I need your good thoughts this week

[RT Atlanta]

It's a tough week here - my family and I are going to have to put down our 9 1/2 year old English Bulldog this week (cancer in his lymph nodes that's rapidly affecting his body - already lost a lot of weight and not eating too). We've had Luther since he was a puppy and he was mine and my wife's "first child." 3 children later and now my oldest two are old enough to understand that he's very sick and that Lu's very likely not going to be with us much longer. I know it's the right thing to do, but that doesn't make it any easier. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Cheers!

[femmocrat]

1. Awww..... so sorry, RT Atlanta.

Pleasse find solace in knowing that you gave him a loving home for all those years and did everything you could for him.

:hug:

[Lil Missy]

2. Aww, I am so sorry.

I still have my original fur-babies, and have never lost one.

I know it will hurt like a bitch when I do lose one of them. :-(

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. So hard to watch a loved one waste away

All I can offer is :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Blue Diadem]

4. hugs to you and your family.

RT, I'm sorry you and your family are going through this. :grouphug:

[stuntcat]

5. hugs for Luther

all the animals we love have to pass before us. We can just help them through life.. that's what the kids can learn now, it's so rewarding to have animals to love and take care of and share your life. Luther's life's been very important.

[Brigid]

6. For you and your family . . .

and for Lu: :hug:

[RT Atlanta]

7. Follow up

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts last night. Well, this morning has been one of the more emotional ones that my family and I have had in a while. We decided to put Lu down today - I was going to take him to the vet when they opened. Seeing Lu when I woke up this morning, I knew this was the right decision. His breathing was very shallow and he was walking with a lot of pain - no way for your beloved pet to live. Well, Lu followed me in to the kitchen (like he usually does) and was watching me while I got breakfast ready. I noticed his breathing was getting more shallow and that he a very distant look in his eyes. The next thing I knew, while still standing, Lu was having some form of seizure (not violent shakes, but like a shiver). He slowly sat himself down on the floor and stretched out (like he was going to sleep) and that was it - he passed on right as I was sitting beside him telling him it was okay to go. Fortunately, my girls had seen him a few minutes before and told him they loved him. I went and told my wife (who was with our 1 year old) that Lu had died and she and our son, along with our girls all sat down beside Lu and cried. In the end, we were glad that Lu died in his house where he was most comfortable.

This was definitely a "circle of life" moment for our girls and a good learning experience for them (and me too).

I'll be an emotional roller coaster the rest of the day, but thank you again to all who posted with your kind thoughts - they mean a lot.

[applegrove]

8. vibes to your family

[Shell Beau]

9. I am sorry! Losing a pet is so hard!

:hug: