Man's Best Friend

We'll start this with some dog logic.

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

-Anonymous

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.

-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.

-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.

-Andy Rooney

Dogs love their friends & bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love & always have to mix love & hate.

-Anonymous

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.

-Franklin P. Jones

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise .

-Unknown

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

-Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

-Mark Twain

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three biscuits in your pocket, and then only give him two of them.

-Phil Pastoret

We had to put our dog "Balto" down two days ago, and boy did it really suck. He was the absolute best animal I have ever known, and it really IS like losing a family member. It will probably be a while before we get another dog, as we would like to see what life is like without the responsabilities of having a "special needs" pet. By special needs, I mean that he had only one good limb left. He developed severe dysplasia when he was 6 months, had his right hip partially replaced at 8 months, and his left hip fully replaced at 1 & 1/2. About 5 years ago, he fell off a groomer's table and severed all of the ligaments in his front-left paw, requiring a bone-fusion & 9 inch titanium plate. A year later, the plate had to be removed. Last year, he blew his ACL. Every single time something happened, we were faced with the decision to put him down, or fix it. As long as there was an option to give him a better quality of life, we chose that option, regardless of the monetary costs. It's the same thing a parent does to their child. Next time, we're getting pet insurance.

He was a hybrid-wolf, mostly Malmute and Shepard, but had quite a bit of Timberwolf & a squidge of Mexican Grey. He almost made it to be 10 years old, (born on Halloween of '98) and averaged out around 125-130 through most of his adult life, went through 3 very different coats, starting out at a charcoal, then went pale (like an albino shepard), then mellowed out to this:

He will be missed... badly.

He carried his own gear when hiking.

He absolutely LOVED the snow.

He loved to work for rewards.

He had strange ways of getting comfortable.

He liked to chase rocks in the rivers.

He liked to go for "rides"

He did NOT like to be awoken from his naps.

His best friend was a cat.

If all dogs really DO go to heaven, then he is sitting in a grassy field with a T-bone (medium-rare), and he has just taken care of another one of those pesky squirrels that used to {censored} with him all the time.

Dammit. My sympathies, buddy.

Beautiful dog. I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know a new best friend though.

I'm lucky enough to have just finished moving back to my parents and get reunited with my beagle (who stayed with them most of the last couple months while I packed and was too busy). And of course their beagle, who's also a riot.

Very sorry to hear it, SkiAz - losing a dog is literally losing a family member. We had to put down our beautiful golden retriever of 14 years this past November, and I'll always miss her.

I'm sure Balto is enjoying doggie Heaven, though, just waiting for you to join him someday.

Plus, he's drinking out of God's toilet.

My sympathies, Ski.

So sorry ! I am the biggest softie when it comes to dogs, and just reading this brings tears to my eyes.It sounds like you were a wonderful dad,and kept him comfortable for his long,blessed life.Excuse me while I go hug my four "babies".

RIP lil buddy.

Looks like a great friend you lost there.

Not much makes this cynic cry. But hearing of people losing their pets always brings a tear.

My sympathies to you and your family.

too sad...

I am sorry for your loss. At least your pup is not suffering.

Sorry to hear that, Skiaz - you've taken some lovely pic's.

Had to put my G/R down back in Sept 07 and miss that dog on a daily basis.

Thanks everyone, it's been a {censored}ty week. Part of me is ready to grab the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, and go shopping, but I know better.

He was just {censored}ing awesome.

He never once barked his entire life... one vet said that it was the wolf in him (they also, do not bark). They "speak" or howl and cry, but never a bark. He had this really low grumble that would scare the {censored} out of anyone who had never heard it, but mostly he just kinda talked. He had about 500 seperate facial expressions that all you had to do was look at him, and you would know right away what he wanted.

He was also smarter than the average bear... he once pulled my wife's roll-a-dex off her desk, through the front of the house, through the living room, dining room, kitchen, out the doggie door, through the back yard, and dropped it in the pool, only spilling a few cards. When she was planning a trip to vegas, he ate one shoe from 4 seperate pairs that she had laid out to pack. When he was recouping from hip surgery, he climbed up on the bed, took a dump, and covered it up with a blanket. It took her about 20 minutes to find. He also dragged our niece out of her bedroom one night... she was going to a "Caveman" party and had wrapped a rawhide bone up in her hair like Pebbles. He pulled her out by that bone, kicking and screaming. After she wrestled away from him and left for the party, he laid a nice steamer next to her bed.

Been there, done that. One of worst things I've had to do, but I'm also glad I was there. Mine was 17.5 years old. We had lots of good times together. But eventually, you feel better and will be able to remember them without your eyes watering up. That's about where I am now. My condolences go out to you.

Thanks brother cheese, I know yours was pretty recent. 17.5??? DAMN!

I started feeling better about 15 minutes after the vet left. (They did it at our house, in the living room. Much better than having to go to the animal hospital.)

It will only get better from here, but {censored} the waiting and anticipation of delevering death was horrible. I'm just glad that we didn't string it out too long. We found out just over a week ago that he had a tumor in his shoulder, but noticed a rapid decline starting about a month ago. He was still able to get up and down on his own, but stopped eating (except for an occasional grilled chicken breast and some halibut). That was when we knew. That dog LOVED to eat. Once that changed, we knew it was coming.

Sorry to hear this. Dogs are great! We had to have our malamute/german shepard put to sleep 3 1/2years ago. He was 14 we think. He was a rescue dog so we don't know for sure. It still hurts. I used to tell people he was part wolf. He looked like a wolf and howled like a wolf. We just got a new rescue malamute mutt about in December. Good dog, but not a replacement.

Here's another one for your collection

A dog is the eternal optimist. Everytime the doorbell rings, he's the first one to the door, and it's never been anyone to see him.

I don't remember who said it though.

My condolences on your loss.

I, for one, strongly believe that your amigo is indeed in Heaven, having the best time any dog could ever have, whatever that means for him.

Beautiful dog... God. Looks like a tough one to lose.

Awwwwwww, woodgie woodgie boodgie lil buddy!

What are beagles like?

My condolences on your loss. I, for one, strongly believe that your amigo is indeed in Heaven, having the best time any dog could ever have, whatever that means for him.

Siniffing lots of asses, probably.

pardon me while I wipe the coffee off of my computer screen.

Sad news man

Loud.

My dog will have a chance to be my best friend as soon as she stops {censored}ting under my bed...

Dogs are the best! Sorry for your loss. I had 2 in my life...Timmy a black cocker spaniel that lasted with us for 19yrs, and a black, brown and white bassett hound that lasted with us for 14 years. We cremated him and he is buried in an urn in my mom's casket. He was her 2nd son (of sorts)...think fondly of your dog at all times, and he will live forever:thu:

Sympathies to you. We lost our 12 year golden last Christmas Eve-easily the worst holiday I can remember. I haven't cried like that since my dad died.

RIP to your buddy and mine.