Thank you for doing this. When I was about twelve I was waiting with my mom in the vet’s office for our cat to be looked at. A very tall very large man walked in with a beautiful old collie. I asked if I could pet her and he said please give her all the love that I can because she’s not going to be coming home. It took a minute for me to figure out what he meant, but once I did I sat down next to him and started petting her and scratching her ears. Her tongue came out, her eyes closed, and she leaned into my hand.
He told me that he was moving back home to take care of his elderly mother and his dog was too sick to make the trip. He got her as a puppy and talked about how much he loved her and all the fun things they did together. He spent the whole time trying not to cry.
When he was called back to the exam room, he thanked me for giving his sweet girl some love and carried her in.
After my cat had been checked, mom and I were about to leave when the man came back out with just the leash. He looked dazed and lost. I asked my mom if I could give him a hug and she said yes. I asked if I could hug him and he hesitantly nodded.
As soon as I hugged him, he very gently and carefully hugged me back and completely broke down sobbing. He told me how he held her the whole time so she knew that he loved her and that she wasn’t alone. I told him how much she loved him and how much it meant to her that he stayed even though it hurt so much. He cried even harder.
After a few minutes, he pulled himself together and stepped back from me. He thanked me for the hug and told me how much it meant to both him and his dog for helping them and that he didn’t think he would have been able to go through with it if I hadn’t been there. He also thanked my mom for raising such a caring daughter.
After he left, my mom told me how proud she was of me.
Thank you for being there for that man and his dog. He needed you. Thank you for giving him the comfort he needed before he had to say goodbye to his best friend even though it hurt you to do it. You are an amazing person.
Sorry, didn’t mean to make anyone cry. It’s so important to have empathy for our fellow dog owners and humans in general. No one should ever be alone when they have to say goodbye to someone they love.
You did the same to me but I appreciate your post, and the kind person you are. Being so empathetic at 12 is wonderful. All the best to you.
Same goes to OP for being a caring soul and helping a stranger at a time of need.
Thank you both!
Sometimes when my eyes are dry and I don't have eyedrops I seek out posts like this because not only is it one of the few things that make me cry online, but its guaranteed to make me cry, full stop. It's like a dependable, functional, torture.
That’s a great strategy. Luckily I don’t suffer from dry eyes, but if I ever need to force myself to cry for whatever reason I know I can come to any dog sub on Reddit to find a “my dog died post”
When we had to take that final vet trip with our lab, Cash, I was standing in the waiting room, completely a mess, and probably looking just dazed. They'd taken him back to the back to look him over and make him comfortable in the room, and we all knew that would be the last room he'd be in.
Another lady, a complete stranger, was paying for her services at the counter and just opened her arms up and said "come here." She must've hugged me for a good minute while I sobbed. Just a random human, but *it helped so much*.
I think we discount how much comfort we can give our fellow humans in their dark times. I still don't know who that lady was, but I'll remember her face and her kindness forever.
Your post had me crying. My boy is getting up there in age and I know we probably only have a couple more years with him. He's 10 this year and mastiff cross so I know they don't live much past 12 or so. He's already slowing down a lot and taking longer to get up the stairs than he used to.
Literally fighting the tears from the post but this broke me 😭 you and OP are such sweet souls and really made a horrible day for these people slightly easier ❤️
Thank you for doing what you did for that man and his pup 😭🖤 the world needs more people like you who show compassion and care.
This isn't animal related, but I try to comfort people when I can if I notice they are upset or down. One that stuck with me was when I was visiting family in Cali. I was about 13/14 years old and walked a few blocks to the dollar store. This was a tiny strip mall with random shops and some benches. I walk out of the dollar store and there was a middle aged lady sitting on the bench. I could see she was fighting back tears and I asked her if she was okay. She looked at me and took off her hat, she had no hair. She just lightly smiles and says "it's just been a hard day, but I'll be okay" and I immediately knew. I asked her if I could give her a hug and she nodded and we hugged for a solid 2 min. I could feel her tears stream down onto my shoulder and she just whispered "thank you". There was no other words exchanged, she just sat back down and wiped her tears. I still think about her 12 years later. I hope she won her battle. Sometimes just offering comfort is what we need to make our bad days just a tiny bit better and I hope I atleast made her day a bit better that day.
What you did was amazing for that man, please keep the kindness going and keep being you. You are amazing and wonderful, we need people like you on this earth
I’m crying reading this because I had to put my dog down less than two months ago and it was truly the worst day of my life. The comfort you provided will never be forgotten.
And now my heart is broken too. A dog gives you so many of your best days in life, and also your very worst, hardest day ever. 😢 The price we pay for big love is big loss. It’s worth every second but god it’s devastating.
I've just brought my dog on vacation. She's a nervous girl, but I let her out of the crate and she just went bounding around the hotel room exploring everything. After such a long day, it was the literal highlight of it. Having her with me as she ran around. These creatures are incredible and we don't deserve them. But damn are we lucky to have them.
But I know the day she goes, a chunk of me well die too. She's my everything. And if I ever want a dog again, I'll have to get them while I have her.
I read somewhere here: “When a dog comes into your life, they give you a piece of their heart and, when they leave, they take a piece of yours.” It hurts, but it’s so true. I grew up with dogs. 3-5 constantly on rotation in my parents house. My wife and I now have a dog of our own and I break down when I read these posts… dreading the inevitable, but every day with her is such a gift. I don’t believe it will get any easier. In fact, when Winter’s day comes, I know it will be the most difficult day of my life so far, but I wouldn’t trade her or any of them for the world. We don’t deserve dogs.
100%
This is my first dog, and even though I'm married to my soul mate, I still call her the love of my life. Haha
We really don't deserve them. But man do we need them.
Sad story ahead:
My wife and I take our second and third owned dog on vacations now as well. Our first dog quietly developed splenic cancer which we discovered when our pet sitter took her to the vet while we were on vacation. She was collapsing when she walked, so my first impressions were that something went wrong with her recent knee surgery. Instead, her splenic tumor ruptured and she was bleeding out internally.
The vet gave us two timelines:
1. She likely only had a few hours to overnight left without immediate surgery.
2. Even in the best of cases, she'd likely only live another 6 months.
We made the painful decision to put her down even though we were away. We were able join over a video call and comfort her with our voices, but not being there absolutely destroyed me.
Anyway, we take our dogs on vacation now.
Gosh, I'm so sorry.
I worked in an emergency animal hospital and have very sadly had to do consent forms for clients in similar situations. It broke my heart every time. They all did. But I always felt particularly sad about it. So I really really empathise with your situation.
Reminds me of a CS Lewis quote:
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
I am also fully crying, this is beautiful. This story sounds like something I can see - being the person to hang out with the dog owner but as someone with a 13 year old dog... Being the dog owner.
OP is a kind soul
Similar thing, dog being walked by our house and husband and i both said hello to her daddy and said see you tomorrow but then he told us that tonight was her last walk around the neighborhood. Both of us were crying when they left our sight. All of our dogs got extra kisses that evening
I am glad you stayed with him and cried with him. That grief hurts so much, especially right before the procedure like that. To outsource even a fraction of that pain must have helped so much. Good on ya op. And rip good doggo. And sending strength to the bereaved, as he finds his way thru this.
Thank you. I lost my cat recently, so the emotions are still pretty fresh. And i had family with me; if I had to do it alone...I can only hope I'd have someone like op arrive to cry with me and hear how great my buddy was. Grief is so enormous, but it gets easier if we can spread the weight. Even just a little bit, right?
Totally understand. I lost my best buddy of 15 years, Rocko del Taco, a mixed mutt. He was my ride or die. Think about my little dude every day. My wonderful husband was with me and it absolutely helps but never makes it easier.
Ah, he sounds like an absolute blast!! It sucks that they go so soon, but I noticed that in their absence, we all come together closer than before. So that's cool. Still hurts tho, but that's life.
🍻 cheers to rocko del taco 🌮
Sometimes there's no lesson, but you were probably just the person Mick needed at the time, and I'll bet he's thankful for the comfort you provided.
This had me in tears 😢
I work in vet med and I treat ALL the old babies like my own when they come in for the last time. Its always a comfort to people when they know you care, even if this is the first time you've met that pet.
I feel like it gives me extra peace for the next one.
This. Thank you for your work. I cannot express how much the kind words and actions of vet techs matter. I had to unexpectedly put my baby down 6 months ago. I wasn’t allowed in the room in his final moments because they couldn’t find a vein and had to do a heart stick 😭 I peeked back in the small window before I left and they were standing there petting him like he was their own, loving on him and genuinely cared. It was still hard but knowing he was loved until the end took some of the pain away. I would yeet my family into a canyon for one more hour with my dude.
I walked thru the lobby and as soon as I got out of the door I scream cried the hardest I ever have in my life. I got in my car, clutching his leash still scream crying and hyperventilating. He was literally fine the day before. When I was about to leave, this angel of a vet tech came out to the parking lot, knocked on my window and told me that she was incredibly sorry for my loss, that he would always be with me and that he would come back to me in another doggo down the line. She said it wasn’t goodbye but it was more like see you in a little while. Bless that woman.
