Losing a friend

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by Nemo30, 16th Feb, 2016.

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  1. melbournian

    melbournian Well-Known Member

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    sorry for your loss. i'm a big on having pets and can understand where you are coming from.
     
  2. Mombius Hibachi

    Mombius Hibachi Well-Known Member

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    Keep this in mind: In doggie heaven, there's mountains of bones, and you can't turn around without sniffing another dog's butt!
     
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  3. JessicaP

    JessicaP Well-Known Member

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    We lost our beautiful girl Holly late last year. We had her before children! I still cry when I think about her. Someone sent me this when she died:

    Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.


    I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.


    As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.


    The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.


    The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.


    Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”


    Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”


    The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
     
  4. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Thats amazing.
     
  5. WattleIdo

    WattleIdo midas touch

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    God, I need a box of tissues every time I go to this thread.
     
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  6. Propagate

    Propagate Well-Known Member

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    Well, I can't believe it was only to weeks ago we posted on this thread at you news and last night we joined you in the loss you felt.

    Huck passed away about 7pm yesterday evening. Totally out of the blue. He was obviously ready and he waited until Emma and I were both with him and was on his bed with both of us with him. We are absolutely crushed.

    He had an amazing day yesterday, he was home all day with Emma. He practically ran to the local Station with her to pick up her parents from New Zealand so he got to see them too. He was so happy when I got home, Emma said he'd been waiting for me all afternoon at the back door.

    He brought me his toy and gave me heaps of kisses, (usually he only gives one out at a time). We, Emma, I, Huck and Emmas parents) were talking through the options to treat the new cancers that had spread all over him. These were unrelated to his lung cancer and it really limited his options. They were very aggressive.

    We'd kept him of his chemo for a week to give him a break and regroup. He was so happy and bright one they were out of his system.

    We'd all agreed that he was so happy after being off the drugs for a week that it wasn't fair to drug him up again and surgery was absolutely out of the question.

    Just at that his oncologist phoned to have a chat with Emma and I before todays's appointment. We put her on speaker and Huck was sat on his bed, he recognized Mels voice and listened intently for half an hour.

    We'd decided that we'd try the drug Palladia on a low dose and if he lost his sparkle we'd stop and that's that, we'd let him see his days out happy and drug free.

    We went back into the living room, he dropped on his bed, I was on the floor next to him (got some more kisses!) Em next to him and Emma's parents on the sofa.

    He chewed his toy for a while then suddenly stood up and had a huge seizure, totally out of the blue, no warning and had never had one before.

    It went on for ages then he went stiff and stopped breathing. I thought he'd gone but he came back. He was totally stunned, didn't know where he was, or his name. He seemed to know us knew and he was safe with with us but he didn't really know who we were, or where he was.

    We were in pieces, it was such a shock. We knew it was time. I phoned the vet as we were holding and talking to him. We knew it was time so asked the vet to bring what they needed with them.

    They were 45 minutes away. I was gutted, I wanted it over so quickly in case he seized again but in hindsight I am so glad for those 45 minutes. We spent the whole time cuddling him, crying and telling him what an awesome friend he has been, telling him it wouldn't be long and he could have the best sleep and all would be fine.

    After 30 minutes he'd calmed down and was just laid in bed with Emma and holding him, cuddling and talking to him, wrapped in his favorite blanket. We decided we had to let him go but in the back of my mind I kept thinking what if it was a one off. He had calmed down and seemed to know where he was a bit more. My head was spinning with what to do. Then, about 40 minutes after the first seizure he seized again, not as long this time but it was as if to say "let me go", he was ready.

    The vet turned up about a minute after that seizure and we quickly explained what happened and that we thought it was time, he's fought long and hard but he wants to go. As she was prepping he seized again so this was only about 5 minutes after the second seizure. This time was a little longer than the second, not as long as the first. The vet commented that it was a long seizure. I think another one would have seen him off.

    So, he came around form that third and final seizure and within a minute or so the vet had the catheter in and prepped and she gently let him go whilst Emma and I held him, told him we loved him and thanked him for being such a good friend. It was so peaceful, he drifted off in no time.

    My heart is absolutely broken but at the same time I know he's resting at last. He doesn't have to fight anymore and we don't have to worry about him anymore.

