Farewell to Bob (sad content)
Discussion
Sorry to add to the sad dog stories; to all those going through it at the moment I know just how you feel. I've tried to write this for the last two weeks, but tears and glasses don't mix well. It's just too quiet without him.
He turned up just over ten years ago, a stray, the first I knew was the sound of him running in over the kitchen roof to then start barking while sat on the roof of the shed. I made the mistake of going out to see what the racket was about and was met by a whirlwind of daft terrier. I asked around all the neighbours eventually finding one who admitted that this dog had been hanging around for a few days and that they had given him a bit of food. At the time I still had my German Shepherd and did not want another dog so I reported him as a found dog to the police, local RSPCA and dog rescues but agreed to take him in and feed him in the meantime. He was full of worms and mites and had bare patches from scratching himself, so it was a trip straight down to the vets to get him sorted out.
As you can tell he was never claimed, or rehomed I'm just too soft. Initially house-training was a bit of a battle and he did have a tendency to try to steal food, but he settled in well (It took him quite a while to learn to respect the cat, but eventually a peace treaty was signed.)
He was ok with my German Shepherd, but was a liability around other dogs for a long time. He could drive me up the wall and make me laugh, often at the same time. The worry when he would escape and go for a wander, but he always came back. He travelled well and loved trips out in the car, going on holiday and always attracted a fan-club of old ladies who thought he was lovely.
He outlasted Lucy the German Shepherd and the cat but as he was getting on a bit and still a bit insecure around other dogs has been an only dog for the last five years. I've no idea how old he was, he's been with me ten years and the vet thought he was about three when he turned up, but, I thought he'd go on forever.
It's only this last year he started to slow down a bit and back in the summer he started having fits, blood tests were inconclusive but did show problems with his liver leading to a change in diet. Sadly he then suffered a stroke but recovered well and was still getting around, if a bit sideways. He seemed happy enough and was still up for a walk and a cuddle on the sofa, but didn't bother as much with his toys.
Unfortunately he suffered another stroke two weeks ago, he was trying to walk and take himself out, but was stumbling and falling this time he did not recover, we had a couple of days on that weekend where he was carried in and out. He would only eat if hand fed and I knew it was time, so we made the final trip to the vet.
I've been through this before with my other dogs and cats, it never gets any easier; in fact this time it is worse, as before I've still had another dog or cat there to look after and take comfort from. I know he had a good life with me, but I'm feeling quite lost. I know I will go through it again as well, but, I'm not ready yet, he's going to be a hard act to follow.
He turned up just over ten years ago, a stray, the first I knew was the sound of him running in over the kitchen roof to then start barking while sat on the roof of the shed. I made the mistake of going out to see what the racket was about and was met by a whirlwind of daft terrier. I asked around all the neighbours eventually finding one who admitted that this dog had been hanging around for a few days and that they had given him a bit of food. At the time I still had my German Shepherd and did not want another dog so I reported him as a found dog to the police, local RSPCA and dog rescues but agreed to take him in and feed him in the meantime. He was full of worms and mites and had bare patches from scratching himself, so it was a trip straight down to the vets to get him sorted out.
As you can tell he was never claimed, or rehomed I'm just too soft. Initially house-training was a bit of a battle and he did have a tendency to try to steal food, but he settled in well (It took him quite a while to learn to respect the cat, but eventually a peace treaty was signed.)
He was ok with my German Shepherd, but was a liability around other dogs for a long time. He could drive me up the wall and make me laugh, often at the same time. The worry when he would escape and go for a wander, but he always came back. He travelled well and loved trips out in the car, going on holiday and always attracted a fan-club of old ladies who thought he was lovely.
He outlasted Lucy the German Shepherd and the cat but as he was getting on a bit and still a bit insecure around other dogs has been an only dog for the last five years. I've no idea how old he was, he's been with me ten years and the vet thought he was about three when he turned up, but, I thought he'd go on forever.
It's only this last year he started to slow down a bit and back in the summer he started having fits, blood tests were inconclusive but did show problems with his liver leading to a change in diet. Sadly he then suffered a stroke but recovered well and was still getting around, if a bit sideways. He seemed happy enough and was still up for a walk and a cuddle on the sofa, but didn't bother as much with his toys.
Unfortunately he suffered another stroke two weeks ago, he was trying to walk and take himself out, but was stumbling and falling this time he did not recover, we had a couple of days on that weekend where he was carried in and out. He would only eat if hand fed and I knew it was time, so we made the final trip to the vet.
I've been through this before with my other dogs and cats, it never gets any easier; in fact this time it is worse, as before I've still had another dog or cat there to look after and take comfort from. I know he had a good life with me, but I'm feeling quite lost. I know I will go through it again as well, but, I'm not ready yet, he's going to be a hard act to follow.
Can't even imagine how hard these types of post are to write - all I know is that they're chuffin' difficult to read.
So, so sorry for your loss - he looks like just the type of hound I'd go out of my way to say hello to... full of character and adorable-looking
10 years of love and affection from a sad start to life - lucky, lucky Bob, and lucky you
Hold on to your happy memories, and know you did right by him. 
Yours is a similar tale to how we got our boy Diesel. RIP Bob, just try to remember that you took him in and gave him a clean warm bed and filled his belly 
You have my sympathy. We had a rescue dog, she was a Heinz 57 type, just like Bob we didn't know her age but she too was a great character, in the end she passed in similar circumstances. It's always hard when you lose a special animal like that, though you'll always have great memories and stories to tell.
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