Dakota

[Renauda]

It’s never easy. Sorry for the family’s loss.

[jon-nyc]

Sorry to hear, man. I somehow missed this thread the first time around.

[LuFins Dad]

@Jolly said in Dakota:

My old border collie was chasing squirrels the week she died (leukemia). Must be something about the breed.

So many dogs have short, brutal lives. Cast off, uncared for, doomed to die unloved. Dakota lived a good life, loved to the end.

Does it get any better than that?

Bad leg and all, Dakota was still going after squirrels just a month ago. I swear they were slowing down on purpose to give her a chance.

[George K]

Bless her. What a good dog.

Dogs always try, don't they.

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in Dakota:

Bless her. What a good dog.

Dogs always try, don't they.

I was using the squirrels, a laser pointer, and her treats as a quality of life indicator. There were rainy days that affected her arthritis on her “good leg” meaning I carried the 50lb girl down and up the outside steps for her to do her business. But if she gave me the grin when I got out the laser pointer out and still wanted to play, all was good.

[kluurs]

They do work their way into our hearts - and never leave. The last week my German Shepherd was alive, he had severe arthritis in his hips. In his prime, he'd catch rabbits and took special delight when he caught the hated squirrels. In any event, during that last week, the squirrel was on a telephone pole taunting him. Duke was still as a statue, but when the squirrel looked away, the dog moved closer and then back to statue mode. After about 10 minutes, the squirrel realized that the dog statue was awfully close and made a move - the last move he ever made as Duke lunged forward and caught him. A good dog is worth their weight in joy. Sorry for your loss.

[Horace]

Rest in peace and in good memories.

[mark]

Sorry to hear this, LD.

[taiwan_girl]

Hugs!

[LuFins Dad]

Weird. 1st night in 15 years where there wasn’t a dog in the house.

[George K]

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

Weird. 1st night in 15 years where there wasn’t a dog in the house.

Weird is one word for it.

Do you have any other animals in the house?

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in Dakota:

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

Weird. 1st night in 15 years where there wasn’t a dog in the house.

Weird is one word for it.

Do you have any other animals in the house?

Nope. We are going to be taking on one of Karla’s clients’ chihuahua when she moves to London next month, but a rodents don’t really count as pets to me.

[Jolly]

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

@George-K said in Dakota:

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

Weird. 1st night in 15 years where there wasn’t a dog in the house.

Weird is one word for it.

Do you have any other animals in the house?

Nope. We are going to be taking on one of Karla’s clients’ chihuahua when she moves to London next month, but a rodents don’t really count as pets to me.

If you do decide to get a real dog, may I suggest...

[George K]

You're the kind of people who need animals.

Really.

Get you some.

rodents don’t really count as pets to me

We had guinea pigs for a while.

Don't do this.

[cathys]

So sorry Lufin, glad you had more good days than expected, Condolences on the loss.

[Doctor Phibes]

So sorry, LD and family. I'm glad you got more time with her at the end than you expected, but I know it's still tough to deal with. Dogs are the best.

[89th]

Very sorry LD and family. Never easy. Glad you had good time with her. If it gives you a chuckle, imagine if Dakota had a chihuahua in the house to chase.

[Mik]

@Jolly said in Dakota:

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

@George-K said in Dakota:

@LuFins-Dad said in Dakota:

Weird. 1st night in 15 years where there wasn’t a dog in the house.

Weird is one word for it.

Do you have any other animals in the house?

Nope. We are going to be taking on one of Karla’s clients’ chihuahua when she moves to London next month, but a rodents don’t really count as pets to me.

If you do decide to get a real dog, may I suggest...

I second that motion

[Jolly]

I had a really, really hard decision this week. I have no house dog for the first time in 30 years. My daughter sent me a text...She knew a family that was moving and could not take their Sheltie with them. Would I be interested? She sent a pic...Dog was an adult sable & white.

Y'all, we just gone through some bad arthritis and dementia issues with our old Sheltie. It's time consuming and ties you down, along with being a problem during the wife's procedures and surgeries. Even a healthy dog demands time.

So...No doggie. We do have a black cat ( Damn, how have I fallen this low? ) puttering about the house. At least he thinks he's a dog...But he's a lot less trouble.

Man, but was I tempted...

[LuFins Dad]

@Jolly said in Dakota:

I had a really, really hard decision this week. I have no house dog for the first time in 30 years. My daughter sent me a text...She knew a family that was moving and could not take their Sheltie with them. Would I be interested? She sent a pic...Dog was an adult sable & white.

Y'all, we just gone through some bad arthritis and dementia issues with our old Sheltie. It's time consuming and ties you down, along with being a problem during the wife's procedures and surgeries. Even a healthy dog demands time.

So...No doggie. We do have a black cat ( Damn, how have I fallen this low? ) puttering about the house. At least he thinks he's a dog...But he's a lot less trouble.

Man, but was I tempted...

I hear ya. There’s a part of me that would like to take a year or two without any pets to have to negotiate our schedules with.

But, if that Chihuahua is going to mess with our timing, then I should have a real dog in the house.