin, but I have sent by email something for you and your lady wife which may just help a bit.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Colin.
Sorry to hear of your sad loss and i hope in time,you and your wife will be able to sit down together to look at photos,momentoes etc.and be able to remember the happy times you spent with your dear friend.
Maybe one day,you may be able to post a picture of your little dog,im sure we would all love to see him/her.
Lord Brakewynde.
I think that is a lovely thing to do with your pets ashes.
I dread the day when our little Shi-tzu Oscar "leaves us".
Its so nice to hear of owners who have showered their pets with the love,devotion and affection they deserve, instead of the various reports in the papers of people who.......I wont elaborate,but i think you know what i mean.
Adrian.

 

[LMH]

Colin

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, I'm not much good with words, so I'll just say, same as Damian, I can't add any more than what the others have posted. You have our support if you need us.

Take care you and your wife.

So sorry.

Lisa xxxxx

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi all.
The wife and I would like to thank you all for your kind words of support and thank you also to Damian a nice touch mate.
these are sad days for us especialy as last night she would have been diving between us as the fireworks went off " she hated loud noises" things are getting a little better though as we can now talk about her without bursting into tears allthough this may change on monday when we get her ashes back from the vets. he kindly came out and collected her after she died in her sleep on monday night,
As I cradled her in my arms waiting for him to arrive I was remembering how the little ball of black fluff no bigger than a hamster that could be held in one hand grew into the constant companion and little friend that she became to us both. part of the family that cannot really be described in just a few words. sometimes it was like there was a little person inside there somewhere with the things she did instinctively.
and now she's gone and we have to cope and decide what to do next, what that is I have no idea it is too early to say.
suffice to say "R.I.P. Tazzy" we will miss you.
colin.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

we can now talk about her without bursting into tears allthough this may change on monday when we get her ashes back from the vets. he kindly came out and collected her after she died in her sleep on monday night,

A word of advice ya ol' tyke.
I went to the vets to fetch the ashes of Suki and when I went to speak the words wouldn't come out. Each time I tried to tell the receptionist I'd come for the ashes I completely choked up until the tears came. I could see her ashes on a shelf in another room so just pointed. With a vet nurse putting her arm around me didn't help. I felt really embarrassed in a waiting room of people acting like a gibbering idiot and I couldn't get out of the vets fast enough.
Anyway, when it came time to collect Muffins ashes last March I got my SIL to fetch them. It was still a very sad time but at least I didn't have to speak or make a comment. It certainly helped.

 

[dixie1]

Hi Colin
just picked up on your very sad thread. we lost both our dogs within 3 weeks of each other about 10 years ago and it was terrible the worse thing ever, we both said then that we would never have another dog ever.......however we have just had a ten week old cavalier king charles spaniel called Mollie a different breed than my last 2 dogs i could never have replaced the 2 i lost... its certainly took us time to reconsider but i,m so glad we have now... Dont rush into having another dog take your time.
love carmen

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Colin
I saw you had a sniffle on another thread this week. Hope you and Mrs Colin are doing ok.