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| Thread: I experienced loss | |
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Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 15, 2017 03:56 PM |
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Edited by Stevie at 16:00, 15 Jan 2017.
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I experienced loss
Our family dog died a few days ago.
I knew her since she was a pup. I remember how energetic and joyful she was, eager to explore, eager to know the people of the house. At the time, my grandparents took her in as a replacement for their late guard dog (which is another story in itself), so as she grew up she had to exchange her freedom for guard duties. In spite of that she was happy knowing that she was very well looked after, and enjoyed her time outside with bursts of excitement.
Last summer she was still fine, I visit my grandparents' place a lot during vacations so I'd know. I brought her meals daily and petted her, it made her happy. My brother and I went to the river to take baths and swim when the weather was good and sometimes we set her free to tag along. I believe it's times like those she enjoyed the most, especially if our neighbor's dogs were out too.
This winter me and my bro went there on new year's and she was not doing great. A mammary tumor rendered her unable to eat and rest properly. She drank a lot of water though, maybe more than 4-5 liters a day. We considered taking her to the vet to see if there was anything that could be done, but my grandpa didn't act on it. He's been through something similar before with his old dog and expended a lot of money on recovery without success. For the two weeks we've been there she endured weakness and cold and was set free in the warmer days, but by the time we left she was little more than a shadow of her former self.
On Thursday my grandma called to tell me she died, that was only three days later. She took her last breath in the biting cold of the night, free. This is what my cousin sent to me:
Now she rests at the pet cemetery. She was a good dog.
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Guide to a Great Heroes Game
The Young Traveler
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 15, 2017 04:21 PM |
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man, that's a sad image. i had to watch my mom's dog go further and further into a state of death; parts of her died long before she did. the first to go was her eyes, then her hind legs, then all of her legs. she kept having seizures near the end, and had to be carried outside to use the restroom frequently(a lot, on her last day). the day she died, i found her in my mom's kitchen, lying on the floor with one leg splayed out at a broken angle. she had died horribly; i think she drowned in the black stuff that had spewed from her mouth(she had had cancer, i believe). it looked like she had been trying to get to her feet, and had fallen and most likely ripped her leg tendons somewhat from her torso, and in that kind of agony, drowned in the black blood spewing from her mouth, unable to get up. seeing that she had died like that, really hurt me. i fixed her leg before i let my mom know so she could come in to see her(she was, of course, out snowing around with her goddamn beehives most of the day). i dug the hole for her dog, for my mom, even though i was furious with her that she had done next to nothing to prevent the drawn-out suffering of her own dog. and this isn't the first pet that she's had suffer a horribly long time until death. i told her that she would never have another dog as long as she couldn't take care of it. and i mean it still to this day. if she does get another, i'll take it to the pound or sell it on craigslist before i'll let her have it.
regardless, it's always hell to see something you love die horribly. or even find it in a state of horrible death.
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted January 15, 2017 04:44 PM |
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I am sorry to hear this, one can't help but get attached to his pets. They can be such a source of warmth and light in your life.
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tSar-Ivor
Promising
Legendary Hero
Scourge of God
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posted January 15, 2017 04:59 PM |
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My condolences, it's been 14 years since I lost my dogs, still miss em.
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"No laughs were had. There is only shame and sadness." Jenny
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted January 15, 2017 05:59 PM |
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Instead of bringing her to the vet, they let her atrociously suffer then die from both tumor and cold, like a pile of garbage in dirty snow.
All this because another dog couldn't be saved so money was "lost".
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Era II mods and utilities
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Maurice
Hero of Order
Part of the furniture
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posted January 15, 2017 08:56 PM |
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I know what you're feeling, having had to part with two dogs myself during my life. The first one came into the house when I was but a few months old myself and I grew up with him. It was crazy when he died, aged around 14; he always used to be there, but in the end he deteriorated. Something I couldn't really accept, so I was overjoyed when one day he had gotten out of his dog basket and had somehow managed to squeeze himself between the couch and the chair next to it. But he died the next day. I remember feeling torn, like a dagger that had been planted into my chest, before being dragged down to my belly.
Our second dog also turned about 14. It was a great dog, a real pet friend, friendly to people, especially children. I remember at one point he wanted to jump into a pram, just to cuddle up with the baby inside - but being an adult dog of around 50 pounds, we didn't think that was a good idea  . He suffered from cancer at some point, but after treatment he was considered cured again. Still, a few years later it returned and our vet (not the usual one, he was on holiday) diagnosed it incorrectly. Eventually we went back for a second check, since his condition deteriorated and our usual vet immediately diagnosed cancer again. Browsing through the initial test results on which the other vet made the wrong diagnosis, he immediately saw it was unmistakingly cancer; he had quite a heated argument with that other vet. Our dog was beyond curing, however, and we had to put him out of his misery; he was suffering and couldn't get up by himself anymore. I still remember sitting next to his dog basket, patting him one last time, before the vet released him from his suffering. I'll never forget seeing the final spasms as the poison took hold, before he passed away  .