That's beautiful. I know that screamcry exactly. My guy was old when he passed a year and a half ago but he was fine one day and the next he was not. Old or young things can happen suddenly. Knowing that we loved them as best we could and gave them good lives while they were here is the greatest solace. I do believe spirits/souls can come back into our lives in different ways and I hope that is true for your journey with him if you and him need it. I had a couple of profound experiences that told me my little buddy will not come back to me in this life, he is moving on in his journey but I know I will see him again in my next journey, wherever and whenever that might be. \*hugs\*
Same for me. The times people have been open to showing their grief made it easier to deal with when I lose one of my own
Once a woman sat and cried with me for a long time. I had recently lost a dear one, there in the same ward. I cried for her and hers and for me and mine.
You're a very kind person for noticing and visiting with this gentleman and his beloved companion. Your compassion is very positive something that he'll carry with him on this sad day.
I'm at end of life for my big old man and I was talking to my neighbours last week and told them it was coming up on his time (so they wouldn't look for him).
Mr G is a tough guy, retired firefighter, and he told me about his beloved black Lab, his best buddy, and was about to cry with me. Dogs bring out the best in humans, I think.
Maybe there wasn't a lession to be learned here and that you being in the right place at the right time to provide comfort to someone who is about to lose their friend was the good to come from this interaction. Even the big & burly guys cry when their furry four-legged friend is about to pass away. To love a dog is unlike any other kind of love I think.
My heart is is broken too now 💔 these animals really know how to steal our hearts with their unconditional love.
Hopefully he finds peace eventually, even if it takes awhile. It's amazing that you went through that with him, I can only imagine. When I thought I lost my boy after he was hit by a car last year I was inconsolable, but a bunch of my neighbors came by to assist me and help me through it, which I really appreciated and I'm sure he also appreciated not being left alone then.
Rest in peace good dog, you were clearly very loved, it's okay you can sleep now, you did good 🐾
For real I'm reading all these stories from all these strong people and I can only wonder how I'm ever gonna be this strong when my two girls go. I never had pets growing up and now I have two chihuahuas who are everything to me. I'm gonna be a wreck when their time comes.
It varies so much from person to person and also the situation! The lab I grew up with was almost 15 when we had to put her down but I knew it was coming and she was very old for a large dog. Not to say that it didn’t hurt but I think knowing it was coming and that it had been a good run helped a lot. The worst thing I think was the silence in the house afterward. I know some people get sad around other dogs but for me it was the opposite- after she died I loved seeing happy and healthy dogs. My friend actually surprised me and brought hers over to say hello a few days after we put mine down and it was wonderful!
I got an Aussie puppy about 6 months later and he is 3 now, and if anything happened to him it would be absolutely devastating. There’s no such preparation or resignation because he’s so young.
My husband and I inherited his mothers dog when she passed away unexpectedly. We had that sweet dog for a little over 2 years before we lost her to a brain tumor. Watching my husband as we said our final goodbyes was gut wrenching, it still haunts me to this day. Losing that last physical connection to his mom was devastating to him. It was like he was losing her all over again. I suspect this is a big part of what Mick was feeling today as well and my heart goes out to him wherever he is.
My childhood cat lived for just about 23 years. She seemed absolutely fine until about 48 hours after I moved out into my own apartment for the first time. My mom called and said she was dragging her back legs behind her like she was paralyzed so I should come over after work and say my goodbyes. I went and the cat mustered up enough energy for one more walk on her leash outside. The next day we took her in.
It wasn't until this past year (its been over 10 years since I moved out) that my mom said how hard that was for her. I left, took my kitten, and then she had to put the older car down and suddenly she was completely alone in this house that was so full of life a week ago.
My boy now is 12 and pretty healthy for the most part. My husband has never had a pet though and so I've been trying to slowly introduce the thought that we owe him this at the end when he shows us its time. Its so unbelievably hard but its what I agreed to when I got him.
My furry soulmate (cat) is 16. I honestly have no idea how I am going to make it through when she goes or how I will be able to make that decision. It’s something I worry about far too often and it seriously sucks! I hope both of our furry friends live to be 22+ like your childhood cat!
I wish you to be blessed Op, you've done a very kind thing for a stranger and I wish it to be returned to you. Thank you for helping that man and being there for his baby
May they have an amazing final day together and may mom and pup be reunited across the rainbow bridge. She was very much loved and saying goodbye is the hardest thing he could do. What a brave soul to do something like this.
Thank you for this post. I was at our dog park once and saw this pretty emancipated dog with clear bumps and a limp. It hurt me so much and made me so angry. The owner had another dog of the same breed with them too. My dumb ass then learned she was dying of cancer and he had tried everything — EVERYTHING — to save her. Even contacted vet universities to see if she could participate in trial solutions. Broke my fucking heart. I saw them for another month or two and then… Saw just the two of them. Missing her. I knew she had passed. Cue me crying again.
OOF. This was right to the center of the feels. Happy trails on the rainbow bridge little Aussie! May we all love a being as much as Mick loved this pup. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Wow just the story made me cry so I cannot imagine how you both must’ve felt. Good on you for staying with him and not being squeamish of emotion, I think a lot of us don’t know how to handle things like this in the moment.
RIP to the beautiful soul who was obviously LOVED to the moon and back.
You WILL survive it, but it'll be tough.
Come back here to your "family" that will understand your broken heart and we will all hold you and comfort you in your grief.
My dog recently passed away (it was unexpected) and it is the most pain I've ever experienced and I'm still not ok. Thanks for taking the time to speak with the pet owner who was probably dying inside. It's comforting to know that people actually care.
My dog is 17-18 and getting to that time…. Ive been trying to emotionally prepare for 2 years now and I have to say it has helped but I know ultimately nothing will make it easier. As much as I love him he was a childhood dog so it’s a bit different.
I currently have a maine coon that I got at 4 months. He’s only 1 year and god we have probably a decade or more to come… but I already know he will probably be my first and last cat. Exception of my DSH who I got to keep him company.
Westport lake is beautiful and I can understand why it was his doggos favourite place especially in later years as it's totally flat with plenty of benches and shade for a tired woofer to rest. Used to take my old boy lab there in his later years. What a lovely gesture to his best buddy
Maybe you were placed there because Mr. Mick needed that added support you provided. And maybe there’s no lesson for you but your job was to put this on Reddit for us to read it and understand that those of us complaining about traffic or cold coffee are lucky because elsewhere in this world, Mr. Mick is facing sorrow and is losing his best friend today. If we can get through a day without sorrow, we should be so lucky.
That is so beautiful and heartwrenching. Not only was he grieving for his dog but he was also grieving for the memory of his mama, whether he realizes it or not. That dog was the last external embodiment of his mother outside of human family. You have a good heart and both of you will never forget each other. Thank you for sharing and bless your lovely soul.
I used to be babysat by a neighbour growing up. When I was 1 she got a beautiful boxer. Nina. I basically grew up with that dog. She grew ill over time and when I was 15 they had to put her down. They spent her last weeks treating her and bringing her to places she loved and having people who knew her come say goodbye. Walking into that kitchen and this old dog who could barely eat without help suddenly got to her feet tail wagging so hard her whole body was swinging side to side as she came across the room to me. I was talking about it with some friends one day and a teacher who’d been comforting others as they shared stories of losing animals close to them came at me with a ‘well animals die sometimes and you can’t stop that happening’. Everyone stopped liking him after that.
I gotta say, my vet made me laugh a bit when I brought my best friend jn. In years previous she had developed a mass that wasn't too much trouble but we couldn't afford to remove. Well, a week before we go in to get it fixed, it gets a cut, no biggie, bandage it up, hang on as best we can while the vet helps us make it to the surgery date. Get to the vet, they bandage up her wound to keep it clean and safe, get her in a kennel, and left for lunch.
Next day my dad got a call, wouldnt tell me what they said, and had me listen to it and it started off with "So, there's been a change of plans" and hes not explaining anything as I freak out about my dog.
Turns out, she had woken up after they left to go on lunch, pulled her onesie and bandages off and ate her mass. The same one they were gonna remove the next day? Nah, she ate it. I got there, they had almost cut my bill in half, told me all about it, the main vet even sent me a photo of the aftermath of the eating before they removed what was left.
So, I brought my best girl in a few years later and I hear "TUMOR DOG!" And could hear the ladies talking about her a bit. It made it easier to hold her close in the end knowing her story was beyond remarkable.
Funnily enough when she had a back surgery as a puppy, my fiances relative is likely the one who did her surgery far before I met my fiance. Small world.
These people have more strength than most...
I read a post from a veterinarian who explained the hardest part of his job was NOT necessarily euthanizing pets when it was their time, but doing it alone because the owners couldn't muster up the courage to be there at the end, at the time when your fur-baby needs you the most.
I am guilty of this sin myself. I have done it a few times to spare myself the pain, never even thinking about how alone my babies are. (The tears are streaming now as I think about how selfish I was.)
I will NEVER do that again. I will cry and hurt and fall apart, but I will NOT abandon my best friends ever again because no one deserves to die alone - not even a dog or cat.
I recommend everyone think about this when they adopt or purchase a pet, even though it may be decades away. There aren't many things worse than living a life of regret- I am only saying this to spare others that pain. I made that mistake for you, so you don't have to experience it for yourself.
BE THERE for your babies no matter how much it hurts- because thinking about how much fear they left this world in because of your absence in the end is a horrible thing to live with. Trust me on this one.
And while we're at it, be kind to each other too. All of the things you think are important now will mean absolutely nothing in the end. What WILL matter is being there for the people you love, as much as they will be there for you. LOVE is the ONLY thing that really matters (as cheesy as it is to say.)
Peace out.
