http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/ en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:50:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/ http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111978-nlr-ibsen-asia-laid-rest-today.html Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:14:23 GMT in one of the weird confluences that is my life I had to make the choice (the sad, awful, heartbreaking choice) to euthanize two friends on the same... in one of the weird confluences that is my life I had to make the choice (the sad, awful, heartbreaking choice) to euthanize two friends on the same day last week.
Ibsen had been with us since 2005 - a small matter black and white shi he was a character through and through. He needed (and got) eye surgery to repair horrendous ulcerations. He ended up loosing nearly all his teeth at the second dentistry we had done for him. he went to live with my dad and his wife in the late fall of 2008 to help them face the inevitable loss of their elderly airdale and he helped them through a very difficult transition with character. We still saw him (and had him home) regularly but he enjoyed being an only dog, being professionally groomed and having all kinds of treats snuck to him. Sadly dad and wife aren't at a point where they can cope with aging dogs so Ibby spent August with us. Pottering under his favourite apple trees trying to gum apples to mash; snoozing in the various patches of sun; some days he was woozy; some days his senility was apparent (and sad) but generally he had a lovely month. Last week though his systems started shutting down .. he lost interest in eating and had significant trouble standing. In less than a week he lost 1/3 of his body weight.

Asia was a kitten who came to us in the spring- we thought she had cerabellar hyperplasia (you'd think after having cats with this disease for the last 14 years I'd be able to spell it wouldn't you?) but instead of learning to adjust to her impairment it progressed. From walking with a wobble to hardly being able to stand Asia was slipping away. She spent much of the summer snuggled to me (often in a sweatshirt or towel rolled as a sling) and she purred and loved attention from humans, dogs or cats. Last week she stopped purring. She never stopped purring. My marvellous vet suspects a brain tumour that was rapidly growing.

Both died with grace and dignity as my hands comforted them and the last thing they heard was me wishing them well. Neither was a "heart" pet but both have taken a large part of my heart with them.

They are buried under Ibby's favourite apple tree. I can see their resting place as I type this. May they rest in peace. ]]> Rainbow Bridge brody http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111978-nlr-ibsen-asia-laid-rest-today.html http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111827-nadja.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:48:33 GMT Not exactly sure why I am missing her so much tonight. I even went back and revisited the thread I started about her going blind back in 2007. I... Not exactly sure why I am missing her so much tonight. I even went back and revisited the thread I started about her going blind back in 2007. I realized how much I appreciated Laura's and everyone's response.....how very helpful and important it was to me. I didn't even "know" most of you back then.
I never posted when I had to put Nadja down.....I just couldn't. Anyway, I am feeling better already. Here is a picture of her in her last winter. I really wish I could post pictures of her when she was younger, but I didn't have a digital camera and I don't have a scanner.
Thanks for reading. :)





I must say, I am very thankful I have Mya. ]]> Rainbow Bridge Mary Jane http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111827-nadja.html http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111740-shane.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:10:54 GMT *One year ago today we put are rescue that we had for 3 months down. He was one awesome hunting dog that had liver and kidney cancer. Shane was not a... One year ago today we put are rescue that we had for 3 months down. He was one awesome hunting dog that had liver and kidney cancer. Shane was not a Labrador.
He was an English Setter....

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSCF2787-1.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSCF2316-1.jpg

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...9/DSCF2743.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...CF2802-1-1.jpg

Rae
]]> Rainbow Bridge Rae http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111740-shane.html http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111345-kaylie-first-best-my-ontario-dogs.html Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:26:42 GMT In March 1997, new to Toronto and pet less after losing my cat suddenly before Christmas, I decided the time was right for a new dog. Searching... In March 1997, new to Toronto and pet less after losing my cat suddenly before Christmas, I decided the time was right for a new dog. Searching first at the Humane Society, I was rejected due to our lack of a fenced yard and my roommate's cats. So off I went to Animal Control with my short list of requirements - I wanted a young short haired medium sized dog, but not a puppy or a senior. I narrowed it down to two dogs, a boxer and a yellow lab - I took both out to cat-test them, and both were fine.. but when I returned the lab to her kennel, she curled one forepaw around my leg and refused to let go... and that was it, 'CJ' , a 2? yo lab was coming home with me.

It wasn't a smooth ride initially - she liked to jump up on top of the dining table to help herself to leftovers, especially margarine, she had terrible stomach issues and the sight of another dog on our walks turned her into a raging cujo-impersonator. Off we went to obedience class, and then another obedience class, and then a tricks class, and then we tried out something called "agility" . Although it never really was kaylie's favourite thing, she did her best to humour me. What she loved best is to run run RUN in the forest and ravine parks in Toronto and outside the city.

Although she was never a 'dog' dog, she put up with, and learned to love, a certain goofy labpuppy that I foisted on her in 1999, and she taught both him and eventually baby Sophie some manners, and occasionally deigned to play with them..

In late 2008, she began dragging one hind foot on occasion - knowing she is likely part shepherd, we suspected that she was developing myelopathy. We began carefully monitoring her gait, and got some sturdy boots to protect her draggy foot. She continued to enjoy her curtailed walks and bounced up and down in greeting her favourite people and dogs. I took a holiday to visit family and compete with Sophie in an agility event in Calgary earlier this month, and Kaylie was in heaven pottering around a friend's farm and on the beach in eastern Ontario. Although her balance had been noticeably declining recently, she was still eating and enjoying herself,a nd was happy to see me and her canine siblings again last week.

Monday, I came home to a dog that couldn't stand and wouldn't eat... I was able to brace her up and get her to walk to the back steps and into the backyard - but she wasn't able to hold herself up on her own, and clearly was in distress. I made her as comfortable as possible, got a couple bites of hamburger down her and tried to get some sleep.

Waking up to a moaning/keening dog on the sofa, who had declined further in the night and began falling forward even if propped up, and wasn't able to walk even a few steps, it was patently clear that her journey with me was ending. Kaylie, born sometime in 1994 or 95, adopted in 1997, went to her final rest on Aug 17, 2010.

"So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay" ]]> Rainbow Bridge kaytris http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/rainbow-bridge/111345-kaylie-first-best-my-ontario-dogs.html