Damn, that sucks man.

I still remember when my mother's dog was sick. I almost dreaded the death of that girl more than a family member, and when she died, it took my mom weeks to get over it. I guess that is still one of the reasons I cannot get a dog, because I cannot get that close to a pet.

Again, sorry for your loss...

ALostTexan

i'm sorry and know how you feel.

Rupert
that's a real shame, so sorry. we all know how hard it hits when they're gone.
there is nothing like the companionship they give.
take care.

LOL re: Cannon Shell's remark.

Rupert-

You should consider getting a cat. I grew up with dogs and believed the stereotypes re: cats. True, they don't like strangers much but if they know you or you are their master, they are a lot more similar to dogs than you think. And they are much easier to take care of. Obviously you liked having a pet. You should consider getting a cat.

I've always loved cats. When I was growing up we had a lot of cats because my mom would take in strays.

I think my next pet will be a cat. When you live alone and you live in a building, it's really difficult to have a dog. You have to walk him 3x a day. You need to get someone to house-sit when you leave town. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility, even more so when you live alone and you don't have a yard.

So I think my next pet will be a cat. But I am going to wait for at least a year or two. After having that huge responsibility for the last 13 years, I'm going to take a break and live resposibility-free for a while.

Richi, I'm so sorry about Duke. :(

I'm deeply sorry.

I hadn't read this thread but clicked on that first post and that face..... he was beautiful.

Words are of little comfort when a family member is gone but know that people who don't know you at all share in your sadness.

I don't know if there is or not but i'll hope that there's somewhere better where he's running and free of pain and happy. A part of him will always live in your heart so when you're sad, try to think of the good times and remember that you made his life better as he did yours.

I'm painfully sorry and hope that one day you can think of him and smile again.

Rupert,

I'm saddened by Duke's passing. It's a huge loss.

Our dog is now 12 years old. Bubba is really my son's dog, but he's now 22 and moved away and starting his career. I now work from home while my wife works outside the house. So, Bubba is now "my dog."

I often spend 8-10 hours sitting at my desk working and he's always just a few feet away. I get up, he gets up. He moves slow because of arthritis, but he gives us so much and in return takes so little.

Like anyone with a wonderful dog, we are thankful for his companionship and his unconditional love.

I hope your happy memories of Duke help ease your sorrow.

i was in your situation a few years back. a cat would be perfect for you! cats are better companions then they get credit for.

Rupert,

I am so sorry to hear about Duke. Take things one day at a time. It took me a year an a half before I got another dog. I lost my first baby girl to lymphoma too. She was only four years old. One day at a time and each day will get easier.

Thanks again to all of you for your words of sympathy. Your words of support give me strength. I never imagined how difficult this would be. I thought I would be prepared for this but I wasn't. When you spend 13 years together, I guess there is no way to prepare for the emptiness you feel when your companion is gone. I know I will probably feel fine in a week or two but in the meantime it's hard. It's only been two days, so I guess I shouldn't expect much improvement at this point.

Nope. I still get choked up and it's been over two years now since we had to put Nugget to sleep (tumor in her spleen that caused internal bleeding. :( ) We had her for 14 years, which I guess is a long life for a golden, but it was horrible... I've never been so choked up in my life.

This is Nugster the day before I had to take her in to the vet. She was suffering and it wasn't fair to her anymore... I slept on the tile by her side the whole night (she loved to sleep on the tile):

Attachment 399

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Richi. There's nothing harder in this world.

As others have said, it is like losing a family member. We will never forget our pets. Memories of Nugget will be with you forever just like memories of Duke will be with me forever.

my parents had a dog named bubba as well. he was one of the ugliest dogs you could ever come across. we were working on his previous owners house, and they pretty much neglected the dog. i left for boot camp, and during a phone call home, my mother told me that my father had asked for the dog. i was surprised, since my mom isn't much of a dog person at all. he was the first dog they ever let stay in the house, he even slept in their room! that dog was something! he even travelled with them to florida when they came to see me graduate from boot camp. they lost him a few years ago--and no pet since. he was really irreplaceable.

Sorry to hear about your dog Richi, that is very sad, but he lived a long life and I am sure he was very happy.