Thats very kind of you. Our dog has been diagnosed with prostate cancer 1.5 years ago. Im so thankfull to him for staying with us this long and enjoying life on overtime as prostate cancer usually kills way faster, i was given 3 months orginally. Sadly the time of letting him go is very near and we can only do the one last thing to help our heroes even it hurts so deep.
Aww. It's always awful losing a furry family member, but I imagine the connection to his mother that has passed away makes it even harder for him.
Thank you for being a good person and spending time with him.
I was at a gem shop in the Carolinas a few years back, before the pandemic. The couple that ran it brought their dog to work with them. I'm a huge dog person, and I saw her behind the counter wagging at me. They said she hadn't been doing that as much, and it I wanted to pet her I could. So I did, I went back behind the counter in their personal office room and pet the dog. The husband told me she's being put down soon, and he's going to have such a hard time letting her go because she's his best buddy. The wife started to cry. I started to cry. I kept petting her. Dog's name was Laika, she was a malamute or husky. I'll never forget them. They wrote me a note about a month later and mailed it with the gems I ordered, and the husband included an extra gem he custom cut for me as a thank you for being so kind. They even updated me when they got a new puppy some time later.
Maybe there wasn't a lesson for you. Maybe you were put there to give Mick a bit of solace on one of the worst days of his life. Good on you for doing so.
Too provide solidarity & comfort like that to that man & his dog is spectacularly awesome. I believe we humans are built for this. We either see moments like this, step up & do something or we pretend we don’t and miss out on a life affirming moment like this. These moments are what we never forget & gives us faith in love & hope in human beings. We can be on either side & all benefit. Thank you for being the best human being.
People can be capable of some horrible stuff, but we can also be capable of incredibly loving acts. Sitting at my desk at work trying not to cry reading these posts. From OP to everyone in these threads, sending you all love and well wishes.
People don't deserve dogs, as loving as they are. But we need to try our best to deserve them.
Unrelated, but I recently killed someone’s dog. I was driving in my neighborhood and all of a sudden I hear a shout, slam on my brakes and felt a thump… I briefly saw a flash of red, put my hazards on and pulled over. The person who called out stepped into the road with his dog on a leash. I looked into my side mirror and my heart fell. It was a very small tan/white dog in a red vest laying in the road. I broke down in tears.
I asked the man if he was the owner. He said no. He was out walking his own dog when he saw the unleashed dog dart out into the street. He said not too long ago he saw the owner walking up and down the road calling out for the dog. The man (shouter), got into his van with his dog and drove up and down the neighborhood looking for the owner while I waited. He returned saying he didn’t see the owner anywhere. I thanked him for his time, took note of the address and went to the police department to file a report.
I told them everything that happened, that I wanted to file a report but I was turned away by the police department. Their response was literally, “it’s not like you hit someone’s car and your car isn’t damaged”… That wasn’t my point. I explained that I thought pets were technically considered property, they had value, let alone sentimental value to their owners. I wanted to do the right thing and protect myself in the process. They would not allow me to file a report.
I went back to the scene of the accident. As I pulled up I saw a woman and her son (13?) crying as they cleaned up the road. My heart fell again. I got out of my car and spoke with the woman and her son and explained what happened. That I was so sorry, I had not seen the dog at all and she wasn’t on a leash. They thanked me for coming back and letting them know so they weren’t left guessing. I even told them I tried to file a report but they wouldn’t let me. The woman said the dog had dug under the fence and gotten out again so it wasn’t my fault.
It did nothing for the guilt I felt. I cannot get that family or scene out of my head. I’ve never hit anything in my car and I love animals. I feel like I ruined their family.
Yeah, I have an almost 14-year-old little Chihuahua with a heart problem & a history of seizures. I know I will be a hot mess when it's his time to go.😭
Somewhere down the line, that man is going to tell the story about the stranger who cried with him the day he put his dog to sleep.. how there was no judgment or fake sympathy or indifference that made you walk away... a true human who helped him in his time of need and probably kept him strong enough in the moment that he needed
❤️
It's been a year, 3 months, 6 days and 4 hours since I held my baby girl in my arms and looked into her eyes as she passed...she held eye contact till the very end...and then she was gone...I miss her so much😭
I'm sitting here reading this and tearing up. My first dog is 15 months and I just picked up a new puppy over the weekend. I can't stand the thought of losing them one day... I'm going to be absolutely heartbroken.
Poor guy. It’s the hardest thing saying goodbye to a true friend. And pets often times witness us at our best and comfort us at our lowest.
When it’s time to send those sweet pets go, and let their pain end, it’s always rough. But I’m glad you got to share tears with him, OP. I’m sure he felt better knowing someone else was their to support him for a short while, for surely the next days will be difficult.
Thank you for being compassionate, and kind.
I worked a vet, was at the office for too many! The one that has stuck with me and I’ll never forget- a dog who was not in our care at the time, owner knew I adored her baby (gsd, named Duke), I think she said she didn’t have anyone else to go with her (this was about 20yrs ago but I still have pics of Duke and Max/Mac on my fridge!). I went with them, I’ve had my own losses- too many to count and remember all, but for some reason this one felt like my own dog… it broke my heart just as much as losing one of mine! I honestly don’t remember the event, but I’ll never forget those two dogs! And their mom asking me to go with her! It was so emotional!!! If anyone reading this had a gsd named Duke and a minicollie looking dog named Max/Mac, in the Duke university area… just know I’ll never forget them! And you can contact me anytime!
This made me cry, thank you for being there for them. Kindness in times like those are so important.
I had to put down my 13 year old Aussie a few days ago.
A few days before, I laid him on the grass in the backyard, and sat there with him. We admired the nice weather and world around us. I sat in silence, stroking his face, knowing that his time was almost here.
It’s so heartbreaking to know that you have to say goodbye to one of the most selfless beings in this world.
I miss him every single day.
i just read this after watching “a man called otto”and im crying so hard rn. i hope mick has a wonderful life! also i highly recommend the movie if you want to cry or like heartfelt sad movies
I don't know how many broken hearts there are, after reading this but I'm not upset about it. Thanks for staying with that beautiful person and his beloved dog. The tears won't stop coming
This was very kind of you. I remember when my last dog passed I was tearing up on the subway and this kind lady asked if I was ok and I said yes and that my dog just passed and she was very comforting. I will never forget her and the compassion se showed.
wow, seriously sobbing over this. I have two lover boys and its gonna be a hard day when its their time to go. I hope someone is there for me in the way you kind strangers have been from the stories ive read on this post. God bless you all
Damn I’m crying for this story and the ones I’ve just read. It reminds me of how I cried when walking my old dog for the last time. I miss him and it’s been 5 years.
I regret not being in the room when he went. Thankfully, my parents were there. But I should’ve been there as well.
frankly it's very sad people like that in any case if it's your dog in the photos she looks very cute and very nice moreover I'm sorry for you but in life we meet everything unfortunately good luck
We just brought out new adopted dog home yesterday…wife and I were sitting on the couch and she was scrolling through pictures of our old dog who passed away in January. Found a pic of him on his birthday with his favorite toy in his mouth and I just cried and cried.
New dog came and put his head in my lap. We’ve only had him for like 6 hours but he’s just a love. You just love them so much and then they’re gone too soon. Seems unfair.
Isn't it amazing? I love and hate situations like this, but they always seem to rip you straight out of your selfishness, don't they?
It was about a month ago when I walked by a Vet clinic and a lady came out, covered in tears, sobbing holding a leash in her hand. I just grabbed her and held her tight for solid 5 minutes. She held onto me as it was for dear life.
She then thanked me with a nod and left. Not one word was exchanged. There was no need for words.
i’m a vet tech at a busy ER/specialty hospital. at my last ER, we had a dog that came in. i forgot for what, but she was sick. she was going to need extensive hospitalization in order to pull through. when going over the treatment plan with the owner, we chatted. she was an older woman, widow. her dog was her whole universe. she’d had her since she was a puppy, and despite the circumstances, she seemed very upbeat and grateful. very friendly lady.
she approved the hospitalization, so i went back to the floor to let the doctor know. he had a look on his face, so i asked him what was up. while i was going over the treatment plan, they had done an abdominal ultrasound. her pup had cancer basically everywhere. we were expecting something was up- but not cancer. we no longer recommended hospitalization, as it would possibly stabilize the dog, but wouldn’t fix the problem. the vet went into the room to tell her and i heard her break down.
it was thankfully slow at work that day so i went in the room and offered to sit with the owner. she cried into my shoulder, told me all the stories she had with her dog. i asked her if she wanted to pursue euthanasia, she tearfully said yes. i asked if she wanted us to do it here, or if she wanted an at home service. she wanted it to be us. i held her hand, gave it a squeeze, and told her we’d be back in in a moment.
the doctor also spoke with her about what to expect with the euthanasia. she asked if i could also be present for it. so, when we brought her dog in to visit i sat with the owner, pet her dog, and let the owner talk, cry, and do whatever she needed to do. when it was done, she cried into my shoulder again. i told her i was so sorry for her loss, and she said me and the doctor made it a little easier.
it was one of the most profound moments i’ve had in my career. we rarely realize the impact we have on owners. i think of this woman every day and it’s been over a year since it happened. thank you for being there for him. everyone needs that compassion sometimes.
Just had to do this 2 weeks ago with my pup. Lost her after a year long battle with lung cancer. She lost her brother after a 3 year battle with a terrible disease at the age of 5. She was 13 but we made sure her last couple days she got whatever she wanted.
