Magnus will sleep for the last time this Friday

Thank you, Jay.

I ain't really given much thought to getting another rescue but I know I will. There are various things written on the subject - opening up a broken heart to take in another pup desperately in need of feeling what was given to another. I wasn't looking for a pup when I came across Magnus...he needed someone to save him and it didn't even cross my mind to not go to him. There are so many rescues in need and I know I can help even if it's one dog at a time.

I suppose Magnus will let me know when I'm ready.

 

It's interesting to see a bunch of grown men blubbering over our dogs. I cherish the sympathy/empathy shown here in this forum and in the FB group. That group has 215k members and my post has almost 800 reactions/comments. It truly brings new light on my outlook of society as there are people of all walks of life and ideals commiserating on this topic - voices in unison saying the same thing. In an age where we literally hate each other over our political views, yet so many ppl (especially on FB where the hallmark of emotion is extreme disdain) can agree that not only is this painful, but show genuine care for a stranger going through it.

I take some comfort in all this from seeing that.

Yet again, another way Magnus has taught me something. A final lesson from beyond the grave.

 

My wife must be cutting onions in the kitchen.

 

Magnus is home.

 

I was just wondering how you and the family are doing and then you posted.

 

It's getting better but I knew I'd be back to a mess when they delivered him to us.

 

Totally understandable.

 

Glad he's back home. Hang in there.

 

That definitely helps

 

Just get another rescue, it's rewarding even though you know there will be heartbreak again. The saying is, rescue one dog, you save two neglected dog's lives. Just have to harden your heart when the time comes.

 

Sorry for your loss. Tears were flowing when I read your story. Especially after I read that poem. We had to put our 16 year old Chihuahua to sleep yesterday. He was having kidney failure. Then fell down the stairs. That did him in. They’re like a child to us. I was with him when they put him to sleep. So, I do feel your pain.

 

Sorry for you losing your pup yesterday, my wife and I understand how hard it is.

 

Condolences on your loss, man. Thank you. Still trying to wrap my head around things. I am feeling better but the disorientation has been real - when your dog was your shadow for 13 or 16 years, then he's not there anymore, it literally feels like a hole in your life.

 

Yes, i know exactly what you mean. It just takes time to make things easier to handle or understand it. Hang in there buddy.

 

How have you and the family been doing??

Just wanted to check in with you...

 

I can talk about him but still get emotional. I guess that's gonna be happening a while. Buddy of mine came down from WY and he was real close to Magnus. We had a good bit to drink and commiserate...

 

Walking that path definitely hurts EVERY TIME....

But, it really does help the healing process and allows your soul to shed some of that pain and burden (at least for a few hours)

You know you're working through it and moving forward (in a healthy way) once you are able to start to remember all the good, all the fun, and all the unimaginable connections between the two of you...

At first, it's very normal to only be able to think about the passing and to feel that dark and empty feeling of having been 'cheated' out of more time, and suffering the loss of something so unexplainably close to you.

Everyone heals differently and at a different rate, but one day the darkness will start to fade and the good memories of all the fun times and storms weathered together will be at the forefront of your thoughts and memories...

 

Definitely seeing the dark side of things. Told my wife the other day I have doubts of whether it was time or not. Of course, we both have the legitimate reasons why citing the health he was in, but I can't help but think if I could have waited a week? A month?

I know I could have...

 

Unless they pass on their own, they can always go longer. But, with that comes risks. Something to keep in mind is this...

You truly made one of the most difficult decisions of your life with the best intentions and in having the utmost respect and concern for the well being and quality of life of one of the closest friends you'll ever have. You did your best given the circumstances you are faced with and with the information you were privy to... If you are anything like me when it comes to these things, you made the decision not wanting your friend to suffer, not wanting him to experience unnecessary pain, not wanting his quality of life to diminish any further, not wanting him to suffer while he passes, or to choose on his own its time to go and stop eating and drinking; our natural instinct when this occurs is that he's just having a bad day or bad couple of days and it'll pass and you'll be able to see him happy at least one more time or to have his favorite meal one more time... but the reality is sometimes we mis-read that and they spend a couple of days suffering through their own efforts to go before we realize it's time and they won't be getting better... I've been down this path and swore to never to do that again as it wasn't my intention for my pup to go through this phase (even for only a couple of days), but in my eyes I made the wrong decision in this case....

