It's just a dog.

[liv2ski]

Yup, that was a good laugh

[old goat]

I watched a piece on TV about a lab at Harvard that is working on extending life by replacing worn out genes with new copies. It works in rats. They're about to start clinical trials on dogs. AFAIC if it works in dogs they can stop right there. We don't need people to live longer. (We don't need rats to live any longer either.)

[neufox47]

I watched a piece on TV about a lab at Harvard that is working on extending life by replacing worn out genes with new copies. It works in rats. They're about to start clinical trials on dogs. AFAIC if it works in dogs they can stop right there. We don't need people to live longer. (We don't need rats to live any longer either.)

Man, imagine if you could have a dog that would live 20-30 years.

[skiJ]

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or "That's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed when my only company was "just a dog", but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog", then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise", or "just a promise".

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand >that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile, because they "just don't understand."

... appears it is time again to bump BSS' 0P, Just to remember ( his thread is a Celebration of the Joy and the Happiness we get from Good dogs...


... Some Great tributes Here ! !!!


Now - back to the Action...

" You tell 'em, 'Blue' ! !! " tj

[Cono Este]

It’s been just over a yr for me. At first I was so busy with life I did not realize the impact the loss had on me. Being divorced, living alone, was not good. It’s just a dog, right? Wrong. I seriously had a melt down when things slowed down this time last yr. Being responsible for another life, a companion that is always dependent on you, really gives you purpose and pleasure.

It was so bad, I’ve been afraid to get another dog. I’ve thought about all those times even other dog owners could not understand the bond I had with Kip., and maybe I don’t need to do that to myself again.

Last Friday I had a business appt with a woman who revealed she was a breeder and had some pups left. I’ve got a few weeks before I know about a job opportunity, but I may be ready to take the leep again if it falls through.

I’ve been taking my kids dog out to get back into the swing of things.






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[old goat]

Man, imagine if you could have a dog that would live 20-30 years.

friends of ours have a 50 year old parrot. That old thing is very cranky, like most old people.

[Angle Parking]

Man, imagine if you could have a dog that would live 20-30 years.

Would have loved to have gotten more years out my hounds. Dog life expectancy is tragically short.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Loki is 15; nearing the end of the line. All things must pass.

Bacon Day is on the horizon, goddammit.

[riser4]

friends of ours have a 50 year old parrot. That old thing is very cranky, like most old people.

OMG. I can just imagine how it comes accross in it's voice. Hilarious if you don't have to live with it.

[riser4]

Loki is 15; nearing the end of the line. All things must pass.

Bacon Day is on the horizon, goddammit.

Vibes.

[PNWbrit]

Loki is 15; nearing the end of the line. All things must pass.

Bacon Day is on the horizon, goddammit.

Loki looks like he's one of the best dogs.

Edit: she.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Oh, she is a total sweetheart. Pure love.

[ACH]

Oh, she is a total sweetheart. Pure love.

I heart the OT's!
I'll bet she's a total sweetheart.

[::: :::]

FC, best to Loki...she's a good girl

[MontuckyFried]

It pains me to make this post, but just wanted to share a bit of the great life of my little buddy who left us on Monday evening. Maddie (a super fit German Shorthaired Pointer/Lab mutt) was already a few years old when I met my wife and I was glad to get nearly a decade with her. She was 13 when she died, so definitely lived a good and VERY full, active life.

Here she is as a pup:


We had fun skiing Red Lodge together after the mountain closed. Here she is hauling balls down the mountain chasing my wife:




We lived in Lewistown for a while, where she LOVED her daily swims in the Big Spring Creek:




At Crystal Lake, MT:


Then living in Big Sky afforded her the best life a dog could EVER ask for with many, many, many hikes:


When we had our children, she became a wonderful nanny dog (there's that lab for ya), who guarded our newborns like a hawk:


Bud sadly for the old girl who wanted nothing more than to have children around, she was elderly by the time we had them. She LOVED kids and would always freak out when any children were around. She started to become a bit more stoic and aloof than she used to be. Here she is looking pensive out our back door which overlooked a beautiful mountain ridge:


She had been going downhill for nearly a year now, but lately her hip dysplasia really caught up to her and she couldn't get up on her own or lay down. We took her to the vet to get a wellness check and they informed us that her time was getting near. We took her home and I ran to the grocery store to buy her a big juicy steak. Have been really pampering her these last couple of weeks with lots of yummy treats, cuddles, and all the table scraps she'd always begged for but never got until now.



After a rough weekend where it was clear she was suffering, we knew it was time. It was tough for us to accept, as she was a tough old thing and NEVER wanted to indicate pain in front of our other dog who was really starting to try and assert herself and take over as alpha, so she never cried, whimpered, barked, or anything. Took it all in stride like the tough little badass she was. I went to the store on Monday to buy her more steak and a big slab of bacon for her which I cooked up an hour before she died. Her final meal:


Lastly, here's some dock diving stoke from Flathead Lake. Man that dog was athletic:


When we took her to the vet, I carried her in since she could barely walk. We laid down her favorite big blanket for her, and she curled up and put her head on my lap. She seemed very much at peace for the first time in a while. After she went to sleep, I bawled like a little baby (which I wasn't expecting since I never do, we wrapped her up in the blanket, and took her to some land my sister lives on where we got to bury her by an old oak tree. We gave her a nice little funeral, all said a few words about our favorite memories with her, the kids gave her one final pat on the head, and all participated in shoveling the dirt. It really was beautiful and a good send off for a rad dog who brought our little family a ton of joy.

You'll be missed, ol' girl. Thanks for the great journey we've had together.

[Danno]

Sorry for your loss.

Just came across this, a good read for anyone with animals: https://melnewton.com/2019/the-good-death/

[jackattack]

Sorry for you loss.

I still miss my boy every day. He would have been 12 last Saturday. RIP

[BigDaddy]

Sorry for loss Austin, but sounds like she like she had a great life and certainly enhanced yours. Still doesn't make it any easier, tho.

Thanks for sharing some of her fun times and reminding us to enjoy our short time together. RIP to your amazing girl.

[PNWbrit]

She sounds like she was one of the best dogs Austin.

Thanks for sharing her story

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[iceman]

Took from Monday to today to get a diagnosis of Histiocytic Sarcoma for Hook. That’s not good. Tomorrow morning he goes in to see how far it has spread. Been tough around here the past couple days. The only one who seems fine with it all is Hook.

[Cono Este]

God speed Maddie. Sounds like you gave her a magnificent life.





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[Ted Striker]

goddamnit I hate this thread.

my sympathies to everyone.

[jm2e]

Ice, sorry to hear about Hook. Hope it’s localized and you can get some more time with him.


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[ACH]

I am sorry for your loss Austin.
That was a touching tribute, it's clear Maddie had a great life with you.
RIP Maddie.

:::

Ice, sorry to hear that about Hook.

[/heavy sigh]

[PNWbrit]

Hang in there Hook.