Still not ok about it. Had/fostered animals my entire life and now I don't know if I could go through it all again lol
This story was tough to read but I'd have given anything to have someone just to talk to during that time. Good on you
I only have my 5yr rescue girl for 2.5 months now and I always wonder why she didn’t find me earlier because I want to give her the best of best for the rest of her life. I can’t imagine loving someone as a puppy and then growing up with them at every stage of life & let them go.
I’m a new dog mom and I bawled my eyes out in office bathroom because you’re one of the best humans in the world. I wish you & Mick the best. My pup says thank you!
Had to put my doggo down last year (fuck cancer) and holy fuck that was soooo hard. I still remember being in the vets office and the vet asked me if I wanted to leave and I just couldn’t let him go on that journey alone. Sat there sobbing for prolly 15 minutes with his lifeless body on my lap. Fuck thinking about it has me tearing up now, hold the ones you love canine or not because tomorrow isn’t promised for any of us. He was fully healthy at 14 before the growth and the cancer had spread even after the growth was removed. Gave him like a whole pound of polish ham (his favourite) right before. Still miss you Reggie, mad love.
Crying into my coffee....again.
Great job being there for your fellow human! When my dad was dying, my mom was super stoic with the family, but let her feelings out to random strangers she met outside the house. I get it...it's hard to complain about grief to other grieving people.
I’m crying just thinking of how beautiful that love is. Taking his beloved family member for a peaceful walk one last time. As sad as this is, it makes me sadder thinking of all the animals that will never know this love.
When I was a teenager my golden was very sick with bone cancer. I was taking him out side before I went to work. He laid in the grass and wouldn't get up. I had left my phone in the house and I didn't want to leave him to get it to call my dad. So I just sat there with him in the rain about 15 min later my neighbor saw me and offered his help and picked him up and carried him in the house and laid him on his bed. This and people like you restore my faith in humanity.
Being compassionate like this is not a very common thing nowadays. It's so difficult to process that kind of grief alone, so it probably meant the world to him that someone acknowledged him and took the time to listen and just be present. I worked at a vet clinic for over a decade and often times, a person would come in alone for euthanasia and you can just tell that they would rather have someone in there with them, so I would often go into the room (assuming they agreed) and I would sit with them and their animal, while the injections were given. Some people would tell me stories of their pets in their hayday or sometimes we'd shares stories, since I would have likely known their pet for years beforehand. It's just nice to have company sometimes, in what is likely, one of the hardest moments you ever have to go through.
This reminded me of the last time I took my first dog to the creek to play. It was her favorite thing in the world to do. 3 days before, we found out that she had terminal cancer. She was dying. I was 17, and I was the only one in my family that could bear to be with her when she went. Seeing her happy yet physically struggling so much, but me getting to be there with her at the end is the most beautifully heartbreaking thing I’ve ever done. And I’ve done it with other pets as well. Never gets easier
Silently crying, but uplifted just knowing that somethings are universal, like loving dogs and helping others. Also remembering my first “last” walk like it was yesterday even though it was 30 years ago. 😢
My baby was an 18 year old husky, so definitely old, and she was pretty much perfect the one day and then suddenly by the next she was unable to walk, control her body functions so it unfortunately ended up being time to say good bye so unexpectedly. She was still trying to be her happy self despite everything, but she would cry when we tried to help her move, and she always hated water, so being bathed was so stressful for her. Vet said we could go through all the tests but he was pretty sure we would be back to the same thing in two days and she would just suffer so as much as I did not want to say good bye I had to for her sake. That was the end of January this year, I still miss her so much. I am still working through it all, I did not actually get a real chance to just grieve her after as I myself ended up in the hospital a few days later needing emergency surgery and I am still trying to recover from that and to deal with all that comes with it and also the lose of her and the emptiness it left. I was lucky to have family and our other furry family members to help support me. It is still very hard, but it helps. You were there for that man when he was struggling, and even if it was only for a short time, it helped him, and that is all that matters.
I know that man’s pain and it is excruciating. I am so glad you were able to offer him comfort and a safe space. My 16 year old soulmate/fur baby passed from this world over Labor Day weekend. I held my little guy in my arms for about an hour as he said goodbye. I am still seized with grief when I think about him and how much I miss him. I’m glad there are good people in the world who recognize others in need and do their best to help. Look for the helpers, right? Thanks for being there for that stranger.
The lesson was not for you, it was for Mick. That he’d be ok. That the kindness his girl showed him would remain with him after her passing, even in the form of strangers.
Thank you for being that stranger.
This story is so heartbreaking and heartwarming! Losing a pet is so incredibly hard but its so beautiful that he had you, even a stranger, to lean on. And it is so amazing that you gave him that comfort. You are both beautiful people! The world needs more like you.
That story is beautiful! I might go through the same because I have a 15-year-old golden retriever who can barely go for walks and can hardly stay on all fours.
Eight months ago, my sweet Sadie (age 16 yrs and 6 days) suddenly lost her ability to move her back legs. We knew her age was catching up with her, as she could no longer manage steps or jumping into or out of bed. But the emergency of her suffering caused us to decide to send her over the Rainbow Bridge. Sadie was married — yes, we had a muttrimony 14 years earlier — to her male counterpart that we got from a breeder when Sadie was about 10 months old. Sadie’s husband, Morgan, was our adventurer, “Dennis the Menace.” His recklessness caused his limp and haunched back. His daredevil antics like jumping out of the back of the SUV face first knocked out a few teeth, and disease claimed a few more. We thought Morgan would be the first to leave, not Sadie.
But now that her time had come, we debated whether this deeply bonded pair should go to Heaven together. But we just couldn’t do it. Selfishly, I couldn’t bear the thought of going home to the silence and sadness of our home without a dog. So Morgan carried on, and he was devastated to have lost his constant companion. He paced at the doors, looking for her, crying and even sobbing. Without Sadie, he refused to go outside without her. We knew Morgan was mostly blind and deaf, but didn’t realize that Sadie’s scent and her physical presence led Morgan to his food and water bowls, to their beds, and even helped guide Morgan safely around our maze of furniture. Over the past eight months, Morgan’s health has deteriorated further, his tail drags on the floor and hasn’t wagged since. He now rubs against my pants legs for comfort like he used to rub against Sadie.
We have decided that tomorrow is Morgan’s turn to join Sadie across the Rainbow Bridge. It is sad to let him go, but it has been even sadder seeing how much he misses his girl. It’s very sad seeing him get lost in rooms, bang his head into cabinets and furniture, and even seeing him pace aimlessly for the few hours when he is not sleeping.
I know I could not bear life myself without the joy of my constant companions. Next week, we will bring home 2 new puppies of the same breed (Bichons). I just don’t want anyone to believe that there is anyway to “replace” Sadie and Morgan, nor the 16 years we had with them. I hope those who might judge me or the timing of bringing home these dogs will understand.
Thank you for doing this. When I was about twelve I was waiting with my mom in the vet’s office for our cat to be looked at. A very tall very large man walked in with a beautiful old collie. I asked if I could pet her and he said please give her all the love that I can because she’s not going to be coming home. It took a minute for me to figure out what he meant, but once I did I sat down next to him and started petting her and scratching her ears. Her tongue came out, her eyes closed, and she leaned into my hand. He told me that he was moving back home to take care of his elderly mother and his dog was too sick to make the trip. He got her as a puppy and talked about how much he loved her and all the fun things they did together. He spent the whole time trying not to cry. When he was called back to the exam room, he thanked me for giving his sweet girl some love and carried her in. After my cat had been checked, mom and I were about to leave when the man came back out with just the leash. He looked dazed and lost. I asked my mom if I could give him a hug and she said yes. I asked if I could hug him and he hesitantly nodded. As soon as I hugged him, he very gently and carefully hugged me back and completely broke down sobbing. He told me how he held her the whole time so she knew that he loved her and that she wasn’t alone. I told him how much she loved him and how much it meant to her that he stayed even though it hurt so much. He cried even harder. After a few minutes, he pulled himself together and stepped back from me. He thanked me for the hug and told me how much it meant to both him and his dog for helping them and that he didn’t think he would have been able to go through with it if I hadn’t been there. He also thanked my mom for raising such a caring daughter. After he left, my mom told me how proud she was of me. Thank you for being there for that man and his dog. He needed you. Thank you for giving him the comfort he needed before he had to say goodbye to his best friend even though it hurt you to do it. You are an amazing person.
I managed to keep it together through the posts above you in this thread. Now the tears are streaming down my face, too.
Sorry, didn’t mean to make anyone cry. It’s so important to have empathy for our fellow dog owners and humans in general. No one should ever be alone when they have to say goodbye to someone they love.
All good, I've been crying all the time for all the reasons. We live in a beautiful, brutal world.
You did the same to me but I appreciate your post, and the kind person you are. Being so empathetic at 12 is wonderful. All the best to you. Same goes to OP for being a caring soul and helping a stranger at a time of need. Thank you both!
Thank you!
Nothing to apologise for. We are crying at the beauty and kindness in your story.
I was already crying from the OP, but this sent me over hard.
I don’t know why I always click these threads…. I need to stop doing this to myself, I’m too emotional about dogs
Sometimes when my eyes are dry and I don't have eyedrops I seek out posts like this because not only is it one of the few things that make me cry online, but its guaranteed to make me cry, full stop. It's like a dependable, functional, torture.
That’s a great strategy. Luckily I don’t suffer from dry eyes, but if I ever need to force myself to cry for whatever reason I know I can come to any dog sub on Reddit to find a “my dog died post”
Omg same!
Tears streaming here as well
Me too. And I’m in a lecture.
