When does it get better? Happy Birthday Luther

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

AnubisStar I am so sorry. To handle a dog who has agressionissues is difficult at best. From your post it sounds like you tried many interventions but you had to keep everyone else safe as well. My heart goes out to you. Please take care

[katdog5911]

So sorry for you. Must have been a hard decision. And I totally agree that we humans tend to forget the hard times and lean towards remembering only the good times. Everyone grieves at their own pace....you will know when it is time to get another puppy. It won't replace Luther, your heart just expands a little more to make room for it.

[PatchonGSD]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

I am very sorry.
From personal experience, I can tell you you'll probably wonder almost daily if it was the right thing.
Try to remember the "bad" as much as the good, because it's human nature to romanticize our memories.

That is so true.



I remember reading your post when you first joined the board, and I remember how emotional your posts were when you had to clarify *why* you decided to put him to rest. I could feel your pain and it was so, so clear that you loved him with all your heart and that you put everything you had into helping him but despite all that, he sounded like he was a very stressed out dog to the point that he probably wasnt enjoying his life very much, and that, of course, is no way to live for any being. I think you did the most honorable and loving thing you could do for him by giving him eternal peace and God bless you for having the strength to do it and the wisdom to know it was time.

[blackshep]

Oh no, I'm so sorry. You have me tearing up.

it's a crappy answer but it takes as long as it takes. I just lost my mom and a customer told me just this morning "The hurting will go away, but the void will never be filled". I think it's the same for any creature who stole a part of our hearts.

Your grief is that much worse because of the reasons surrounding it, but I know you made the right decision. The fact that you're so broken up over losing your beautiful boy tells me you did not do this for selfish reasons. Safety is not a selfish reason. The fact that he had some chronic health problems is also not a selfish reason.

I believe in quality vs quantity of life.

In a perfect world, we'd have both, but if we have to make that choice, we have to choose to give our friends a good life - even if that means it's not a long one.

It's ok to feel sad, feel cheated, feel guilty. This is all normal. But know in your heart you made the right choice. He did not suffer, and he loves you still.

Look forward to your new pup! I hope the breeder helps you choose just the right puppy. You are not replacing Luther, nobody will replace him. You're just giving your heart another creature to love.


((hugs))

[Anubis_Star]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUTHER!!!

Today is the 5th, officially his birthday. It has been a pretty rough day. Not only the sadness for Luther, but then I wake up to the first snow fall of the season (snow, YUCK, lol), and we've had several euthanasias at work.

But I appreciate everyone's comments SO much! Thank you everyone. Sometimes it's nice to hear a little reassurance, even though obviously no one else can make that hard decision for you. You are all wonderful.

These are the first 3 photos we ever took of Luther, right after coming home from the breeder. The first photo, we had literally just walked in the front door and wanted to show him off to friends and family.

[Blanketback]

I'm sorry that today is so hard on you. Please take it easy on yourself and know that Luther had some really great years, which is more than some dogs get. And it might also help to remember that not all illnesses are physical. You did the best for him, even if it hurts to think that way.