    He will be with me forever.

    I am at peace knowing he no longer has to cope with all the rotten things that got thrown at him this last year or two and I am thankful for every minute he was in our lives. He will be missed forever.

    The weird part is, during one of our cuddle and chat session on Wednesday I told him he was allowed to go if he was ready, he'd fought long and hard and this new cancer was a battle we couldn't really help him with anymore.
     
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  7. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Man, that was a hard read. I'm so sorry.
    Really glad Huck had a fun last day, great memory to keep.
     
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  8. EN710

    EN710 Well-Known Member

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  9. Coota9

    Coota9 Well-Known Member

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    What an absolutely gut wrenching post @Propagate.

    As hard as it was to let Huck go it was the right call..not an easy one but the right one..
     
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  10. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I had a cry just now reading about Huck. No matter that you know it is coming, it doesn't make it any easier when it happens. How nice to have had that last time with him, cuddling and talking to him. He would have been comforted hearing your voices and feeling your touch.

    Since losing our little dog we decided not to get another yet (maybe later). I don't want to go through the same thing again.

    It took a long time to stop myself replaying his final minutes in a loop in my head.

    I'm so sorry for you all and for Huck. But he had a good life and was well loved so hold onto that for now.
     
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  11. lost nomad

    lost nomad Well-Known Member

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    Read through tears. What joy Huck gave you both. He sounds like a little fighter.

    May he rest in peace and the memories of his antics forever put smiles on your faces.
     
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  12. dmb1978

    dmb1978 Well-Known Member

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    RIP Huck! Sorry for your loss. Dogs are the best
     
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  13. Nemo30

    Nemo30 Well-Known Member

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    So sorry to hear @Propagate Heartbreaking to lose such a loved member of your family. He sounds like he had a great life with you and Emma.
     
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  14. vbplease

    vbplease Well-Known Member

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    That was a hard story to read @Propagate.. You obviously loved Huck very much.

    I hope you guys are able to soon find another pooch some day to love as much as Huck.
     
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  15. Propagate

    Propagate Well-Known Member

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    Thanks everyone. It's so hard to explain the absolute emptiness of a hole he has left, I'm sure everyone that has been close to their dog feels the same.

    He was my first dog, he went everywhere with me, including to work everyday since losing his leg last year. He's been by my side for the whole time we have lived in Australia so it's not just losing a friend, it's like a whole chapter of our lives has closed along with it.

    I can't say I'd never have another, but he was truly one of a kind and I'm not sure I ever want to go through these feelings again. I have never felt so utterly heart broken as at the moment.

    I know that over time it will get better and I'll be able to look at photo's of him with a smile and not through tears, at the moment we've just got to ride it out and know we did the right thing for him and be thankful he went at home with us and not scared and alone.

    Thanks everyone.
     
  16. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    This is a huge thing. Knowing he was being held and wasn't alone at the end. Hugs to you.
     
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  17. WattleIdo

    WattleIdo midas touch

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    It's only right that you feel like that; you were close and it was such a lovely relationship. I do know how horrible it feels. Look after yourselves. xx
     
  18. mini2

    mini2 Well-Known Member

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    Makes me feel sad I didn't even get to say good bye to mine when he passed. Still feel horrible from time to time even though 4 months has past since...
     
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  19. Propagate

    Propagate Well-Known Member

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    So sorry @mini2 As harrowing as it was to see his seizures I am so glad we were both home cuddling him went he went. Although, all I seem to see whenever I think of him at the moment is him seizing. I'm back at work today, had to rush in and take his work bed and bowls straight out to the car this morning before I settled into anything, could't bear seeing his empty bed from my desk. Will be tough tonight when everyone's gone home and I'm here alone, I'd always be chatting away to him once the office emptied out and it's just him and me.
     
  20. Jennifer Duke

    Jennifer Duke Well-Known Member

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    One of ours died after a particularly violent seizure a few years ago. My partner was at home and I had been at work, so missed the passing. I'm so glad you were all able to be there with the poor darling. It's much better when they go peacefully, surrounded by loved ones - it's hugely rare for this to happen for most domesticated animals. So sorry for your loss x
     
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