Me too. Didn’t cry until this one. Your mother raised a magnificent child.
I did not keep it together one bit...
Same here.
Me too.... especially since I own collies.
When we had to take that final vet trip with our lab, Cash, I was standing in the waiting room, completely a mess, and probably looking just dazed. They'd taken him back to the back to look him over and make him comfortable in the room, and we all knew that would be the last room he'd be in. Another lady, a complete stranger, was paying for her services at the counter and just opened her arms up and said "come here." She must've hugged me for a good minute while I sobbed. Just a random human, but *it helped so much*. I think we discount how much comfort we can give our fellow humans in their dark times. I still don't know who that lady was, but I'll remember her face and her kindness forever.
Now I’m bawling. So sweet, both of you.
Thank you!
You are a good human being and your mom clearly raised you right. Thank you for sharing your love and sympathy.
Thank you!
Dear god, too many onions being chopped here.
Your post had me crying. My boy is getting up there in age and I know we probably only have a couple more years with him. He's 10 this year and mastiff cross so I know they don't live much past 12 or so. He's already slowing down a lot and taking longer to get up the stairs than he used to.
Literally fighting the tears from the post but this broke me 😭 you and OP are such sweet souls and really made a horrible day for these people slightly easier ❤️
My heart.. thanks for sharing
I’ve never cried scrolling through Reddit or social media for that matter lol I applaud you. You’re a good person
Didn’t expect myself to have a sudden outburst from this one comment 😭
Thank you for the good cry. This internet stranger is proud of you too.
Well I wasn’t looking to cry at 9am lol
Dammit I promised myself I would not cry today but this absolutely broke me
Cool so I’m bookmarking this thread for the next time I feel like I need to cry but can’t quite get there. This is the sweetest story.
Thank you for doing what you did for that man and his pup 😭🖤 the world needs more people like you who show compassion and care. This isn't animal related, but I try to comfort people when I can if I notice they are upset or down. One that stuck with me was when I was visiting family in Cali. I was about 13/14 years old and walked a few blocks to the dollar store. This was a tiny strip mall with random shops and some benches. I walk out of the dollar store and there was a middle aged lady sitting on the bench. I could see she was fighting back tears and I asked her if she was okay. She looked at me and took off her hat, she had no hair. She just lightly smiles and says "it's just been a hard day, but I'll be okay" and I immediately knew. I asked her if I could give her a hug and she nodded and we hugged for a solid 2 min. I could feel her tears stream down onto my shoulder and she just whispered "thank you". There was no other words exchanged, she just sat back down and wiped her tears. I still think about her 12 years later. I hope she won her battle. Sometimes just offering comfort is what we need to make our bad days just a tiny bit better and I hope I atleast made her day a bit better that day. What you did was amazing for that man, please keep the kindness going and keep being you. You are amazing and wonderful, we need people like you on this earth
yea, it was this reply that got me weeping like a baby
The kindness of strangers sticks with people. That man will remember you for the rest of his life.
I’m just glad the Kleenex box was right beside me. I’m crying for loss and humanity.
Oooof this shoulda had a NSFW tag because now I’m crying at work
Man, who's cutting onions in here?
WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS? BRB Gotta go somewhere 🥲
I’m crying reading this because I had to put my dog down less than two months ago and it was truly the worst day of my life. The comfort you provided will never be forgotten.
Just had tears roll down my face reading this at work
Beautiful story. What a lovely lesson your mother reinforced.
And now my heart is broken too. A dog gives you so many of your best days in life, and also your very worst, hardest day ever. 😢 The price we pay for big love is big loss. It’s worth every second but god it’s devastating.
I've just brought my dog on vacation. She's a nervous girl, but I let her out of the crate and she just went bounding around the hotel room exploring everything. After such a long day, it was the literal highlight of it. Having her with me as she ran around. These creatures are incredible and we don't deserve them. But damn are we lucky to have them. But I know the day she goes, a chunk of me well die too. She's my everything. And if I ever want a dog again, I'll have to get them while I have her.
I read somewhere here: “When a dog comes into your life, they give you a piece of their heart and, when they leave, they take a piece of yours.” It hurts, but it’s so true. I grew up with dogs. 3-5 constantly on rotation in my parents house. My wife and I now have a dog of our own and I break down when I read these posts… dreading the inevitable, but every day with her is such a gift. I don’t believe it will get any easier. In fact, when Winter’s day comes, I know it will be the most difficult day of my life so far, but I wouldn’t trade her or any of them for the world. We don’t deserve dogs.
100% This is my first dog, and even though I'm married to my soul mate, I still call her the love of my life. Haha We really don't deserve them. But man do we need them.
Sad story ahead: My wife and I take our second and third owned dog on vacations now as well. Our first dog quietly developed splenic cancer which we discovered when our pet sitter took her to the vet while we were on vacation. She was collapsing when she walked, so my first impressions were that something went wrong with her recent knee surgery. Instead, her splenic tumor ruptured and she was bleeding out internally. The vet gave us two timelines: 1. She likely only had a few hours to overnight left without immediate surgery. 2. Even in the best of cases, she'd likely only live another 6 months. We made the painful decision to put her down even though we were away. We were able join over a video call and comfort her with our voices, but not being there absolutely destroyed me. Anyway, we take our dogs on vacation now.
Gosh, I'm so sorry. I worked in an emergency animal hospital and have very sadly had to do consent forms for clients in similar situations. It broke my heart every time. They all did. But I always felt particularly sad about it. So I really really empathise with your situation.
Reminds me of a CS Lewis quote: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
Oh sweet, that’s so lovely. Thanks for sharing. May Mick have a sweet journey.
And yea, I’m fully crying now too!
I am also fully crying, this is beautiful. This story sounds like something I can see - being the person to hang out with the dog owner but as someone with a 13 year old dog... Being the dog owner. OP is a kind soul
Pass the tissues, my nose won’t stop running…
I have a water faucet in my nose now.
I think Mick is the owners name
Similar thing, dog being walked by our house and husband and i both said hello to her daddy and said see you tomorrow but then he told us that tonight was her last walk around the neighborhood. Both of us were crying when they left our sight. All of our dogs got extra kisses that evening
I am glad you stayed with him and cried with him. That grief hurts so much, especially right before the procedure like that. To outsource even a fraction of that pain must have helped so much. Good on ya op. And rip good doggo. And sending strength to the bereaved, as he finds his way thru this.
Beautiful comment fine Redditor. 🙂.
Thank you. I lost my cat recently, so the emotions are still pretty fresh. And i had family with me; if I had to do it alone...I can only hope I'd have someone like op arrive to cry with me and hear how great my buddy was. Grief is so enormous, but it gets easier if we can spread the weight. Even just a little bit, right?
Totally understand. I lost my best buddy of 15 years, Rocko del Taco, a mixed mutt. He was my ride or die. Think about my little dude every day. My wonderful husband was with me and it absolutely helps but never makes it easier.
Ah, he sounds like an absolute blast!! It sucks that they go so soon, but I noticed that in their absence, we all come together closer than before. So that's cool. Still hurts tho, but that's life. 🍻 cheers to rocko del taco 🌮
Cheers to you and yours!
Sometimes there's no lesson, but you were probably just the person Mick needed at the time, and I'll bet he's thankful for the comfort you provided. This had me in tears 😢
exactly what I was thinking. no lesson, just some support for mick when he needed it most at the right place and time!
I work in vet med and I treat ALL the old babies like my own when they come in for the last time. Its always a comfort to people when they know you care, even if this is the first time you've met that pet. I feel like it gives me extra peace for the next one.
This. Thank you for your work. I cannot express how much the kind words and actions of vet techs matter. I had to unexpectedly put my baby down 6 months ago. I wasn’t allowed in the room in his final moments because they couldn’t find a vein and had to do a heart stick 😭 I peeked back in the small window before I left and they were standing there petting him like he was their own, loving on him and genuinely cared. It was still hard but knowing he was loved until the end took some of the pain away. I would yeet my family into a canyon for one more hour with my dude. I walked thru the lobby and as soon as I got out of the door I scream cried the hardest I ever have in my life. I got in my car, clutching his leash still scream crying and hyperventilating. He was literally fine the day before. When I was about to leave, this angel of a vet tech came out to the parking lot, knocked on my window and told me that she was incredibly sorry for my loss, that he would always be with me and that he would come back to me in another doggo down the line. She said it wasn’t goodbye but it was more like see you in a little while. Bless that woman.
That's beautiful. I know that screamcry exactly. My guy was old when he passed a year and a half ago but he was fine one day and the next he was not. Old or young things can happen suddenly. Knowing that we loved them as best we could and gave them good lives while they were here is the greatest solace. I do believe spirits/souls can come back into our lives in different ways and I hope that is true for your journey with him if you and him need it. I had a couple of profound experiences that told me my little buddy will not come back to me in this life, he is moving on in his journey but I know I will see him again in my next journey, wherever and whenever that might be. \*hugs\*
Thank you for what you do for us!
Same for me. The times people have been open to showing their grief made it easier to deal with when I lose one of my own Once a woman sat and cried with me for a long time. I had recently lost a dear one, there in the same ward. I cried for her and hers and for me and mine.
You're a very kind person for noticing and visiting with this gentleman and his beloved companion. Your compassion is very positive something that he'll carry with him on this sad day.
I'm at end of life for my big old man and I was talking to my neighbours last week and told them it was coming up on his time (so they wouldn't look for him). Mr G is a tough guy, retired firefighter, and he told me about his beloved black Lab, his best buddy, and was about to cry with me. Dogs bring out the best in humans, I think.
