I am very sorry to hear about your lose Joe My heart goes out to you and your wife, as I know how much you two loved your dogs. I know it feels like both of you have lost a family member right now, and I'll be praying for you bud.
Joe and I had many discussions about our dogs back in the good old days. I know how much he loves his dogs and I feel terrible about this. I'm sorry this happened Joe, I know how much Frankie meant to you.
Sorry bout the loss Jaft. I've been "lucky" because my dog is 12 and still going strong as is her father at 14 , he's stone deaf but still very active and strong . They do become part of the family complete with birthday presents and Christmas presents ( I know that may be a bit much ) and I dread the day when they are no longer here . Sad to say but I would choose my dog over alot of people I know as my dog has never done a bad thing in her entire life and the love and loyalty she shows is a thing that I wish all the people I know would emulate. Again I am sorry to her about this.
IRE45....your dog has never done anything bad in her life???? I have a wonderful golden retriever named, Bridget, who is very smart and well loved...but she is the devil in blonde fur.
My wife and I acknowledge that the dog is smarter than we are....fact.
She will trick our other pup,Gracie, sometimes at dinner time. If we give them a special something in their individual dog bowls. Bridget will eye the treat and as I begin to put the bowls on the kitchen floor...she'll run to the door barking and of course Gracie gets excited and runs to the door also while Bridget retreats back to the bowls and eats only the special treat from each bowl.
She will sometimes take our car keys and hide them under where she lies. We will look all over and then spot Bridget who is one of those dogs able to smile at you...but who also can raise her eye brows...independently of each other. She is screwing around with us so we go over and WE RETRIEVE our keys.
I never used to mind my wife being smarter than I but now I am third in line.
The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, .
Not bad no . Oh when she was a pup we had some issues with her shredding paper but it was fleeting and she is an amazingly good dog. Then again I am a little biased.
I more than understand the pain of losing a beloved pet... My wife and I had a little dog named Muggsy for 17.5 years,,,, finally, because he was very ill, we had to put him down... Very sad day...
I'm sorry for your loss jaft,, keep your head up and remember the funny things that pets do....that will keep Frankie in your heart and mind forever.....
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
My condolences to Jaft. I too, have lost many beloved companions throughout the years and know the pain that comes from losing a friend that has been with you through the good days and the bad.
I always thought that losing a canine friend would be a lot harder than a cat but as I opened this thread my cat Kismet (the first i have ever rescued) , who I have had for five years, came and put his paw on my shoulder.... granted he just wanted attention but he seemed to know *something* was up....
My thoughts are with you, Jaft
"I don't want to play golf, when I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it" Rogers Hornsby. St. Louis Cardinals (1915-1926)
I believe animals do know when something is wrong. One of the times we had to have a dog put to sleep I was upset and crying and our bird said to me, "you okaaaayyy?". The thing is, she said it in her sweetest, most concerned little bird voice. She made me smile. Animals are wonderful creatures.
This is kinda long...But worth the read imo. By Paige Bierma CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE
Momi Correa's love affair with her Siamese cat Suzuki went deeper and lasted longer than any relationship she ever had with a man. Nearly two decades ago, when she was working in Guam as a Polynesian dancer, Correa found the weeks-old kitten in the discarded tire of an old Suzuki. A few years later, when she relocated to Hawaii, there was no question but that she would bring Suzuki with her. The cat had to undergo a four-month quarantine to get his travel papers; Correa drove two hours each day to visit him.
"We were together for 17 years," Correa says. "For six of those years I was in a very abusive relationship, and Suzuki was a great comfort. When I was sad, he would bump his head against mine as if to say, 'It's going to be okay, I'm here.' Even when I couldn't find housing because landlords wouldn't accept cats, I vowed never to give Suzuki away. I was very attached to him, like he was to me."
