My daughter's dog is being put down this afternoon

[Serial Mom]

So sad - I've been crying a lot the past few days, but know it is for the best.

Her "Sammy dog" just turned 6 yesterday, but has to be put down. He is the most loving well behaved dog I have ever seen/known. He is an all black part staffordshire terrier/american bull terrier with a little chow in him (tongue had black/purple spots and his tail curled up like a chow). Her cat which was a little older than Sammy, raised him - he wouldn't even eat his food until the cat smelled his food, tasted a bite or two and then walked away.

After weeks of tests (and almost $2,000 - it was as much as we could afford with my husband out of work and my daughter a single mom with no child support), specialist vets couldn't come up with anything definitive, except to think he had some type of cancer. He had was losing weight and had extremely low red blood cell count. He survived 3 months when vets thought he had only about 3 days when we brought him home end of Janauary, but he is so skinny, literally skin and bones, the time had come.

Anybody know any good books for my 12 yr old grandson to read about grieving and/or losing a pet?

[ewagner]

1. cmt

I am so sorry. Just went through this a week ago Thursday and your post reminds me of ita ll over again.

I don't know what to tell your grandson. Except to love him and comfort him as much as you can.

:cry:

[VolcanoJen]

2. Oh!!!

Sweet little Sammy. How sad for you and your family, cmt928.

I remember when I was 12 and we put down the family dog, Licorice. My dad said to me, "You will find dog love again," and about a month later, we went to the pound and adopted a new little guy who desperately needed our love.

There are no happy endings for dog-lovers... and it's a horrible, awful thing that you never really get over. Just remember, the best way to ease Sammy's soul is to adopt another dog, in the near future, after your family has healed a bit. And don't forget to always have photos of Sammy around the house, so that you always remember him, and the love he gave you.

:-( :-( :-(

I'm so sorry, cmt. :-(

[ewagner]

4. I got a card from the Vets

that summed it up rather nicely:

The lives of dogs are entirely too short, their only fault really. believe the quote was from Aldus.

[livetohike]

3. My sympathy to you and your family

I know of one book that would be great for your grandson. It's "A Special Place for Charlee" by Debby Morehead.

Here is a relatively new book for adults that was recommended to me last year after we had to put down our old friend Ranger. "Grieving the Death of a Pet" by Betty J. Carmack . In thinking about this, I think a 12 year old could also read this.

[Serial Mom]

5. Thanks to all . . just really needed some words

and of course, I knew people here would respond.

I will check out the books and hope to get them to Jake (my grandson) in the next day or two.

:cry:

[madmax]

6. For your Grandson, cmt

http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm

:hug:

[CO Liberal]

9. I Love The Rainbow Bridge Site

It was a great comfort to my wife and me when we lost our cat Sweetpea and our dog Cooter.

I recommend that site to anyone who has lost a "fur baby"...

[OneBlueSky]

7. so sorry . . . here's a website that may help . . .

you can post remembrances of your pet and get lots of support from others who have lost theirs . . .

http://pub70.ezboard.com/fpetlossfrm1

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. I'm so sorry...

~sending hugs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. My thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with you and your family

:hug:

I know just how hard it can be. Please remember all the good times your family shared with Sammy and the happy life he had with your daughter and grandson...