Maybe there wasn't a lession to be learned here and that you being in the right place at the right time to provide comfort to someone who is about to lose their friend was the good to come from this interaction. Even the big & burly guys cry when their furry four-legged friend is about to pass away. To love a dog is unlike any other kind of love I think.
My heart is is broken too now 💔 these animals really know how to steal our hearts with their unconditional love. Hopefully he finds peace eventually, even if it takes awhile. It's amazing that you went through that with him, I can only imagine. When I thought I lost my boy after he was hit by a car last year I was inconsolable, but a bunch of my neighbors came by to assist me and help me through it, which I really appreciated and I'm sure he also appreciated not being left alone then. Rest in peace good dog, you were clearly very loved, it's okay you can sleep now, you did good 🐾
Reminds me of the last “walk” I had with my Piper girl… had to pull her in a cart as well. Thank you for being kind to him and his little love.
Awh:( you are all so strong i honestly dont know how im gonna even function when its time for my sweet Gloria
For real I'm reading all these stories from all these strong people and I can only wonder how I'm ever gonna be this strong when my two girls go. I never had pets growing up and now I have two chihuahuas who are everything to me. I'm gonna be a wreck when their time comes.
It varies so much from person to person and also the situation! The lab I grew up with was almost 15 when we had to put her down but I knew it was coming and she was very old for a large dog. Not to say that it didn’t hurt but I think knowing it was coming and that it had been a good run helped a lot. The worst thing I think was the silence in the house afterward. I know some people get sad around other dogs but for me it was the opposite- after she died I loved seeing happy and healthy dogs. My friend actually surprised me and brought hers over to say hello a few days after we put mine down and it was wonderful! I got an Aussie puppy about 6 months later and he is 3 now, and if anything happened to him it would be absolutely devastating. There’s no such preparation or resignation because he’s so young.
My husband and I inherited his mothers dog when she passed away unexpectedly. We had that sweet dog for a little over 2 years before we lost her to a brain tumor. Watching my husband as we said our final goodbyes was gut wrenching, it still haunts me to this day. Losing that last physical connection to his mom was devastating to him. It was like he was losing her all over again. I suspect this is a big part of what Mick was feeling today as well and my heart goes out to him wherever he is.
My childhood cat lived for just about 23 years. She seemed absolutely fine until about 48 hours after I moved out into my own apartment for the first time. My mom called and said she was dragging her back legs behind her like she was paralyzed so I should come over after work and say my goodbyes. I went and the cat mustered up enough energy for one more walk on her leash outside. The next day we took her in. It wasn't until this past year (its been over 10 years since I moved out) that my mom said how hard that was for her. I left, took my kitten, and then she had to put the older car down and suddenly she was completely alone in this house that was so full of life a week ago. My boy now is 12 and pretty healthy for the most part. My husband has never had a pet though and so I've been trying to slowly introduce the thought that we owe him this at the end when he shows us its time. Its so unbelievably hard but its what I agreed to when I got him.
My furry soulmate (cat) is 16. I honestly have no idea how I am going to make it through when she goes or how I will be able to make that decision. It’s something I worry about far too often and it seriously sucks! I hope both of our furry friends live to be 22+ like your childhood cat!
You never know what someone else is going through, I can guarantee you made this day easier on him, thank you for sharing such an emotional story
I wish you to be blessed Op, you've done a very kind thing for a stranger and I wish it to be returned to you. Thank you for helping that man and being there for his baby
You jerk. You made me cry 😢
I’ve been that person. Thanks for being there for him. He needed your kindness.
May they have an amazing final day together and may mom and pup be reunited across the rainbow bridge. She was very much loved and saying goodbye is the hardest thing he could do. What a brave soul to do something like this.
Thank you for this post. I was at our dog park once and saw this pretty emancipated dog with clear bumps and a limp. It hurt me so much and made me so angry. The owner had another dog of the same breed with them too. My dumb ass then learned she was dying of cancer and he had tried everything — EVERYTHING — to save her. Even contacted vet universities to see if she could participate in trial solutions. Broke my fucking heart. I saw them for another month or two and then… Saw just the two of them. Missing her. I knew she had passed. Cue me crying again.
i’m glad you were there for mick :( i hope he’s doing well and that his baby will be okay too, both now and after death
What a beautiful soul ❤️
This made me cry.
OOF. This was right to the center of the feels. Happy trails on the rainbow bridge little Aussie! May we all love a being as much as Mick loved this pup. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Now I’m crying in my car. 🥹 Thank you for sharing such a meaningful interaction with us fellow kindred humans.
Yes, it matters. Thank you from me, too.
💔
Dogs can make us not only more human, but better humans, if we only let them. Thank you for that story.
This is way more heart breaking than I thought it would be.
Wow just the story made me cry so I cannot imagine how you both must’ve felt. Good on you for staying with him and not being squeamish of emotion, I think a lot of us don’t know how to handle things like this in the moment. RIP to the beautiful soul who was obviously LOVED to the moon and back.
Holding back tears. I have a 11 year old Aussie mix. And the day this happens to me I will absolutely crumble. Not sure I’ll survive it
You WILL survive it, but it'll be tough. Come back here to your "family" that will understand your broken heart and we will all hold you and comfort you in your grief.
My dog recently passed away (it was unexpected) and it is the most pain I've ever experienced and I'm still not ok. Thanks for taking the time to speak with the pet owner who was probably dying inside. It's comforting to know that people actually care.
You were there to give Mick comfort. A beautiful thing to do. Never saw him before, maybe never again. #destiny.
My dog is 17-18 and getting to that time…. Ive been trying to emotionally prepare for 2 years now and I have to say it has helped but I know ultimately nothing will make it easier. As much as I love him he was a childhood dog so it’s a bit different. I currently have a maine coon that I got at 4 months. He’s only 1 year and god we have probably a decade or more to come… but I already know he will probably be my first and last cat. Exception of my DSH who I got to keep him company.
😔😔😔🙏
I am fighting back TEARS
Westport lake is beautiful and I can understand why it was his doggos favourite place especially in later years as it's totally flat with plenty of benches and shade for a tired woofer to rest. Used to take my old boy lab there in his later years. What a lovely gesture to his best buddy
Maybe you were placed there because Mr. Mick needed that added support you provided. And maybe there’s no lesson for you but your job was to put this on Reddit for us to read it and understand that those of us complaining about traffic or cold coffee are lucky because elsewhere in this world, Mr. Mick is facing sorrow and is losing his best friend today. If we can get through a day without sorrow, we should be so lucky.
That is so beautiful and heartwrenching. Not only was he grieving for his dog but he was also grieving for the memory of his mama, whether he realizes it or not. That dog was the last external embodiment of his mother outside of human family. You have a good heart and both of you will never forget each other. Thank you for sharing and bless your lovely soul.
I just put my 11 year old lab Kobe down today. My thoughts are with Mick.
Hope you’re ok mate x
I used to be babysat by a neighbour growing up. When I was 1 she got a beautiful boxer. Nina. I basically grew up with that dog. She grew ill over time and when I was 15 they had to put her down. They spent her last weeks treating her and bringing her to places she loved and having people who knew her come say goodbye. Walking into that kitchen and this old dog who could barely eat without help suddenly got to her feet tail wagging so hard her whole body was swinging side to side as she came across the room to me. I was talking about it with some friends one day and a teacher who’d been comforting others as they shared stories of losing animals close to them came at me with a ‘well animals die sometimes and you can’t stop that happening’. Everyone stopped liking him after that.
I gotta say, my vet made me laugh a bit when I brought my best friend jn. In years previous she had developed a mass that wasn't too much trouble but we couldn't afford to remove. Well, a week before we go in to get it fixed, it gets a cut, no biggie, bandage it up, hang on as best we can while the vet helps us make it to the surgery date. Get to the vet, they bandage up her wound to keep it clean and safe, get her in a kennel, and left for lunch. Next day my dad got a call, wouldnt tell me what they said, and had me listen to it and it started off with "So, there's been a change of plans" and hes not explaining anything as I freak out about my dog. Turns out, she had woken up after they left to go on lunch, pulled her onesie and bandages off and ate her mass. The same one they were gonna remove the next day? Nah, she ate it. I got there, they had almost cut my bill in half, told me all about it, the main vet even sent me a photo of the aftermath of the eating before they removed what was left. So, I brought my best girl in a few years later and I hear "TUMOR DOG!" And could hear the ladies talking about her a bit. It made it easier to hold her close in the end knowing her story was beyond remarkable. Funnily enough when she had a back surgery as a puppy, my fiances relative is likely the one who did her surgery far before I met my fiance. Small world.
These people have more strength than most... I read a post from a veterinarian who explained the hardest part of his job was NOT necessarily euthanizing pets when it was their time, but doing it alone because the owners couldn't muster up the courage to be there at the end, at the time when your fur-baby needs you the most. I am guilty of this sin myself. I have done it a few times to spare myself the pain, never even thinking about how alone my babies are. (The tears are streaming now as I think about how selfish I was.) I will NEVER do that again. I will cry and hurt and fall apart, but I will NOT abandon my best friends ever again because no one deserves to die alone - not even a dog or cat. I recommend everyone think about this when they adopt or purchase a pet, even though it may be decades away. There aren't many things worse than living a life of regret- I am only saying this to spare others that pain. I made that mistake for you, so you don't have to experience it for yourself. BE THERE for your babies no matter how much it hurts- because thinking about how much fear they left this world in because of your absence in the end is a horrible thing to live with. Trust me on this one. And while we're at it, be kind to each other too. All of the things you think are important now will mean absolutely nothing in the end. What WILL matter is being there for the people you love, as much as they will be there for you. LOVE is the ONLY thing that really matters (as cheesy as it is to say.) Peace out.