But in January of this year, she finally had to say goodbye. Suzuki was sick and suffering, and Correa made the excruciating decision to put him to sleep. She cradled her pet as the veterinarian gave him the injection. "I put my face on his cheek and told him to go ahead, and that I loved him and thanked him," she says. "And then he was gone."
Lack of sympathy
Correa still cries when she talks about her cat. But she considers herself lucky: She had Suzuki's love in her life, and now she has the support of friends who understand her grief. Too often, when pets die, their bereaved companions are met with bafflement or impatience from friends and family.
"Many people are told that they shouldn't be feeling so intensely because it was 'only' a dog or 'only' a cat," says Florida psychologist Matt Zimmerman, who specializes in grief counseling for owners who lose favorite pets. "But this may have been one of the most significant relationships in their lives. It doesn't matter to them that [their loved one] had four legs instead of two."
In fact, say psychologists, people who lose a beloved animal almost always feel genuine and deep grief. Fortunately, if you're suffering, some simple steps can help.
Expect to go through stages of mourning, say Jamie Quackenbush and Denise Graveline, the authors of When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope With Your Feelings. The stages loosely correspond to those described by pioneering grief psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (author of On Death and Dying) in people who lose someone they love or who are facing death themselves.
Often, guilt comes first, Quackenbush and Graveline say. This is particularly likely when a pet has to be euthanized, but even when the end comes naturally, you may feel as though you should have done more to ease the animal's suffering. If you did everything in your power to give your pet a good life and a gentle death, acknowledge your own efforts and good faith, the authors say. Be kind to yourself. A pet owner's guilt may give way to fury at a trusted veterinarian for not being able to save their pet. You may even be angry at your pet for dying.
Denial frequently comes into play as well, because it can be hard to adjust to the fact that your companion is really gone. For some time, you may catch yourself expecting to see your cat or dog make its accustomed appearance at mealtime, or to hear a bark, meow, or other signature communication.
Talking about the loss
Lastly, deep sadness may turn into a temporary depression, so don't be surprised if it happens to you. After all, a significant part of your life is gone. However, if depression persists for more than three weeks, interrupts daily activities, or is accompanied by thoughts of harming yourself, you should consult a doctor or counselor.
No matter where you are in your grieving process, says psychologist Zimmerman, talking about your loss with supportive people is the most effective way to move through it. Your friends and family needn't understand your loss to empathize with it. If someone close to you tries to minimize the importance of what you're going through, explain that you've lost one of the most important relationships in your life, and are feeling what he or she would feel in such circumstances.
"Reach out to other people who have been there and let them carry you," says Correa. "The important thing is to not close up for a long period of time and get locked in the sorrow."
Fortunately, Weggans did find help, by way of her computer keyboard. A number of Internet sites have sprung up to provide comfort to grieving pet owners. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Inc.(http://www.aplb.org), In Memory of Pets (http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com), and PetLoss.com (http://www.petloss.com) are among the most popular sites. Here, individuals post memorials to lost pets, exchange referrals to pet grief support groups and counselors, and talk openly about their experiences.
Supportive friends, whether in the flesh or on the screen, can give you permission to grieve, says Zimmerman -- but don't forget to live. In times of mourning, it's more important than ever to take care of yourself. Make sure to maintain healthy eating habits, even if you have no appetite. Get plenty of rest. Remember to exercise: Don't give up your outdoor time because your dog no longer needs his. Even something as simple as a brisk walk can do wonders to lift your mood. As much as possible, continue your normal routine, because structure can help you regain your bearings. Don't rush to adopt another animal or find new activities to fill the void left by your pet's death. The grieving period may take time; you will eventually reach closure and find it easier to move on.
A healing ritual
Finally, says Zimmerman, it can be healing to perform a ritual when you feel the time is right. Some people arrange for a ceremony at a pet cemetery with friends and family. Others create small shrines in memory of their pets.
Momi Correa buried Suzuki with his favorite toys in a dear friend's back yard. She chose a heart-shaped memorial stone for his grave marker. She painted the stone a deep red, decorated it with her favorite photo of Suzuki, and added an inscription: "Here is where my heart lies."
