Missy is my beautiful black lab who has graced us with her presence for 16 years. She was the sweetest dog and has been suffering (without any complaints) of hip displasia for a long long time. She could barely walk, but she never ever failed to wag her tail and want to follow you.

Last night in the cold and rain my Dad sees her just lying there getting wet. He goes out and realizes she can't get up to go to her warm heated house where she sleeps with the rooster (silly relationship). He goes out there and picks her up and puts her in her home and dries her off. She can't lift her back legs anymore or muster strength to eat. He decided it was time...so today she will go to heaven.

Goodbye sweet Missy...we love you and will miss you. You are a very good doggy.

I'm sorry. It's the hardest decision a person can make, but it's the right one.

And yes, all dogs do go to heaven.

You can bet that retriever dog heaven has a bunch of stagnant pools of foul-smelling water and plenty of dead things to eat and roll in. hahahaha

You were lucky to have 16 years with your dog.

PA, Sorry to hear about your dog, it sounds like she was a very good one. My father in law had to do the same for his 13 yr old German Shepherd this past Friday. It has been real hard on my wife and her family. Maybe Missy and Simba can go chase some stuff in Heaven together...

Aggie Vet...yes it is. The selfish part of me wants her to be around for more years, but damn it they just dont have that many years in them. Its what I hate about pets is that they bring you so much happiness and then they leave.

I hope I was a good master to her.

SWC, its funny you say that cause Ive had her since I was 12. I grew up in Zapata and our house was right on Falcon Lake. Id take her to the lake all the time with me and she LOVED to get in and go swimming. I used to hate it cause Id take her with me to go fishing and shed jump in the water and scare all the fish away. I never cared... And yes, she ALWAYS found some foul smelling carcass to go roll around in, and then want to come give me hugs.

Damn today is going to be hard!

I know that's tough. I had to put my 14 year old Dalmatian down in 2004. She had been valiantly been fighting pancreatitis and dementia, plus was losing strength in her hindquarters.

I agonized over the decision, and finally one afternoon decided that she shouldn't have to suffer through another night. In retrospect, I realized I had been selfish to delay so long, and probably should have put her down a month or two earlier.

Missy looks like a super sweet girl. I'm sure she appreciates all the love she got from her pack.

Sorry, man.

That's never an easy thing to do. You have my sympathies. Sometimes, a good new pup can take off the edge a little.

Sorry for your loss.... Thanks for sharing and reminding me of the blessing of my dog (also a black lab).

[This message has been edited by 12th Non-Reg (edited 1/3/2011 12:40p).]

It wouldn't be Heaven without our dogs. So yes, all dogs must go to Heaven.

I believe they do.

If Eden was supposed to be Heaven on earth, then it makes sense they will be there since Eden was full of animals.

And God can make room.

Sorry to hear that. It's the toughest thing to do by far.

I had a wonderful Golden Retriever who was only 8 yrs old when I found him dead by my pool. We left for the day, and when we came home, there he was. It was awful. I remember calling my vet and couldn't speak because I was too upset.

Hang in there. It will get better.

Gig em.

I have always been told that when you get to heaven your body is healed and you will live eternally as you were in the Prime of your life/when you were the happiest. To me, that means Hunting, Dogs, Good Friends & Family.

Your dog will be there at the Pearly Gates to greet you with some slobbers.

I HATE IT! My mom just called and said that Missy fell asleep at the vets at 1030.

I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT!!!! Dogs are so loyal....and love UNCONDITIONALY! Either they love you or they dont. You can learn a lot from them. They truely are mans best friend. It sucks that they are here for so short. Its actually one thing that keeps me from getting another....is knowing that they dont last forever.

My parents live on a ranch in the hill country and they are going to bury her under one of the big oak trees that she would stand under to greet us when wed drive in the gate. Damn it I miss that old dog!

Thank you everyone. You all are right...it just wouldnt be heaven without our dogs. I think that we as the owners definitely get the better end of the deal....no matter how good we are to them, it seems like they are always better to us!

When I get to heaven first thing Ill do,
is grab my horn and call for Blue.....

sorry man

That sucks dude. It's never easy.

A new one does help ease the pain though.

Phi! I am so sorry to hear about your dog. My animals are getting up there in age, and I find myself putting my nose up to their faces and smelling them to remember their scent. I know the time is going to come and it scares me.

It sounds like your dog had a wonderful life and you will be reunited with her one day.

I'm so sorry, dude. My Miss Raquel died on Jan 15. She was 12, and a good dog. Someone posted the following quote on my thread:

quote:

---

“It would have been better if men and dogs grew from boyhood and puppyhood together, and in so doing pass on together. However, nature is not so ordered. So long as there are dogs and men, dogs will die, and men will weep for them."

-- Burton Spiller

---

I've said it before. I'll say it again.

Pet death sucks.

djs, its odd you mention that cause one of the first things I thought about after my mom called was what she smelled like as a puppy. Odd....but very meaningful!

Spend as much time as you can with those guys.

Thanks CBatt!

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

nm

[This message has been edited by Scot (edited 2/12/2007 3:18p).]

sorry for missy. You gave her a great run though, letting her live in the country and buddy around with you. Thats all they want while their here--play time and to please you.

dp

[This message has been edited by LifeLongAg (edited 2/12/2007 8:47p).]

We lost our sweet black lab, Aggie, last year about this time. She was 13. I've loved and lost 5 dogs in my lifetime. I've missed them all a lot. I saw a plaque that said, "Heaven is where all the dogs you've loved come to greet you." I think that sums it up pretty well. My heart goes out to you. There WILL be better days ahead, but it may take a while. Then the good memories will take over and you'll think of her and smile. She looks a lot like my sweet Aggie dog too.

sorry to hear about this. I've lost one dog in my life and it took me 20 years to decide that it was time for another. I was torn up about my dogs death for almost a year (I was 10). I still liked dogs but there was no way I was going to get another and eventually go through that misery again.

This time I got a black lab that might as well be the twin of your dog Missy.

Hang in there.

If there are no dogs in Heaven I don't want in. I'll see your dog there (if I get in).

few things are tougher, so know that a dog loves perfectly. in that, you might say that you can find a spark of something divine there...a bit of heaven on earth. so yes, all dogs go to heaven. and yes, dogs bring a little bit of heaven and leave a little bit of heaven to those of us left behind.

sorry, Phi.

this thread is making me tear up.

My dogs should be worthy of heaven but I'm not so sure of me.

"There is an ancient legend of the Cherokee Nation: Early in creation, man and animals lived side by side. But one day the Great Spirit decided to separate man from the animals by giving man an eternal soul. The Great Spirit caused a huge chasm to open in the earth with man on one side and the animals on the other side. The chasm grew wider and wider until, at the very last moment, the dog jumped across the chasm to stand by man."

don't know if this was really a Cherokee legend, but the rest seems so true...

rare is the man so noble that he actually deserves his dog.

Thank you all for the kind words. It still is pretty tough....dogs are incredible creatures.

No just God would have let my old Dalmation into heaven. If so, she is probably gnawing at the side of God's house right now.

Or his throne!