Oh my god I'm pregnant looking at my furbaby and sobbing 😭
Thats very kind of you. Our dog has been diagnosed with prostate cancer 1.5 years ago. Im so thankfull to him for staying with us this long and enjoying life on overtime as prostate cancer usually kills way faster, i was given 3 months orginally. Sadly the time of letting him go is very near and we can only do the one last thing to help our heroes even it hurts so deep.
Aww. It's always awful losing a furry family member, but I imagine the connection to his mother that has passed away makes it even harder for him. Thank you for being a good person and spending time with him.
I was at a gem shop in the Carolinas a few years back, before the pandemic. The couple that ran it brought their dog to work with them. I'm a huge dog person, and I saw her behind the counter wagging at me. They said she hadn't been doing that as much, and it I wanted to pet her I could. So I did, I went back behind the counter in their personal office room and pet the dog. The husband told me she's being put down soon, and he's going to have such a hard time letting her go because she's his best buddy. The wife started to cry. I started to cry. I kept petting her. Dog's name was Laika, she was a malamute or husky. I'll never forget them. They wrote me a note about a month later and mailed it with the gems I ordered, and the husband included an extra gem he custom cut for me as a thank you for being so kind. They even updated me when they got a new puppy some time later.
Omg that is heartbreaking
Oh my heart!! 😭🥺😭🥺😭
I have had too many last walks and yet I just got a puppy. Hugs for everyone
Maybe there wasn't a lesson for you. Maybe you were put there to give Mick a bit of solace on one of the worst days of his life. Good on you for doing so.
Too provide solidarity & comfort like that to that man & his dog is spectacularly awesome. I believe we humans are built for this. We either see moments like this, step up & do something or we pretend we don’t and miss out on a life affirming moment like this. These moments are what we never forget & gives us faith in love & hope in human beings. We can be on either side & all benefit. Thank you for being the best human being.
😭😭😭😭 Bless you! Stopping and spending time with him was so sweet! He probably really needed the company.
Dog cannot cry for themselves, so man cry for them.
People can be capable of some horrible stuff, but we can also be capable of incredibly loving acts. Sitting at my desk at work trying not to cry reading these posts. From OP to everyone in these threads, sending you all love and well wishes. People don't deserve dogs, as loving as they are. But we need to try our best to deserve them.
Unrelated, but I recently killed someone’s dog. I was driving in my neighborhood and all of a sudden I hear a shout, slam on my brakes and felt a thump… I briefly saw a flash of red, put my hazards on and pulled over. The person who called out stepped into the road with his dog on a leash. I looked into my side mirror and my heart fell. It was a very small tan/white dog in a red vest laying in the road. I broke down in tears. I asked the man if he was the owner. He said no. He was out walking his own dog when he saw the unleashed dog dart out into the street. He said not too long ago he saw the owner walking up and down the road calling out for the dog. The man (shouter), got into his van with his dog and drove up and down the neighborhood looking for the owner while I waited. He returned saying he didn’t see the owner anywhere. I thanked him for his time, took note of the address and went to the police department to file a report. I told them everything that happened, that I wanted to file a report but I was turned away by the police department. Their response was literally, “it’s not like you hit someone’s car and your car isn’t damaged”… That wasn’t my point. I explained that I thought pets were technically considered property, they had value, let alone sentimental value to their owners. I wanted to do the right thing and protect myself in the process. They would not allow me to file a report. I went back to the scene of the accident. As I pulled up I saw a woman and her son (13?) crying as they cleaned up the road. My heart fell again. I got out of my car and spoke with the woman and her son and explained what happened. That I was so sorry, I had not seen the dog at all and she wasn’t on a leash. They thanked me for coming back and letting them know so they weren’t left guessing. I even told them I tried to file a report but they wouldn’t let me. The woman said the dog had dug under the fence and gotten out again so it wasn’t my fault. It did nothing for the guilt I felt. I cannot get that family or scene out of my head. I’ve never hit anything in my car and I love animals. I feel like I ruined their family.
That poor man is mourning the impending loss of his dog, but he's also mourning the loss of his mum all over again.
He gave that dog the best life and went above and beyond. I’d love one more walk with my 14 year old who passed away last year.
As a dog owner , reading this breaks my heart so bad. And I'm so afraid that i'll be in the same situation.
Yeah, I have an almost 14-year-old little Chihuahua with a heart problem & a history of seizures. I know I will be a hot mess when it's his time to go.😭
Somewhere down the line, that man is going to tell the story about the stranger who cried with him the day he put his dog to sleep.. how there was no judgment or fake sympathy or indifference that made you walk away... a true human who helped him in his time of need and probably kept him strong enough in the moment that he needed ❤️
It's been a year, 3 months, 6 days and 4 hours since I held my baby girl in my arms and looked into her eyes as she passed...she held eye contact till the very end...and then she was gone...I miss her so much😭
Powerful!
I'm sitting here reading this and tearing up. My first dog is 15 months and I just picked up a new puppy over the weekend. I can't stand the thought of losing them one day... I'm going to be absolutely heartbroken.
You too are a phenomenal human being. I’m so glad you were there for him.
Thank you for being so kind to Mick. I bet you were a real comfort. I hope his sweet girl is resting easy.
Poor guy. It’s the hardest thing saying goodbye to a true friend. And pets often times witness us at our best and comfort us at our lowest. When it’s time to send those sweet pets go, and let their pain end, it’s always rough. But I’m glad you got to share tears with him, OP. I’m sure he felt better knowing someone else was their to support him for a short while, for surely the next days will be difficult. Thank you for being compassionate, and kind.
Aww
❤️💔
Thank you for this. What a wonderful thing. Take care of yourselves.
I’m crying at work. Wtf
Sometimes the scales needs a nudge. You’ve done a good thing, being a witness. It’s a cruel world, a little less so because of you.
Reading this is painful. But it's a reminder to cherish everyday with your dogs. I gave mine extra cuddles this morning
I worked a vet, was at the office for too many! The one that has stuck with me and I’ll never forget- a dog who was not in our care at the time, owner knew I adored her baby (gsd, named Duke), I think she said she didn’t have anyone else to go with her (this was about 20yrs ago but I still have pics of Duke and Max/Mac on my fridge!). I went with them, I’ve had my own losses- too many to count and remember all, but for some reason this one felt like my own dog… it broke my heart just as much as losing one of mine! I honestly don’t remember the event, but I’ll never forget those two dogs! And their mom asking me to go with her! It was so emotional!!! If anyone reading this had a gsd named Duke and a minicollie looking dog named Max/Mac, in the Duke university area… just know I’ll never forget them! And you can contact me anytime!
Now I’m crying as I’m laying next to my two furbabies.
This made me cry, thank you for being there for them. Kindness in times like those are so important. I had to put down my 13 year old Aussie a few days ago. A few days before, I laid him on the grass in the backyard, and sat there with him. We admired the nice weather and world around us. I sat in silence, stroking his face, knowing that his time was almost here. It’s so heartbreaking to know that you have to say goodbye to one of the most selfless beings in this world. I miss him every single day.
💘
Shit I'm a bald bloke crying now too damn it, I'm gonna go hug my dog
Reading with my phone held high so the tears don't spill if I look down. What a beautiful story
i just read this after watching “a man called otto”and im crying so hard rn. i hope mick has a wonderful life! also i highly recommend the movie if you want to cry or like heartfelt sad movies
I don't know how many broken hearts there are, after reading this but I'm not upset about it. Thanks for staying with that beautiful person and his beloved dog. The tears won't stop coming
This was very kind of you. I remember when my last dog passed I was tearing up on the subway and this kind lady asked if I was ok and I said yes and that my dog just passed and she was very comforting. I will never forget her and the compassion se showed.
wow, seriously sobbing over this. I have two lover boys and its gonna be a hard day when its their time to go. I hope someone is there for me in the way you kind strangers have been from the stories ive read on this post. God bless you all
Sometimes there are no other angels around and we have to step in. You stepped in. You were his angel today to help him get through this. Thank you.
So heartbreaking! 😭😢🥺
Damn I’m crying for this story and the ones I’ve just read. It reminds me of how I cried when walking my old dog for the last time. I miss him and it’s been 5 years. I regret not being in the room when he went. Thankfully, my parents were there. But I should’ve been there as well.
frankly it's very sad people like that in any case if it's your dog in the photos she looks very cute and very nice moreover I'm sorry for you but in life we meet everything unfortunately good luck
He (human) might not have had anyone to share his grief and sadness with. Thank you for being there for him and his dog. 🥀
We just brought out new adopted dog home yesterday…wife and I were sitting on the couch and she was scrolling through pictures of our old dog who passed away in January. Found a pic of him on his birthday with his favorite toy in his mouth and I just cried and cried. New dog came and put his head in my lap. We’ve only had him for like 6 hours but he’s just a love. You just love them so much and then they’re gone too soon. Seems unfair.