Since the ceremony, Correa's grief is slowly lifting. The vet who cared for Suzuki in his final days recently asked Correa if she'd consider adopting Lucky, a stray Siamese kitten who had been picked up with a badly broken leg. "I love this vet," says Correa, who is aware that the kitten's paw may need to be amputated. "He said, 'Your home is the only place this cat could be.' I'm going to adopt him in about two weeks."
-- Paige Bierma is an award-winning health and medical writer in San Francisco. She has written for Hippocrates, Safety + Health, and other publications.
Further Resources
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)
Reach out to other people who have been there and let them carry you," says Correa. "The important thing is to not close up for a long period of time and get locked in the sorrow."
This is so true. I had a beagle(Piglet...she snorted...lol) and she was my companion for 12 years. She came to me as an unwanted pup by her mother (Beagles) and had to bottle feed her as she was only 3 weeks old. One day she ran across the yard after a squirrel and just carried right into the street...in front of a truck.
This was the second of two dogs I had lost in my life and I was devastated. My neighbor at the time raised Pitbulls from a young age and had bred generations. This eighty year old man made a point to come to my house and share pictures and memories of the dogs he had in his life and made me share mine: it made me feel better. He made me realize that you do not grieve for too long.....you remember....their favorite toy, favorite place, who of your friends they loved...and who they hated....but most of all how comforted YOU felt when they were next to you....
"I don't want to play golf, when I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it" Rogers Hornsby. St. Louis Cardinals (1915-1926)
My condolences go out to Jaft. My in-laws have gone through many dogs and cats in the 9 years my husband and I have been dating, but none hit me as hard as the white german shepard they had put down late last year. Ryker was the sweetest thing...a big old baby in fact. He'd lay in the corner and let the cats knead on him and not snap at them or chase them away. He'd just whine and wait for a human to come move the cat. His hips had deteriorated so badly he couldn't sit or walk and my in laws decided it was time to let him pass to a better place. My dog that I left with my parent, Abigail, is getting close to time to go too. She lives with my mom and she just does not have the means to buy the expensive medication she needs for her liver disorder. She's giving her until her quality of life deteriorates, then she's going to put her down. She has to be gated into the kitchen/back area of the house because she pees all over the place and she's deaf, but other than that, she's a fairly healthy dog. (she's a 12 year old lab/malimute mix) She has her days tho, some days she lays around and lets the world go right by her and others she's like the puppy Mom and Dad brought home from the local Animal Shelter. That's going to be a hard one too. So I definately feel for anyone who loses a pet that has been with them a long time. Pets are like an extension of your family and their love and loyalty cannot be matched by any human.
Quote: I believe animals do know when something is wrong. One of the times we had to have a dog put to sleep I was upset and crying and our bird said to me, "you okaaaayyy?". The thing is, she said it in her sweetest, most concerned little bird voice. She made me smile. Animals are wonderful creatures.
That is a sweet story? what kind of bird? I had a cat Tabitha when I was a kid. I used to get bronchidus once or twice a year, and she would always come cuddle with me when I felt bad. Also in a blonde moment a couple years back, I tried to back out of the garage without opening the door, and my dog Willis let me know. Animals are much smarter than some people give them credit for.
They're both gone now and I always just remember the good time, it helps.
Quote: Too often, when pets die, their bereaved companions are met with bafflement or impatience from friends and family.
I had the opposite thing happen with me. When my dog died, I grieved big time, and of course wanted to talk about it.
I'd start by saying something like, "I know this sounds weird, but I bawled like a baby for a week."
Most people understood and said I didn't have to explain. A pet is a family member. I grieved for my dog as much as I did for some friends I've had that died. I still miss him.