My condolences, Stevie; having to let go of a pet you've grown attached to is an unfortunate fact of life as human life span far outranges that of most of the pets we tend to keep, but a loss hurts nonetheless. Feel comfort in the fact that for as far as you could, you've given her a good life. I'm sure she has enjoyed her time with you.
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Celfious
Promising
Legendary Hero
From earth
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posted January 15, 2017 09:20 PM |
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Sorry to hear Stevie. A good life I am sure he had.
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Gryphs
Supreme Hero
The Clever Title
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posted January 15, 2017 09:26 PM |
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I'm sorry to hear that. It kind of pisses me off though to hear they just let her die out in the cold like after refusing to even get her care, how cruel.
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"Don't resist the force. Redirect it. Water over rock."-blizzardboy
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markkur
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
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posted January 15, 2017 10:04 PM |
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Brother Stevie, at my age I know your loss well. In fact I have two more (my wife's pets primarily)nearing the end. Both are fading and it is hard...just like what you shared.
My worst experience was riding out the last night of one of my St. Bernards. Nothing could be done for her, she had a wicked case of pneumonia and I had to hold her in my arms for many hours through the wee hours of a morning till she slipped away - she was soo scared. I hope to God I never have to do that with a human again. That's how I look at the loss of beloved pets...it gives us a foreshadow or wake-up before losing very close-family and friends. That aweful experience always makes me renew/engage with those around me as much as I can.
<manlymanhug>
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted January 16, 2017 12:30 AM |
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If your dog is mortally sick and suffering, why not euthanize it? Vets will do this for very little cost. It's a shame we can't do the same for our human loved ones.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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markmasters
Famous Hero
Dragon of justice
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posted January 16, 2017 01:20 AM |
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You always attach more to a pet than you would wish for.
I'm sorry for your loss, be thankfull for the beautifull moments and stay strong
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Drakon-Deus
Undefeatable Hero
Qapla'
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posted January 16, 2017 04:08 AM |
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I'm sorry, Stevie.  I know what it's a like to lose a pet.
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Maurice
Hero of Order
Part of the furniture
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posted January 16, 2017 09:30 AM |
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Corribus said:
It's a shame we can't do the same for our human loved ones.
I guess that depends on the country you live in. In the Netherlands, such a thing is possible, if the person wanting it is found to be suffering needlessly, desires to end it all and has been counsiled by at least two independent doctors, both agreeing that the medical condition matches the patients' desires to call it quits.
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The last Reasonable Steward of Good Game Design and a Responsible Hero of HC. - Verriker
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Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 18, 2017 07:37 PM |
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Edited by Stevie at 22:18, 18 Jan 2017.
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I've been holding myself from replying and I'm glad I did. Under the empire of emotion that I was it would've probably been a bad idea if I lashed out at a particular someone's insensitivity. For a person of the arts to not think twice before assuming the worst in someone kinda leaves something to be desired.
I called back and asked my grandpa some questions to clarify things since I've been wrestling with some frustrations myself. Apparently, before me and my brother got there for the holidays, a vet had already examined her and gave her little to no chance even with surgery. If it were me, I would've opted for euthanizing her. I can't say for certain why my grandpa didn't and I wouldn't dare ask "why did you not" because the last thing I wanted to do was to sound accusatory in moments like these to the person that fed her and cared for her for nearly a decade. I know for certain that he loved that dog and did a lot more than most people would do for the well-being of theirs. He didn't leash her, he built a spacious cage with a dog house and everything to keep her away from bad weather, so that she wouldn't have to live in "dirty snow" when winter came. When it got cold outside, he tucked a thick jacket inside her dog house to keep her warm. The fact that she got out to wander away and die in peace, which is typical canine behavior, is not the same as "letting her die out in the cold".
A big thank you for those who sympathized. Life moves forward. They already have a new dog 
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted January 18, 2017 10:12 PM |
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I was sincerely reacting to both your pic and the description: you said they didn't consider going to the vet, then we see the cadaver frozen and torn in snow.
As one who rescued several pets and now they are part of family, I would rather not eat for one week so I can have the money for a doctor. And, unless dramatic circumstances, I would never let my pets die lonesome and ill, far from their home and the ones who care about them, moreover in a such cold winter as we had this year. That picture shocked me, and will shock anyone who experienced how it feels having a pet for years, sharing our life ups and downs. Now, if you have corrections to the initial story, is too late, my reply is there, what can I do.
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Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 18, 2017 11:00 PM |
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Edited by Stevie at 23:00, 18 Jan 2017.
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