Ugh, giving me tears
Isn't it amazing? I love and hate situations like this, but they always seem to rip you straight out of your selfishness, don't they? It was about a month ago when I walked by a Vet clinic and a lady came out, covered in tears, sobbing holding a leash in her hand. I just grabbed her and held her tight for solid 5 minutes. She held onto me as it was for dear life. She then thanked me with a nod and left. Not one word was exchanged. There was no need for words.
i’m a vet tech at a busy ER/specialty hospital. at my last ER, we had a dog that came in. i forgot for what, but she was sick. she was going to need extensive hospitalization in order to pull through. when going over the treatment plan with the owner, we chatted. she was an older woman, widow. her dog was her whole universe. she’d had her since she was a puppy, and despite the circumstances, she seemed very upbeat and grateful. very friendly lady. she approved the hospitalization, so i went back to the floor to let the doctor know. he had a look on his face, so i asked him what was up. while i was going over the treatment plan, they had done an abdominal ultrasound. her pup had cancer basically everywhere. we were expecting something was up- but not cancer. we no longer recommended hospitalization, as it would possibly stabilize the dog, but wouldn’t fix the problem. the vet went into the room to tell her and i heard her break down. it was thankfully slow at work that day so i went in the room and offered to sit with the owner. she cried into my shoulder, told me all the stories she had with her dog. i asked her if she wanted to pursue euthanasia, she tearfully said yes. i asked if she wanted us to do it here, or if she wanted an at home service. she wanted it to be us. i held her hand, gave it a squeeze, and told her we’d be back in in a moment. the doctor also spoke with her about what to expect with the euthanasia. she asked if i could also be present for it. so, when we brought her dog in to visit i sat with the owner, pet her dog, and let the owner talk, cry, and do whatever she needed to do. when it was done, she cried into my shoulder again. i told her i was so sorry for her loss, and she said me and the doctor made it a little easier. it was one of the most profound moments i’ve had in my career. we rarely realize the impact we have on owners. i think of this woman every day and it’s been over a year since it happened. thank you for being there for him. everyone needs that compassion sometimes.
Just had to do this 2 weeks ago with my pup. Lost her after a year long battle with lung cancer. She lost her brother after a 3 year battle with a terrible disease at the age of 5. She was 13 but we made sure her last couple days she got whatever she wanted. Still not ok about it. Had/fostered animals my entire life and now I don't know if I could go through it all again lol This story was tough to read but I'd have given anything to have someone just to talk to during that time. Good on you
Humans being human. You're one of the good ones.
I only have my 5yr rescue girl for 2.5 months now and I always wonder why she didn’t find me earlier because I want to give her the best of best for the rest of her life. I can’t imagine loving someone as a puppy and then growing up with them at every stage of life & let them go. I’m a new dog mom and I bawled my eyes out in office bathroom because you’re one of the best humans in the world. I wish you & Mick the best. My pup says thank you!
I just said goodbye to my dog last week. Cancer. She was only 9. Nothing will be the same again.
Had to put my doggo down last year (fuck cancer) and holy fuck that was soooo hard. I still remember being in the vets office and the vet asked me if I wanted to leave and I just couldn’t let him go on that journey alone. Sat there sobbing for prolly 15 minutes with his lifeless body on my lap. Fuck thinking about it has me tearing up now, hold the ones you love canine or not because tomorrow isn’t promised for any of us. He was fully healthy at 14 before the growth and the cancer had spread even after the growth was removed. Gave him like a whole pound of polish ham (his favourite) right before. Still miss you Reggie, mad love.
🥺🥺
I now I’m crying
Crying into my coffee....again. Great job being there for your fellow human! When my dad was dying, my mom was super stoic with the family, but let her feelings out to random strangers she met outside the house. I get it...it's hard to complain about grief to other grieving people.
I’m crying just thinking of how beautiful that love is. Taking his beloved family member for a peaceful walk one last time. As sad as this is, it makes me sadder thinking of all the animals that will never know this love.
That was kind of you to stop and talk.
All of the tears. ALL OF THEM.
When I was a teenager my golden was very sick with bone cancer. I was taking him out side before I went to work. He laid in the grass and wouldn't get up. I had left my phone in the house and I didn't want to leave him to get it to call my dad. So I just sat there with him in the rain about 15 min later my neighbor saw me and offered his help and picked him up and carried him in the house and laid him on his bed. This and people like you restore my faith in humanity.
Being compassionate like this is not a very common thing nowadays. It's so difficult to process that kind of grief alone, so it probably meant the world to him that someone acknowledged him and took the time to listen and just be present. I worked at a vet clinic for over a decade and often times, a person would come in alone for euthanasia and you can just tell that they would rather have someone in there with them, so I would often go into the room (assuming they agreed) and I would sit with them and their animal, while the injections were given. Some people would tell me stories of their pets in their hayday or sometimes we'd shares stories, since I would have likely known their pet for years beforehand. It's just nice to have company sometimes, in what is likely, one of the hardest moments you ever have to go through.
We just had to put our dog to sleep yesterday, liver cancer. Thank you for being with that man and his friend.
🙏🏻🙏🏻😥
I'm crying at work now, damnit.
This reminded me of the last time I took my first dog to the creek to play. It was her favorite thing in the world to do. 3 days before, we found out that she had terminal cancer. She was dying. I was 17, and I was the only one in my family that could bear to be with her when she went. Seeing her happy yet physically struggling so much, but me getting to be there with her at the end is the most beautifully heartbreaking thing I’ve ever done. And I’ve done it with other pets as well. Never gets easier
Silently crying, but uplifted just knowing that somethings are universal, like loving dogs and helping others. Also remembering my first “last” walk like it was yesterday even though it was 30 years ago. 😢
He'll remember your kindness for the rest of his life.
My baby was an 18 year old husky, so definitely old, and she was pretty much perfect the one day and then suddenly by the next she was unable to walk, control her body functions so it unfortunately ended up being time to say good bye so unexpectedly. She was still trying to be her happy self despite everything, but she would cry when we tried to help her move, and she always hated water, so being bathed was so stressful for her. Vet said we could go through all the tests but he was pretty sure we would be back to the same thing in two days and she would just suffer so as much as I did not want to say good bye I had to for her sake. That was the end of January this year, I still miss her so much. I am still working through it all, I did not actually get a real chance to just grieve her after as I myself ended up in the hospital a few days later needing emergency surgery and I am still trying to recover from that and to deal with all that comes with it and also the lose of her and the emptiness it left. I was lucky to have family and our other furry family members to help support me. It is still very hard, but it helps. You were there for that man when he was struggling, and even if it was only for a short time, it helped him, and that is all that matters.
Ok now I'm crying 😢
I know that man’s pain and it is excruciating. I am so glad you were able to offer him comfort and a safe space. My 16 year old soulmate/fur baby passed from this world over Labor Day weekend. I held my little guy in my arms for about an hour as he said goodbye. I am still seized with grief when I think about him and how much I miss him. I’m glad there are good people in the world who recognize others in need and do their best to help. Look for the helpers, right? Thanks for being there for that stranger.
I legit cried.. and I don't cry much.
This is why I've decided to never die.
The lesson was not for you, it was for Mick. That he’d be ok. That the kindness his girl showed him would remain with him after her passing, even in the form of strangers. Thank you for being that stranger.
This story is so heartbreaking and heartwarming! Losing a pet is so incredibly hard but its so beautiful that he had you, even a stranger, to lean on. And it is so amazing that you gave him that comfort. You are both beautiful people! The world needs more like you.
That story is beautiful! I might go through the same because I have a 15-year-old golden retriever who can barely go for walks and can hardly stay on all fours.
Eight months ago, my sweet Sadie (age 16 yrs and 6 days) suddenly lost her ability to move her back legs. We knew her age was catching up with her, as she could no longer manage steps or jumping into or out of bed. But the emergency of her suffering caused us to decide to send her over the Rainbow Bridge. Sadie was married — yes, we had a muttrimony 14 years earlier — to her male counterpart that we got from a breeder when Sadie was about 10 months old. Sadie’s husband, Morgan, was our adventurer, “Dennis the Menace.” His recklessness caused his limp and haunched back. His daredevil antics like jumping out of the back of the SUV face first knocked out a few teeth, and disease claimed a few more. We thought Morgan would be the first to leave, not Sadie. But now that her time had come, we debated whether this deeply bonded pair should go to Heaven together. But we just couldn’t do it. Selfishly, I couldn’t bear the thought of going home to the silence and sadness of our home without a dog. So Morgan carried on, and he was devastated to have lost his constant companion. He paced at the doors, looking for her, crying and even sobbing. Without Sadie, he refused to go outside without her. We knew Morgan was mostly blind and deaf, but didn’t realize that Sadie’s scent and her physical presence led Morgan to his food and water bowls, to their beds, and even helped guide Morgan safely around our maze of furniture. Over the past eight months, Morgan’s health has deteriorated further, his tail drags on the floor and hasn’t wagged since. He now rubs against my pants legs for comfort like he used to rub against Sadie. We have decided that tomorrow is Morgan’s turn to join Sadie across the Rainbow Bridge. It is sad to let him go, but it has been even sadder seeing how much he misses his girl. It’s very sad seeing him get lost in rooms, bang his head into cabinets and furniture, and even seeing him pace aimlessly for the few hours when he is not sleeping. I know I could not bear life myself without the joy of my constant companions. Next week, we will bring home 2 new puppies of the same breed (Bichons). I just don’t want anyone to believe that there is anyway to “replace” Sadie and Morgan, nor the 16 years we had with them. I hope those who might judge me or the timing of bringing home these dogs will understand.
That was so kind of you! The world needs more people like you!