RIP "Hallie"

[oujour76]

I know there are several dog lovers on here who can relate...sad day for the family as we had to euthanize Hallie, our Golden Retriever earlier today. Far too young...only 7 1/2 years old. She had metastatic cancer in 3 places...lungs, abdomen and spleen. We got the diagnosis last Friday...a week ago today. Brought her home last Saturday and had the kids home for Thanksgiving so she (and we) got to say our goodbyes and take care of her. Slept with her on the floor for the last week...her spirit was willing, but her body gave out. By Thanksgiving night, her back legs couldn't support her and she couldn't go to the bathroom at all...I had to hold her in my arms  so she could urinate. So...today, my wife and two children took her to the vet and spent the longest 45 minutes of my life. We'll cremate her and put her ashes in the flower bed she used to lie down in. These photos are of her when she was a puppy, sitting in the yard last summer and the last one is her licking a frozen ice cream treat just a couple of days ago. It was one of the ways we kept her hydrated. She was a great dog...I absolutely loved that animal and will miss her more than I can ever put into words. RIP Hallie.

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[Buckeye Dale]

Nov 25, 2016 18:09:32 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

I know there are several dog lovers on here who can relate...sad day for the family as we had to euthanize Hallie, our Golden Retriever earlier today. Far too young...only 7 1/2 years old. She had metastatic cancer in 3 places...lungs, abdomen and spleen. We got the diagnosis last Friday...a week ago today. Brought her home last Saturday and had the kids home for Thanksgiving so she (and we) got to say our goodbyes and take care of her. Slept with her on the floor for the last week...her spirit was willing, but her body gave out. By Thanksgiving night, her back legs couldn't support her and she couldn't go to the bathroom at all...I had to hold her in my arms  so she could urinate. So...today, my wife and two children took her to the vet and spent the longest 45 minutes of my life. We'll cremate her and put her ashes in the flower bed she used to lie down in. These photos are of her when she was a puppy, sitting in the yard last summer and the last one is her licking a frozen ice cream treat just a couple of days ago. It was one of the ways we kept her hydrated. She was a great dog...I absolutely loved that animal and will miss her more than I can ever put into words. RIP Hallie.

Hey, hang in there.  No one knows how much it hurts but you, and how much it affects your whole self and outlook.  I had dogs thru my entire childhood, and got one of my parents' black shepherd pups when they had her bred.  Beautiful dog.  Left her there when I joined the Army, and when our daughter was in kindergarten, the dog's twin followed her home from school one afternoon.  I was on orders, and tried to turn him loose, but he kept coming back, and sleeping on our back step.  So we kept him...the first one had been named Belle (registered name was La Belle Noir), so we named him Beau.  The vet figured he was between 3-5.  Moved with him from Washington, to Missouri, to Ohio, to New York.  I came home from PT on Colleen's 15th birthday, and he was having some kind of seizure, or something.  He hadn't been well, and his feet had swollen, and I took him to the vet and they said his heart was giving out, and he was in pain.  I held him as they put him down. That was in '91, and I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it.  And haven't had another dog since.
She was a beautiful dog.

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Hallie crossed the Rainbow Bridge and is playing happily in green fields and blue skies.

[oujour76]

Nov 25, 2016 19:13:39 GMT -5 Buckeye Dale said:

Hey, hang in there.  No one knows how much it hurts but you, and how much it affects your whole self and outlook.  I had dogs thru my entire childhood, and got one of my parents' black shepherd pups when they had her bred.  Beautiful dog.  Left her there when I joined the Army, and when our daughter was in kindergarten, the dog's twin followed her home from school one afternoon.  I was on orders, and tried to turn him loose, but he kept coming back, and sleeping on our back step.  So we kept him...the first one had been named Belle (registered name was La Belle Noir), so we named him Beau.  The vet figured he was between 3-5.  Moved with him from Washington, to Missouri, to Ohio, to New York.  I came home from PT on Colleen's 15th birthday, and he was having some kind of seizure, or something.  He hadn't been well, and his feet had swollen, and I took him to the vet and they said his heart was giving out, and he was in pain.  I held him as they put him down. That was in '91, and I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it.  And haven't had another dog since.
She was a beautiful dog.[/quote]

Thanks, Dale. Appreciate it very much. Clear that you get it when it comes to dogs...amazing how deep they burrow into our hearts, isn't it? Even after they're gone. So hard to let them go.

[oujour76]

Nov 25, 2016 19:20:02 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

I'm so sorry for your loss. Hallie crossed the Rainbow Bridge and is playing happily in green fields and blue skies.

Thanks, Fred. I really appreciate it. She was a great, great dog. I'm sure you've had some great ones as well.

[Deleted]

When I lost my German Shepherd, Dusty, I was busted up for a quite awhile. Still get misty thinking about what a great dog she was...
I choose to believe that Dusty and Hallie are now best friends.

[oujour76]

Nov 25, 2016 20:21:40 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

When I lost my German Shepherd, Dusty, I was busted up for a quite awhile. Still get misty thinking about what a great dog she was...
I choose to believe that Dusty and Hallie are now best friends.

I believe it too.

