Pat the Dog

[Ned Kelly]

I buried me best mate about an hour ago, he was with me for the last 7 years, I rescued him from the local pound when he was on death row, He was a bassenji /jack russell cross. A more loyal dog you would not meet but what a guts he would eat anything and everything and in fact ate 3 of my chooks.
Last week i noticed he was looking very skinny so i took him down the vets and they tried various treatments on him all to no avail, yesterday they took xrays and noticed there was a blockage in his lower intestine, so they rang me and said they would like to do some exploratory surgery to see what was gong on so i said go ahead, i had another phone call this afternoon to say what they found was a tumour, they said there was no hope for him and asked for my permission to euthanise Pat on the operating table, I gave it!
I brought him home this afternoon and buried him with full honours next to his favourite tree!
RIP PAT SADLY MISSED! Thats Pat on the right!

[fullastern]

Sorry to hear that Ned. I know what it's like to lose a pet you've had for a long time. I had a few dogs myself years ago and they are great company. It's almost like losing a family member and I can see you really cared for this guy. He looks like a bit of a character too.

[Ned Kelly]

Thanx Fulla, He was a great character and a great m8, Silly bugger here was cryin his eyes out. Such is Life!

[Katy]

(((((((((hugs)))))))))Ned

[Ned Kelly]

Thanx Katy That was a much appreciated hug!

[Kieran]

I had a Jack H just like him Ned about 12 years ago. She was called Ruby. A great and loyal dog just like your fella. One day a neighbour knocked on the door to say she had been knocked down by the side of the road. When I reached her she was dead and I carried her home in my arms to bury her. She remained warm for more than an hour after as she was carrying pups at the time. A sad affair indeed, so I know what you must have went through!

[Ned Kelly]

Thanx Kieran,I bet you cried yer eyes out just like Mise?

My dog died ! Guest Author - Susanna Duffy

Pets provide an unconditional love that requires very little on the part of the human.

Animals are so special to those of us who love them. We miss them when they are no longer with us. We grieve for them in ways which are just the same as grieving for a human loved one.

Whether the end comes through old age, illness, sudden death, or euthanasia, the death of a pet can cause enormous feelings of sorrow, guilt, and loneliness for children and adults alike. Yet pet owners are often inhibited in their very real grief, even if the animal was considered a fully-fledged family member, a child's favoured playmate, or an older person's loyal and faithful companion.

Pet owners in grief are largely misunderstood and can even be ridiculed by friends and by society in general.

Some people don’t want a pet because they do die ! It's understandable to be reluctant to expose yourself to death but, at the same time, we become immeasurably more human because our animals die.

The death of a pet can make us wrestle with our belief structure - a natural part of the grieving process. Whether grieving an animal or human, we question our beliefs and many people find their belief structure becomes stronger when they ask themselves hard questions. Others find an new way of acceptance.

We use some kind of visualisation during our grieving process, imagining our loved ones in a beautiful place of peace and tranquil beauty, filled with light and flowers. Many of us see out deceased animals in this same place. This can be helpful and can provide some peace for those who are grieving.

And we learn from our animals. Animals aren't afraid to die, they show us that the end of life can be faced without fear. They can teach us to accept death as an opening for love and wonder.

Allow yourself to grieve in whatever way is appropriate for you. The loss of a pet is real grief and causes us to travel through the stages of grief - denial, anger, depression, guilt, and acceptance. These stages must be lived through for the mourning process to allow full healing.

[Kieran]

A pets love is unconditional!

[Kieran]

When I was about ten or eleven, my best friend Bruce the mongrel, was knocked down and killed by a local priest. (A genuine accident) but I held a grudge for years over it. I thought the world had ended that day!

[Ned Kelly]

Unconditional love from a pet nothing matches it, humans cannot love unconditionally because that is the human condition. Mind you a mothers love for their children comes very close to being unconditional. We as fathers often judge our children even though we love them it does come with conditions. Anyways i have gone a bit off the point!
R.I.P. Bruce!

[Kieran]

The reason Bruce was special, was because a few older lads in my street were calling to a house to collect a pup each that day. I was only tagging along so when the litter was shown to us, i was left to pick the least good looking one. as it turned out, my one bruce ended up as being the best, fastest, a great hunter and extemely loyal. Every day when I entered the top of my street on the way home from school, I'd give a whistle and he would bolt towards me with his ears back like a grey hound. I knew when he died I never get one to match him, and I never did! Thansk for your comments Ned!

[Ned Kelly]

I have only the wan dog left now, he is the wan on the left, the black fella, we named him Houdini, Houdi for short, The first day i got him from the pound he escaped 7 times from the supposedly secure backyard, Hence the name, The whole of the backyard is fenced so I did'nt have a clue how the hell he was gettin out until wan day i saw the lil fecker climbing a tree and then jumpin over the fence to the other side, he never ran away just used to sun himself out the front and when mise got home he would walk casual as u like into the carport as if to say listen here sunshine I"ll decide where my boundaries are!Fecker! but I tell you what nothin keeps him in if he decides to go for a wander but he always turns up at dinnertime!

[Mike]

We have a 14 yr old black Lab, herself's dog initially. I can't even give out to it. Imagine how thats gonna be missed. Poor dog is finding it hard to walk these days though.

[Ned Kelly]

Mike your Lab is probably in it its last year , make the most of it m8, spoil it rotten, give it as much affection as you can cos when there gone there gone!Such is Life!

[Kieran]

Angela and I rounded a corner not far from home yesterday and saw our own pet cat splattered on the road. Some B drove over him and kept going. I had to pick him up put him in the back of the car and bury him at home. The force of the blow forced his eye out of the socket. terrible business. Angela was gutted as she was really attached to him. only the day before while she was in bed with a bad migrane, he was cuddled up to her. He always sensed when she was ill and used cuddle by her. His name was casper -his a real one now!

[Katy]

OMG.....Kieran that was terrible.....give Angela a ((((((Hug))))))) so sorry .....any pet is a major part of the family, aahh!! so so sorry.

[Ned Kelly]

Condolences to the Mac family on the loss of Casper, Poor bugger.

[Kieran]

Nice one Ned and Katy -Thanks!