Sad News

Samba · 10-01-04, 03:45 PM

A short time ago I received a phone call from my brother informing me that one of my dogs died. It's not S80 or Cedar, they are fine, and still kinda getting along.

This dog's name was (is) Joey. She was born Oct. 30 quite a few years ago. She was an old dog, and the daughter of my very first dog, Whitney, who passed away in 2001 at an estimated age of 13 or 14.

Joey's brother, Chief (or Cheese, as I affectionately call him), was the main reason I was never able to move out with her. I had longed many a time to bring my dear Jo Jo with me when I moved out... But sweet Chief would always cry and howl for her until I brought her back (they remained with my mother). I could never even walk the dogs separately.

I hear from my brother that Chief doesn't seem to know what has happened. (In fact, he says he's acting normal). Perhaps, since they shared the same kennel at night, he had his chance to say goodbye. We are still skeptical of how he'll react in a few days.

In her memory, here are a few photos of Jo taken just over the Fourth of July Holiday. They're not great, but they're all I have now...

Her sweet face...

Another shot, inside the Kennel... if you look closely, you can see the cancerous mass on one of her mammary glands. She had been taken and tested by a vet, but was not a candidate for surgery because of her age. My mother had planned to have her put down when her "smile" went away and she could no longer function, or was in visable pain...

She and her Brother, Chief... (You can't tell but he was 'kissing' her)...

R.I.P. Jo ... I had been looking forward to celebrating your birthday with you...

Syco · 10-01-04, 05:13 PM

I am so sorry Samba, they always have a place in our hearts don't they. I'm sure she knew she was loved.

Rebecca · 10-01-04, 11:45 PM

I'm sorry for your loss. It sucks big time when we loose a close friend. I hope chief gets through it all right as well.

capsicum · 10-02-04, 11:26 AM

So sorry Samba {{{hugs}}}

TK

Kara · 10-02-04, 02:23 PM

Sorry for your loss. Its so sad when a pet passes away, they are so much a part of our families.
Hugs

treegirl · 10-02-04, 06:18 PM

aww--- I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

I know how connected you are to your animal friends. Seems like your pup had a wonderful life.....

warm wishes to you....

d.

damzookeeper · 10-02-04, 07:12 PM

sorry to hear of your loss Samba. She was a beautiful girl.

Samba · 10-05-04, 09:40 AM

Thanks, you guys. It's a hard hit... I mean, I knew she didn't have much more time, but I didn't expect her to go so quickly.

I guess the hardest part is kinda knowing that I'm losing another piece of Whitney, my very first dog (whom my uncle gave me on Easter when I was around 7 or 8 years old).

Now all I've got is Chief, and from what my mother tells me, he howls at night. She said it seems like he's mourning, and she's not sure what's going to happen to him. They were very close.

Thanks for all your kind words, they've meant a lot to me...

Linds · 10-05-04, 09:57 AM

So sorry to hear she passed

Yesterday we had to have one of our dogs of 11 years put down, so I am hurting right along side of you. Hopefully Cheif is ok through it all, I would be worried considering the extreme attachment. My dog was a day away from being put on IV fluids for refusal to eat when one of our dogs passed away (and they didn't have anywhere the attachment you described of your dogs), he refused everything from treats to a turkey dinner with all the fixings. The only thing that got him eating was a rescue we took in (the one we had put down yesterday

).

Samba · 10-05-04, 10:30 AM

Linds, I'M sorry to hear of your loss... it sucks big time... You never really know how much your pets mean to you until they're gone and you don't see them anymore.

My only worry is that Chief will have to be put down because he's been very depressed. He wasn't at first, but now it's sinking in for him. My mom says the howling at night is enough to move anyone to tears. And how can you comfort him? He misses his sister.

I would take Chief with me now if I hadn't gotten a new pup for my S80, so I'm conflicted as to what to do...

I don't know what I can do to ease his pain because I know nothing has helped me so far...

They always kind of reminded me of "Old Dan" and "Little Ann" from that book "Where the Red Fern Grows". I just hope Chief doesn't go down the same road Little Ann did in that book... it would be too much to take at one time....