[daleko]

Nov 25, 2016 18:09:32 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

I know there are several dog lovers on here who can relate...sad day for the family as we had to euthanize Hallie, our Golden Retriever earlier today. Far too young...only 7 1/2 years old. She had metastatic cancer in 3 places...lungs, abdomen and spleen. We got the diagnosis last Friday...a week ago today. Brought her home last Saturday and had the kids home for Thanksgiving so she (and we) got to say our goodbyes and take care of her. Slept with her on the floor for the last week...her spirit was willing, but her body gave out. By Thanksgiving night, her back legs couldn't support her and she couldn't go to the bathroom at all...I had to hold her in my arms  so she could urinate. So...today, my wife and two children took her to the vet and spent the longest 45 minutes of my life. We'll cremate her and put her ashes in the flower bed she used to lie down in. These photos are of her when she was a puppy, sitting in the yard last summer and the last one is her licking a frozen ice cream treat just a couple of days ago. It was one of the ways we kept her hydrated. She was a great dog...I absolutely loved that animal and will miss her more than I can ever put into words. RIP Hallie.

In support I fell your pain. Lost Kelly Girl a yr last August. Beyond tuff for the boys she helped raise. She was the last pet for me. Son #2 came back this summer w Kelly a Black Lab and the cycle continues for all of us. Xpt that it'll be through him.

[AlaCowboy]

So sorry for you and your family. Pets are family too. I've held a few of my buddies while they went to sleep. It is a difficult time. But she's now catching all those rabbits she chased in her dreams, and waiting patiently until she is reunited with you for eternity.

[oujour76]

Nov 25, 2016 21:50:56 GMT -5 daleko said:

In support I fell your pain. Lost Kelly Girl a yr last August. Beyond tuff for the boys she helped raise. She was the last pet for me. Son #2 came back this summer w Kelly a Black Lab and the cycle continues for all of us. Xpt that it'll be through him.

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I remember when you posted about losing your dog and how difficult it was. Yes, it is painful, but (unfortunately) all part of the deal in having pets. Went to the vets office this morning to make the arrangements and was all I could do to not cry like a baby. Hallie was only 7...way too young. I'll put this last week out of my mind and instead will remember the good times and how she always met me at the door with a smile on her face. She will always have a place in my heart. We still have a Black Lab and we love her to death as well. Different personality than the Golden, but still a great dog.

[oujour76]

Nov 25, 2016 22:39:09 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

So sorry for you and your family. Pets are family too. I've held a few of my buddies while they went to sleep. It is a difficult time. But she's now catching all those rabbits she chased in her dreams, and waiting patiently until she is reunited with you for eternity.

Thanks, Cowboy. Yes, they are family and she never got a rabbit, but she did get a squirrel once. She was proud as hell. Looking forward to seeing her again someday.

[oldgraylady]

Nov 25, 2016 18:09:32 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

I know there are several dog lovers on here who can relate...sad day for the family as we had to euthanize Hallie, our Golden Retriever earlier today. Far too young...only 7 1/2 years old. She had metastatic cancer in 3 places...lungs, abdomen and spleen. We got the diagnosis last Friday...a week ago today. Brought her home last Saturday and had the kids home for Thanksgiving so she (and we) got to say our goodbyes and take care of her. Slept with her on the floor for the last week...her spirit was willing, but her body gave out. By Thanksgiving night, her back legs couldn't support her and she couldn't go to the bathroom at all...I had to hold her in my arms  so she could urinate. So...today, my wife and two children took her to the vet and spent the longest 45 minutes of my life. We'll cremate her and put her ashes in the flower bed she used to lie down in. These photos are of her when she was a puppy, sitting in the yard last summer and the last one is her licking a frozen ice cream treat just a couple of days ago. It was one of the ways we kept her hydrated. She was a great dog...I absolutely loved that animal and will miss her more than I can ever put into words. RIP Hallie.

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So sorry Harry. It's hard to lose a pet who has given you and your family much faithful companionship and joy. Hallie was a part of your family and you will always miss her, but in time you will remember the good times and smile. Thanks for posting pics of Hallie. She looked like a lovely dog.

[oujour76]

Nov 26, 2016 4:15:14 GMT -5 oldgraylady said:

So sorry Harry. It's hard to lose a pet who has given you and your family much faithful companionship and joy. Hallie was a part of your family and you will always miss her, but in time you will remember the good times and smile. Thanks for posting pics of Hallie. She looked like a lovely dog.

Thanks, OGL. She was a great dog and I'll remember only the good times with her...of which there were many. I will always smile when I think of her.

[drjensen]

So sorry Harry, I think I wrote my condolences on FB. We too had a Golden Retriever we had to put down. That dog was such a great companion. I feel your pain and know it is bad. Take care.

[oujour76]

Nov 26, 2016 11:09:53 GMT -5 drjensen said:

So sorry Harry, I think I wrote my condolences on FB. We too had a Golden Retriever we had to put down. That dog was such a great companion. I feel your pain and know it is bad. Take care.

Thanks, Doc...I saw the FB notice as well. All dogs get in your heart, but Goldens just seem to burrow in there and take up residence. I know you understand what I mean. Putting her down was very hard to do. Necessary, but still very hard.