Quote: Sorry to hear...losing a pet is usually ones first true dealing with death. Sorry Jaft
Pit...not to sound insensitive...but what happened? What did Frankie die of...history? how old was he? If too sensitive a subject...my apologies.
eo,
It's not too personal at all.
but we don't know.
Sorry,but at the moment,I wouldn't be very good at explaing the cuse if I knew. But we don't know. I think Frankie was eleven.
Jaft has been banned from the board. He could explain much better than I could. But apperantly merrcy is beyongd this board. So to hell with it.I'll band myself too i understand there's hard feelings,but the cliqueish bull [censored] around here has gotten unbarable to say the least. Ya'll ride your broomsticks to hell!
take care ya'll
Last edited by PitDAWG; 02/28/0712:11 AM.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Quote: Jaft has been banned from the board. He could explain much better than I could. But apperantly merrcy is beyongd this board. So to hell with it.I'll band myself too i understand there's hard feelings,but the cliqueish bull [censored] around here has gotten unbarable to say the least.
Well Jaft being banned is news to me, but i'm not surprised. Never had a beef with him myself but god knows i witnessed enough of them with other posters down the years. Some might argue that he got away with a lot more than others who had been banned for a lot less. Maybe there was a clique both ways at one time?
You said it yourself Pit:
Quote: Many times the personna people post on these boards in no way reflects the person that is inside of them. And I simply felt those of you who know Jaft well,would want to know abbout him losing his friend and pet Frankie.
I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark here and suggest that the Dawgtalker refs banned him for the persona he projected on these boards and not what he's like in real life...i mean, what else would they have to go on?
Though I didn't always agree with the way Joe posted I'm sorry to hear that he's banned. I have never quite understood the "board persona" thing. Why be someone other than who you are or act differently than you would if you were talking face to face?
I know perception plays a huge role in interperting the written word because we lack the advantage of intonation and body language. However when a large percentage of people have the same perception of a poster perhaps there's something the poster can learn from that. For example I had two posters in the same day say that I was talking down to people so I looked at what I had said and saw how it could be seen that way. I PMed with the two people and we came to a better understanding and I was grateful for the opportunity. I don't think people should change who they are to please others, but if enough people see me as someone I'm not I'm going to take a look at how I'm coming across and see how I can improve my communication skills to better represent who I am.
Just to clarify I wasn't talking about Joe in the above post just the idea of the "board persona". Also how often times we are perceived differently than we actually are due to people's frame's of reference. I really appreciate people telling how they feel about how I'm communicating with them so I can make improvements or clarify. I know it's "just a message board" but I've found it to be a useful tool in learning about myself.
Jaft has been banned from the board. He could explain much better than I could. But apperantly merrcy is beyongd this board. So to hell with it.I'll band myself too i understand there's hard feelings,but the cliqueish bull [censored] around here has gotten unbarable to say the least. Ya'll ride your broomsticks to hell!
Ok, here we [censored] go....
Care to enlighten us on just what the [censored] you mean?
Clique-ish [censored]? What clique-ish [censored]? Do you refer to the [censored] where Jaft blatantly, flagrant and intentionally repeatedly violated and ignored the rules around here? Do you refer to the [censored] where he got more [censored] 2nd chances than anyone else should be allowed?
Jaft can explain better than you? I can explain alot better than Jaft.
You're wanting to drag [censored] in public, so let's do it... lay out the FACTS of everything that has transpired and I will GLADLY respond with all of the info that was kept in private. All email correspondance has been saved, I have no problem dragging this [censored] out.
Mercy? To hell with your idea of mercy. I showed plenty of mercy each and every time he got a pass from me and each and every time I was rewarded by him intentionally crapping on this place.
If you want to cast aspersions in public, I strongly [censored] reccomend you tell the WHOLE truth.... and as far as you banning yourself, feel free. Noone makes you type this address in, but know that you are welcome here.
For reasons that do NOT need to be public however, Jaft is not until I decide that he is.
