This is the worst day I've ever had

[peternap]

Coleman, our Airedale, has been battling cancer for several years now. We've had surgery, radiation, an experimental serum done at the Veterinarians university in New York City, and tonight after I got home he collapsed.

We took him to the Animal hospital where we had to make the decision to end it!

He was much more than a pet, he was one of our children. I realize that it had to be done, but I am devastated.  He died while both Jane and I were holding him and despite the fact that he couldn't sit up and could hardly breathe, still wagged his tail as he was dieing.

I've never been known as being soft hearted, in fact, most people find it hard to believe I have a heart at all, but this is the hardest thing I've ever been through.

Melanoma is The worst thing I've ever seen. You just can;t kill it. It keeps coming back no matter what you do!

[glenn kangiser]

Sorry to hear that, Peter.

I've been there many times and it never seems to get any better.

Worst was when my uncles collie came from over a half mile away and killed my dog that used to bite my moms ankles when she was making me get on the school bus.  I had a mean teacher and didn't want to go.

I wanted to kill that dog so bad, the only thing that stopped me was knowing my uncle would be upset and he hadn't done anything to me.  I was about 8 years old and knew how to use the 30.30  I knew it wouldn't bring my dog back and as always took care of burying my own.

While they are hard to let go, some say it is to prepare us for losing our own human family members, however I know some of them who would be easier to lose than a good dog. 

[MountainDon]

That is a rough one Peter. That it is sometimes necessary, that it is sometimes the humane thing to do, doesn't make it easier. We have the ashes of our Cairn Terrier who reached the end and needed that assist from us to keep her from a slow kidney failure toxic death.

[benevolance]

My Dad had to put my german sheppard down a few weeks back... the dog was 15... she had suffered a stroke and was having trouble... no arthritis or hip problems.. but the stroke made her incredibly weak on her feet... steps were impossible...She was falling down a lot and it got to the point where something had to be done...One of the older german sheppards I had seen.. she was a huge dog as well... really long... close to 100 pounds...

We named her bubbles because as a pup she had a bubble hernia on her belly and nobody wanted her... it  never got any worse and She was a good dog...She caught and ate dozens of cats though...Dozens and dozens....

[NM_Shooter]

Sorry to hear that Peter.  I've never had to put a pet down yet, but have an aging collie that is leading up to it.  They are just not pets, are they?  I place that dog well up on the list and above a lot of people if I had to choose a companion for a deserted island.

Post us a picture of him.

Sincere regrets,

Frank

[peternap]

[mvk]

Peter

My condolences, we lost our Akita, Keisha to bladder cancer two years ago. They really grap a piece of your heart.

Mike

[benevolance]

and they say that they are just a dog....

my wife's little terrior is 14 and he is starting to go blind and he has trouble jumping up on the bed now...he does not like to go outside other than to use the bathroom... all he does is sleep.... every time I come home and call for him and he does not come I get scared that this is that fatal time...

My wife will be devastated...I think I come in a distant second to that little terrior....just seeing him fumble around makes me sad...Such a shame it is to lose our youth...I see that poor little half blind dog and wonder if that is the way it will be for me?

[BiggKidd]

Peter Nap,

I am so sorry to hear about Coleman. I know just how hard it is. If there is anything we can do we are just a phone call away.

Take Care
Larry

[StinkerBell]

<<<<<<<HUG>>>>>>

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Sorry Peter... that's terrible news.   I don't know what we'll do when Grover goes one of these days... he is getting on up there in years. 

[Sassy]

So sorry, Peter, I know how pets become part of the family.  When I lost my Great Dane, Hoss, a few years ago, I cried & cried...  I've had other pets that have broken my heart when I've lost them.   

That picture of Coleman sure is a winner!  One thing, their memories are always in your heart & sharing their life with you has added something special to your life that no one can take away. 

[Redoverfarm]

Peter "been there and done that" to my 17 YOA poodle just a month or so ago.  She was part of the family but it got to the point that her illness was disrupting our lives. She was almost blind, couldn't hear anymore and had to let her out every two hours.  Her kidneys were almost shot as well.  It is never easy to do but I think it was for the best.  We would have to go out at night and bring her in as she would get lost and couldn't find her way. Starting to have sezures as well.  I think it is always easier to handle if a pet just dies rather than having one put to sleep.  Hard either way and it usually rest on the dad to get the job done. 

[benevolance]

Yeah

if you did not know why the boy was crying in Ole Yeller.. you do now... I remember someone saying that he cried because he was a boy...But I think that he cried because he became a man

[CREATIVE1]

If you haven't seen this before, it's a tear-jerker but might give you some comfort.  I've been there too.  It really hurts.

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

[sparks]

Sorry to hear about your loss Peternap. Very true that they are like children.....

[Drew]

Hey Peter,

We're very sorry to hear about Coleman.  Good friends like that are rare, and they change us.  We're so lucky to have them.

We're going through that too right now.  We got Henry from the pound five years ago when he was eight.  He was the sweetest, most loving dog and thought the world of me.  The feeling was mutual.  He'd take a plane out of the sky if I asked him to.  He was getting older and slowing down.  I took him to the vet and found he had an infection.  We thought we were just trying to find the right antibiotic for him when he had dizzy spells.  The specialist did a sonogram and found a growth occluding his heart and windpipe.  That was three Wednesdays ago.  The following Sunday we had our whole family over to be with Henry.  The Vet on Wheels came over and helped him.  He passed so happy and so peacefully that I never felt his spirit leave him.

He was never hungry, lonely, or sad after he met us, and he made me and everyone in my family a better person.  He had other troubles ready to happen, so his swift passing was a blessing.  We will miss him forever, but we get to keep the best of him.

Good luck to you and your family Peter.  I know this is a tough time.  I'm glad you had a chance to know Coleman and you got to be so good for each other.

[Redoverfarm]

Old friends are never easy to say good-bye to whether they have 2 or 4 legs makes no difference.

[peternap]

Thanks everyone, especially you Drew. I know what your dealing with.
I've gotten a handle on it now, but the house sure seems empty.
This is our 3rd Airedale in the last 33 years and the last two have been special. Asta was 14 when we had to let him go and that was difficult.

I got Coleman to fill that void and he did it well. There was never any question about what he was saying. Airedales are thinkers and as a result, hard headed. He would not walk on a leash. I made a 50 foot search and rescue strap and let him walk himself. He would match me step for step.

While he was young, my kids finished school and went out on their own, Then they got married and made their own families. Coleman was the last child we had. At Christmas, he was up early and wanted his stocking first. At Thanksgiving he expected his own plate.

That and the long fight, the 7 hour drives to New York every two weeks for treatment, the surgeries and the radiation treatments, just made it that much harder when the cancer finally won.

He had the best taste in people imaginable. There wasn't a mean bone in his body but some people he disliked and could show it in some unusual ways. My son was engaged for a short time to a girl I didn't care for. She was shallow and snooty. She was also afraid of animals. One Christmas, they came over and she sat down on the sofa. Coleman was so big he stood a head above the sofa back. He walked behind her and using his nose, thumped her in the back of the head. He gave her a look like "That's what I think of you" and walked away. Never went near her again. Thankfully, my son saw the light.

Everyone loved him. We got a card from the Mailman, UPS man three different Vet. hospitals and it looks like everyone in each signed it. How they know is anyones guess, the cards just started coming.

Thanks again!