RFDC wrote:
I feel for you having to tell your kids. That is going to be really hard.
This is the main reason we have never got a dog. One of the toughest days of my life was when the dog I got growing up died while I was in college. I just couldn't do that again. And I know my daughters would be an absolute mess.
On this, and not to hijack this thread but of our two dogs we are most certainly going to lose one to cancer in the next 2-3 months, and out other dog is 12, so although she's wonderfully healthy, she's 12.
When we learned of out other dog's cancer prognosis we had to tell Two Post and Three Post. Two Post is great with our dogs and with all dogs in general. It's one of the things I love most about him, how kind and gentle is he with dogs. Obviously he was devastated. Like he had to be removed from class the next day because he was so emotional about it.
I did ask him two questions:
1. "Would you rather have mom and dad wait till the last minute to tell you Katie was dying or tell you now so you can spend extra time with her?"
Answer = Glad you told me now so I can spend time with her.
2. "Would you rather not have any more dogs so you don't have to go through the experience of losing a pet but never get to have any more dogs as pets"
Answer = Having a dog knowing that you are going to outlive the dog is better than never having a dog.
So while it was incredibly difficult, I think my guy really understood how much the benefits outweigh the loss.
You were probably out walking your dog, which is what I'm usually doing.
Walking my dog. Cause I love my dog. I love all my dogs. I love every dog I ever had. I remember em all. And I love every one of them. Still love all my dogs, and I've had me a lot of goddam dogs. In my lifetime, I have had me a bunch of different dogs. Because you do keep getting a new dog don't you? You just keep getting one dog right after another. That's the whole secret of life. Life...is a series of dogs. It's true! You just keep getting a new dog, don't you? That's what's good about them. They don't live too long. And you can go get a new goddam dog.