[lapyignipinge]

I have a 12 year old and I avoid the thought. She's living until she's 18, she has a job to perform as my best friend.

[stutnerman]

muttkip hun you worry about the negative things in life to much, just live every day like it will be your last and you will be a lot happier you can't dwell on the negatives or you will be depressed all the time (i know trust me) and hell as long as he is healthy and you keep him in good shape you still have quite a few years with him he could live to be 20 you just never know

Here, here! Today could be your last day with him. Or it could be 10 years from now. Just enjoy the time you have and never take a single day for granted.

[freevideom]

what to do when that time comes... well you have no choice, you deal with it....
the only way to avoid that is not have a dog....or die first.
death is the price of life, it is what you pay for all the love and joy you experience... and for all the wonder I have seen, it is a small price.

This is awesome!

My husky has an autoimmune disorder. She's doing well now but she's going to be on drugs for the rest of her life that are ultimately hard on her organs.

The drugs also significantly lower her immune system which makes her susceptable to pretty much everything. She's already nearly died once from a case of pneumonia she caught.

She's 3 years old and doing really well now, but I know that that could change at any time with her.

The part that I find most soothing in considering something happening to her, is the fact that I know I've given her an amazing life and am giving her all the care she could possibly need to thrive.

I think about what would have happened if someone else owned her and she got sick with her disorder. She could have easily ended up in the pound or on craigslist or with owners unwilling or unable to do all the things she needs.

So as agonizing as it is to think about her or any of my dogs being gone, I'm comforted by the fact that they are living the highest quality of life while they're here.

[Niiinioa]

I have a 12 year old and I avoid the thought. She's living until she's 18, she has a job to perform as my best friend.

I like this post....just lost my GSD of 12 yrs last april.it was very hard
he died in his sleep.Thank god he went peacefully.i couldnt let him go i couldnt....
Now that i got Deisel i kinda hold back a little,sounds stupid but i
know Brownie would probably be a little jealous looking down.i dont
know........Just enjoy what you got,beau's a soldier.

[tweriaroats]

We have a poster sized professional protrait done of our girl Hannah before she's gotten too gray in the muzzle. It is a great shot and hanging in our living room. I push those thoughts out of my mind because .....I am already starting to choke up. I know it will be hard and I know I will soldier on but the hole she one day will leave will be a chasm. In the meantime, we are having fun and I tell her every day how much I love her.

[igs00r]

I'd rather not think about that right now to be honest. I lost 2 of my old dogs within 2 months of each other and another one of my old dogs less than a year later.

Life with our pets for some reason goes by so quickly. Just enjoy the time you have with him and try not to think about it until it comes.

We all have to face it and it sucks, but like Obed said death is a part of life and it does suck. I hope you have many happy, healthy years with Beau.

My 2 old dogs I lost within 2 months of each other I grew up with as well and they taught me so much and were a huge part of my life. They lived a long life but it didn't help any. I lost Rocky 2 years ago and Jenny almost two years next month and Ginger a year ago on the 29th of this month.

Rocky & Jenny died unexpectedly they were so healthy but very old. Rocky was 12 and he was a lab and Jenny was a rottie mix and 10 and half years old when she died. I wasn't prepared for that I thought I would have more years with them but them being large breed dogs, I knew they couldn't live forever. But that was the hardest thing ever and it was hard for a long time and not a day goes by that I do not miss them because I still do and think of them every day and the good memories we shared. They were my heart dogs.

Ginger was about 9 when we put her down, since her health and her body was failing her I thought I was prepared when we put her down since she was such a health mess but it was still hard. I still miss those dogs like crazy, but with time it gets easier but you never ever stop missing them. I think of them honestly every day and miss them. I do wish they were still here sometimes, if that doesn't sound totally crazy. Since they were a huge part of my life since I was 14 or so. Ginger we knew as a puppy but she belonged to my grandmother. When she passed away in 2003, we inherited her. I didn't have such a strong bond with her, but I loved that dog like crazy.

Just enjoy your time with Beau and don't think of the worst just yet.

[ApporpSothe]

Losing them is never easy... here's a thread that will help you when you need it...
Dealing With The Loss Of A Pet - Emotional Support

When I think about losing Mollie or Bella, I choke up. I can't imagine what life will be like without them. I've only lost 2 dogs, Sheaba I had for 14 years, Maxx I had for 11 yrs, but he was about 13-14 yrs old when he died. It was horrible to lose them, and I know it will be just as hard, if not harder, when I lose Mollie or Bella, because each of them got me through 2 of the worse losses in my life. I just try to love them as much as I can while they are here, and appreciate everything they mean to me, and tell them repeatedly how much I love them.

[Nothatspecial]

I know I will be beyond devastated when it is Ginger's time and I was actually thinking about it today. She is only 5ish but I have come to depend on her so much as my little shadow that the thought of her not being there is incomprehensible. She should have a long and healthy life and my job is to keep her healthy, well exercised and living her life to the fullest!

[siflversonemunk]

The best advice I have ever been given when it comes to life and death is this.

My grandmother passed away on July 4, 2001...my father sat me down and said "you cant be sad when things like this happen, it does no good. Instead, think of death as you popping the bottle of champagne, and celebrating life"

Like Obed mentioned, death is our ultimate bill we must pay, for the experiences we encounter in life.

[itititit]

I lost my Mountain Cur unexpectedly due to an illness the vet assured me was, "very mild and expect a full recovery in 2 weeks." I can't talk about her often because I haven't gotten over her death nor have I accepted it. I've tried to replace her with other dogs but obviously it hasn't worked. There's a reason why I have her choke chain and ID tags hanging on my rearview mirror....

[wallyfindme]

I lost my Mountain Cur unexpectedly due to an illness the vet assured me was, "very mild and expect a full recovery in 2 weeks." I can't talk about her often because I haven't gotten over her death nor have I accepted it. I've tried to replace her with other dogs but obviously it hasn't worked. There's a reason why I have her choke chain and ID tags hanging on my rearview mirror....

I'm the same way with Izzy.I just havent accepted it,so I prefer to just not talk or think about it.I know its unhealthy,I just cant deal with it.It sucks though because it also causes me to not remember happy times with her,too bad when you block out the bad it blocks out the good too.