Last ride for an old friend

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VixChix
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Last ride for an old friend

Post by VixChix »

Today we told our old Airedale girl Trudi what a very good girl she was and we said good-bye.

Trudi was about 13 or 14 yrs old - we don't know since she was a rescue. She'd been having the usual "old dog" problems but she was still good last night - mooching in the spam, a bit of wrestling with Rusty... but we've known that her time was coming - we might have days, weeks, months... but not likely any more years. Then this morning she couldn't get up. Didn't want to get up. Something happened - perhaps a stroke. She was mostly gone.

She'd had some brief episodes in the past which lasted a few hours, but during those she'd try to get up and move. This time was different, there was no spark left, no desire.

I'm grateful that there was no decision to make. I called my wonderful husband Tim at work and he dropped everything, came home to help me load her onto one of her blankets, carry her upstairs and into the van for that last ride. She didn't try to get up, or even move much. There was no doubt this was the day.

Trudi was the best Airegrrrl we could have asked for. She really came into her own when we had Ben (who just turned 6). When he was a newborn she'd whine and come get me when he'd cry. When he learned to crawl she kept him from falling down the stairs. When he started to walk she let him wrap his pudgy toddler fingers in her curls and support him. She was his constant companion in the backyard - I knew I never needed to worry with her there. If something wasn't quite right she'd bark. She turned from a shy 'dale into a canine nanny. We were blessed.

I suspect that God has a place in His heart for animals and I imagine that our faithful companions who teach us so much about love and forgiveness will greet us again someday in eternity. We'll certainly miss her, but we know it is just as it should be. I thank God for the gift of Trudi!

Here is a fellow rescuer's wonderful page about how Trudi came into our lives - there are several pages actually:

http://www.alldogssite.com/parademahn1.html

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Last edited by VixChix on Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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NewGuy
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by NewGuy »

Very sorry for your loss Vix, it's amazing how much a part of our heart these animals become. Our dog is getting up there and i'm not looking forward to that day.
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RexKay
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by RexKay »

Very sad time. Putting a dog down is horrible, but sounds like she had a fulfilled life and glad no decision had to be made. My dogs are my fur kids , they are family. Sorry for your loss.


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wheelie
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by wheelie »

So sorry to hear my friend, we get extemely close to our pets. Don't want them to suffer. You did the right thing for the dog.
TPM
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by TPM »

She was a dog for all seasons. :)

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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by cmawdsley »

I'm truly sorry for your loss. I know how close we are to our dog.

My DW suggested this poem.

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
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secret
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by secret »

Sorry for your loss. Pets are family too!
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Normous
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by Normous »

I also wanted to forward the Rainbow Bridge Poem. I am sorry for your loss.
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onebigskittle
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by onebigskittle »

secret wrote:Sorry for your loss. Pets are family too!
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killshot
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by killshot »

Vix / TPM and family sorry for your loss. We are truly blessed when an animal is brought into our lives and becomes a part of our family.
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by Boo »

It bums me out when every I see these threads, sorry for your loss Tim and Moni.
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by wabi »

Sorry to hear of your loss.
It's never easy to part with a good friend, and she sounds like she was one of the best.
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by Onetimeonly x--> »

Very sorry for your loss! She's not gone, everyone could use a four legged Co-Pilot (Angel) :)
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by gundog »

Sorry for your lose. If we are lucky we get one great dog in our life. Sure sounds like she was your great dog. My best field trial dog has come down with cancer. Dread the day, but I know it will come.
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Re: Last ride for an old friend

Post by georgiaboy »

Sorry to hear of your loss :(
I had to put both my golden's down within the last two yrs. They are truly mans best friend.
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