Requiem for a Giant who has just left me

[clarkmagpie]

Very well written, You were both lucky to have found each other.
Sounds like he had a wonderful time under your care.

[m3jappa]

Bloody dust.

[essexplumber]

ClassicMercs said:

Excellent piece and a great loss. I love Danes

Better not let Mrs Mercs see - at least for a couple of days.
Its our almost 18yo collie's last night tonight - laying in front of the TV after a night of cuddles.
The legs have finally gone. She's in no pain but must be starting to wonder why she can't move.
We shall treasure our memories like you do yours, and cuddle the other two even more.

Her last night, are you saying goodbye in the morning? You have my sympathy but 18 is some life for a pooch. I dread the day we have to say goodbye to our two.

You have to be a dog person to understand the bond.

[RDMcG]

ClassicMercs said:

Excellent piece and a great loss. I love Danes

Better not let Mrs Mercs see - at least for a couple of days.
Its our almost 18yo collie's last night tonight - laying in front of the TV after a night of cuddles.
The legs have finally gone. She's in no pain but must be starting to wonder why she can't move.
We shall treasure our memories like you do yours, and cuddle the other two even more.

Please accept my sincerest sympathy.
The important thing is that you are with her, and she will of course draw great comfort from your being there at the end of her journey.

[ClassicMercs]

essexplumber said:

Her last night, are you saying goodbye in the morning? You have my sympathy but 18 is some life for a pooch. I dread the day we have to say goodbye to our two.

You have to be a dog person to understand the bond.

We will take the last appointment tomorrow. MrsMercs is at home all day with her baby (got when she left home in her own place).
With the other two in the house we don't want the vet here.

Thanks for your support.

[RDMcG]

ClassicMercs said:

We will take the last appointment tomorrow. MrsMercs is at home all day with her baby (got when she left home in her own place).
With the other two in the house we don't want the vet here.

Thanks for your support.

Best of luck tomorrow.

[frank hovis]

Sorry for the loss
Had me and her indoors in tears reading it

Best of luck with the collie today , as much as it hurts you are doing the right thing

[Karyn]

I read this last night and it had me in tears.

It's only now that I'm brave enough to come back and post... and even now I clicked "reply" at the top of the page so I wouldn't have to scroll past it and see the photos...



A really beautiful tribute, OP. And I'm so, so sorry for your loss.

And ClassicMerc, thinking of you today.





<wet eyes, despite not reading the thread today>

[drichardw]

Hi Ronan,

Your son Andrew is one of my best friends and we even met at the Hyde park hotel when you were in London last to meet with him. We were all wasted, so I don't know if you even remember it! I feel a kinship to you through your son & as a fellow dog lover/owner, I definitely feel for your loss. I'm so sorry for your loss, but thank you on that huge puppy's behalf for giving her such a wonderful and caring home to live out her life. I also thank you for sharing this with us & yes, it definitely brought a tear to my eyes. Your words make me dread my pup getting older, and makes me appreciate him even more today. Thank you and my thoughts are with you today.

Richard.

Edited by drichardw on Monday 12th November 10:54

[RDMcG]

RIchard:

Thank you for the note. Of course, there will be another dog - dog people are just mad enough to do this knowing its inevitable end. This dog was the best I have ever had, though, so it may take a little while.

[RDMcG]

RIchard:

Thank you for the note. Of course, there will be another dog - dog people are just mad enough to do this knowing its inevitable end. This dog was the best I have ever had, though, so it may take a little while.

[mrmaggit]

Beautiful epitaph to a beautiful dog.

[ruff'n'smov]

Not moved in the slightest....just bedding in new contacts...oh I don't wear them.

RIP big Dane

[Davel]

Sadly there comes a time when this is the only and kindest option.

Been there with our German Shepherd some years ago but never forgotten.

Very sad for your loss of such a great friend.

[Piglet]

Karyn said:

I read this last night and it had me in tears.

It's only now that I'm brave enough to come back and post... and even now I clicked "reply" at the top of the page so I wouldn't have to scroll past it and see the photos...



A really beautiful tribute, OP. And I'm so, so sorry for your loss.

And ClassicMerc, thinking of you today.



<wet eyes, despite not reading the thread today>

Exactly this for me...I couldn't put it any better, I couldn't post last night....

[RDMcG]

Well,,Sorry for causing all that grit in the air, but the more forward-looking news is I have started the hunt for a dog in Arizona and the South West. As it happens, the winter house is near ideal for training a young dog..ceramic floors, big back yard, mild weather, long walks, unlike the narrow old urban Victorian in the middle of the city in Toronto.

I will never forget Koda, who has sometimes shown up here on my various road trip threads. A new dog will be different, not a substitute, but a new experience.
The house in Canada bears the marks of our dogs, the long grooves in the old pine from the acceleration of my boxer Chloe as she attempted liftoff for every game ,her scrabbling nail marks still clearly visible , the cosy old beds for the Dane, who used to pick up her bed and carry it around to wherever I was, and now, the silence.

Soon enough there will be more doggy noises and the sadness will fade as it always does to a softer reminiscence of a great time.

Edited by RDMcG on Thursday 5th December 20:09

[wolfy1988]

Just read this after reading your 'On the road 2012'

Thanks for sharing that was a lovely tribute to a lovely dog, made my cry a little.

Pets are a funny thing, I find them a hindrance, there expensive, messy and often smell but I would fight to the death for mine, I absolutely love them.

[PinkRinse]

I'm actually crying at that.. the text was sad enough but when I saw those big eyes... oh lordy

I'm so sad you have lost your friend but take comfort in the joy & laughter he brought in to your lives

[RDMcG]

PinkRinse said:

I'm actually crying at that.. the text was sad enough but when I saw those big eyes... oh lordy

I'm so sad you have lost your friend but take comfort in the joy & laughter he brought in to your lives

There is still an emptiness,but that is the price that we all ultimately pay for pet ownership. However,Spring is coming and hopefully a new Route 66 road giant will place a huge paw in my hand,seeking approval in the dim way of Great Danes, and a new and different adventure will commence

[mrmaggit]

Here's hoping....