Another huge factor (and I'm 100% sure you felt the same way), is that you didn't want him to pass alone... But, you can't be there and you can't be watching him 24/7, yet the longer you wait (when you feel it may be time), the greater the chance that he passes while you're not there w/him. For me, this became my greatest fear regarding the timing of losing Rudy. I didn't want him to pass alone; I didn't want him to be going through something like that without me; and I knew in my heart to do that I may have to sacrifice a day, a week, maybe even an extra month of time... So in the end, as hard as it was, I felt like that was one of the most important factors in deciding when it was time.

We'll always question our timing of the process, and it will never feel like we did the right thing at the right time. But, reading about your story, your timing, the effort you put into ensuring that he was as comfortable as possible in a place he was familiar with, surrounded by and with people that loved him...

I really don't think you could've done any better for him or timed your decision any better with the information we are privy to. I say all this because it's easier to focus on the 'what ifs' and the 'could have beens' and to lose sight on a few of those very important reasons you made the decision you made at the time you made it...

Way easier said than done, but keep trying to push that darkness aside to make room for the good memories of all the years of happiness, playfulness, and companionship that you shared.

 

Well said. Some of the best advice of coping with the hard decision's for them.

 

Sorry for your loss man.

We put ours down 10 days ago.

A similar timeline to yours. 15 year 4 month old companion. Older than our marriage, older than our 2 boys …

One of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my 37 years in this earth.

RIP

 

I'm sorry, Jay.

Feel free to tell us about your pup. When you can...

I ain't much help. My coworker asked me how I was doing the other day and I was sure I'd be fine as I answered, but then it just hit me and I had to stop talking. I don't think I'll feel ok for a long time.

 

We love you Mangus

 

Sorry to hear this Jay. Sending love and strength for you and your family right now.

 

I’ve been following this thread and it’s been very meaningful. I just wanted to say sorry for your loss as this is very sad, I’m sure Magnus was a great dog. Rest assured the days will get easier as time passes, I’ve had to say my own goodbyes a few times now and it’s the hardest part of owning a dog. I had a Chocolate lab that made it 14 years. I’ll never forget the last time I brought her down to her favorite spot at the South Platte river near Foxton, CO to let her get her paws wet one last time. Some people will never understand the bond that can be formed between a man and his dog but it is absolutely unbreakable. Reading some of these posts has brought tears as that bond is still there. Knowing that you gave them mercy when you both knew the time was right and layed them to rest is what should comfort you. Remember the fun times and know you did the right thing at the right time. It absolutely sucks but probably the most selfless thing you will ever have to do.

 

That's a tough road to go down - in fact, we did, for a week. Our dog Domino had bone cancer, and my wife 'wasn't sure' - she wanted to wait to see if the vet was mistaken, or Domino got better, etc.

Within not even 5 days, he went from merely being in discomfort to being half out of his mind with the pain. Thankfully, we had vet-prescribed painkillers, but it was unfortunately a first-hand lesson in how our 'selfishness,' so to speak, could have led to much more pain and suffering for Domino. "We" could have gone longer, but at what cost for him?

You made the right choice - or rather, the necessary choice. Definitely not a fun choice.

 

While I'm a bit late I'm sorry for your loss.
Losing your Pup really SUCKS!!
I've been through it several times and at that moment I swear I'll never get another Pup.
In the end I always do...
I figure you can give them the best life they could ever have and they love you for it.

 

Sorry man. It's always heartbreaking losing a pet. That's the price we pay for all the great time we have with them...that one really, really shitty day.

My old Husky, Juneau, was my first dog. Not my first ever, I always had dogs growing up, but when I went out on my own. He was my best bud. He was with my for so many big times in my life, good and bad. He was always there with a wagging tail.

When I had to make the call to put him down, I knew. I saw it in his eyes. As much as he tried to hide it, I knew. His health was declining pretty rapidly and it killed me to see him like that, so I took away his pain and put that burden on myself.

Still give his urn a little pet before I go to bed every night.

 

Reading this thread was hard to do because it brought tears to my eyes thinking of my dog that I had for 15 wonderful years. I haven’t and probably never will replace him, but that’s just me being selfish. It’s amazing that no matter what how happy they are to see you. I wish you the best snd take solace in knowing you did the right thing for Magnus.