doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Another empty collar - some tips

This is just the greatest group of people in the world here. Thank you all for the kind words.

Sorry for your loss. I have lost some of my closest friends (my dogs). Each one hurts but another comes along and steals my heart again. I never will forget them but you have to keep going and get another to remember how special the last one was. (or so I tell myself.)

You are so right to watch the behavior of our pets. We had a Schnauzer that was my "everywhere" companion. He did it all, hunted, fished, rode motorcycle, to the office, etc. and was very well behaved and trained. One day, sitting at the computer he wet, right here in the house. He never did that! I also had noticed that he had been drinking a lot of water, but it had been a hot late June, so I blew it off as the heat. When he messed in the house, I knew we had a problem. Off we went to the Vet. He was diagnosed with diabetes. Yes, he got shots for the next 5 yrs. twice a day and it hurt me to do that. But, he didn't care, he always got a treat with a shot, so to him, it was well worth it. He lived to almost 14, I would have loved to have had more time, but I feel good knowing I did what I did helped us all live a longer better life.

I, too, am very sorry for your loss. Over the sixty years of my life I have lost too many wonderful companions. Every one was special in their own way and I miss them all. They are still in my memories and I wonder sometimes why I "don't learn better" and not bring another pup into my wife and my lives as they just don't live long enough? However, life goes on and we have to just accept that our wonderful furry companions will probably precede us. My sincere condolences as I do know how strong the loss really is - I am guessing that probably virtually all of us on this board do. And we all join you in feeling the sadness of losing our friends and companions. Hoping that you will find another pup in your life soon. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in watching their actions closely to help in seeing problems. Again, my sincere regrets for your loss.

Sorry for your loss, Shotgunjones. I know that once my dog goes, at my age, I won't care to get another one. They are almost human-like in so many ways. Mine is almost a mind reader. Before I say anything, she knows what I want her to do. They are hard to replace.

I too am sorry for your loss and am grieving with you. I know how you feel.

In December I lost my closest companion (lab mix) after only six short but wonderful years. It's funny because I had been preparing myself to lose my 14 year old beagle that will turn 15 next month, but in no way expected to lose my Daisy quite so soon.

My grandmother unexpectedly went into the hospital on a Sunday night and I put Daisy up around 11 PM to head to the ER with my grandmother. The next morning I went to work and came home for lunch on an unusually warm spring-like December day and noticed Daisy sunning (I thought) in her kennel. I returned to work and came home around 4 and she was lying in her kennel sleeping and I thought I would slip up to her and give her a surprise wake-up. It was very unusual for me to be able to walk all the way up to her without her noticing, but I could see her breathing so I knew she must be fine. I reached for her and she did not move and was totally non responsive. I picked all 90 pounds of her up and placed her in the front seat of my truck and drove like hell all the way to the vet making a call en route to warn them. She began having seizures as I got her in the door and died shortly thereafter.

The vet only concluded that she had likely ingested something the day before and I have come to believe that she either found some poison or someone deliberately poisoned her.

It breaks my heart every time I think about how things may have turned out had I checked on her more closely that morning or at lunch. Daisy went everywhere I went and we've spent many a day in the woods. As Smokey-Ray (the beagle) is too feeble to go tromping around with me I hope to soon find a German Shorthair to be my new companion.

So sorry for your loss. I have lost more than I care to remember. Several were my absolute best friends. I think I have shed more real tears over my lost four legged buddies than anything else in my life.
Don't beat yourself up over failure to anticipate the liver failure. That is something that is almost impossible to stop when it is sudden and virulent like you experienced. It is almost certain the same result would have occurred.
Morn for a short while and then get a puppy. That puppy needs a loving home and will fill yours back up with love.
Jake