As for the picture you wish to paint of things here.... shove em up your ass with my broomstick.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
My condolences. I just lost my best friend Maxx a couple months ago. he was fifteen +. Anyhoos. My little sister gave me this poem with a picture of him for Christmas. It broke me up but made me feel a little better too. Warning! Tear jerker.
We have a secret you and I that no one else could know. For who but I could see you lie each night in fireglow. And who but I can reach my hand before I go to bed And feel the loving warmth of you and touch your silken head. And only I walk woodland paths and see ahead of me your form racing with the wind so young again and free. And only I can see you swim in every brook I pass And when I call No one but I.... can see the bending grass.
Einstein could not even fathom the mathematical improbabilities of the Browns woes.
Give Jaft my condolences. I had a Husky who lived to the age of 12, and died from kidney failure. Big sweetie he was. Raised him from an 8-wk old pup. Kimah was the neighborhood favorite, especially during the winter. We had one of those old saucer sleds, and used to let the neighbor kids ride along behind him. Dog would pull those kids all day, and it was a joy to watch.
Saddest thing was that my wife had to take him to his "last vet's appointment" because I was out-of-town. It hurt to not be there, it hurt to not be at her side to help with the loss, it hurt to come home to that empty space.
This may be a coincidence, or maybe not. My wife is out-of-town this week, and sent me this story in an e-mail today. I thought all my pals here at DawgTalkers would find it poignant and appropriate for this thread:
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" "This is Heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. "Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked. "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets." The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?" "Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in." "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. "There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell." "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?" "No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."
I've been around these boards for quite awhile. I usually just read and then move on. I can somewhat relate to Jaft's situation. I have always had a Husky in my life. Whether with me or with my Parents while I was in the ARMY. They are the most Loveable and protective Dogs around in my opinion. My Pixie is one of the greatest things in my life. I would never, ever consider life being normal without her. She is not just a pet. She is my companion. Just to see her smile at me when I get home from work in the afternoon brings on a happy smile. Or when I leave the house to run simple errands, she steadily watches me through the window waiting for me to return. I would be lost without her. She helps keep me grounded. I kinda need that structure & responsibility in life. She is not "just" a Dog to me. I had a 15 year old Siberian Husky named "Prince" until I had to make that dreaded trip to the Vet in 99' He was deaf and going blind. But I realized I needed to let him go....He was my Best Friend for 15 years. When I left for the ARMY, He was there for me when I returned. He was my anchor through all the Chaos I indured while being Deployed. He fought the needle until I told him it was OK to leave and that I would always Love him. There is not a day in my life since I put him down that I do not think of him. I see some of his personality in Pixie everyday. I'm thankful for my Dog and the Dogs I've had in the past. No matter what you say or do to them, they Love you unconditionally. No matter what Jaft has done in the past. I'm here to support him and his Wife while they grieve for the loss of a Loved one & a Family member..............
If there's any truth to this story, I'll be happy to walk that road, and I'll have a small pack of best friends to accompany me:
Inky Kimah Nutmeg (Nutley, Miss Nut, Nut-Job, "Crazyazz B!+cH," when she made me mad...) Dizzy[Growlespie] (Diz, Dizzyboy) Buttons and soon, Tillie[Howliday] (Girlygirl, BadNews, Miss Thang)
Each one has been a dear and deeply valued friend- an individual who made life better for me, and made me want to be better for life. I can't imagine a home in which my wife and I don't have a dog or two to share in our love.
My heart goes out to you and your wife, as I know how much you two loved your dogs. I know it feels like both of you have lost a family member right now, and I'll be praying for you bud.![[Linked Image from i33.photobucket.com]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/buckeyesfan1/capecanaveralpics187.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg)
![[Linked Image from media.lehighvalleylive.com]](http://media.lehighvalleylive.com/tv_impact/photo/birds-of-war-3b1e411c023703c8_custom_120xauto.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i98.photobucket.com]](http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/iambrown92/lama.gif)
Animals are much smarter than some people give them credit for.
