I remember a week or so ago Jurko mentioned that he had to put his 12 year old dog to sleep and he had a hard time and gave his dog about 7 more weeks than he should of as the dog was going to the bathroom in the house and he had to do what he had to do and how he just dropped the dog off at the Vet .... I thought Jurk should of went in but now I know why he couldn't.

Well, my wife and I had to do the same thing to our "17" year old Husky yesterday and I'll tell you guys and girls it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I couldn't go into the Vet either and had my wife do it. We got 'Bazzle' (named after former North Stars tough guy 'Bazzle McRea') the day we moved into our first apartment some 17 years ago. It sucks because I woke up to let him out this morning like I've been doing for 17 years and he was not there.

Being a pet owner really blows sometimes.

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"You can't put a bounty on a man's head"!

thats a shame ed. we had a shepard that we had to put down back when i was in grammar school, not easy to do at all. now we have a husky as well. got her from animal welfare last summer. at some point we'll have to put her down as well. pets really are members of the family

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i never really thought about this particular item (as it relates to me) until you guys mentioned it.
I essentially lost my pets when the wife left. she took her cat (she got it when we were dating) and our chocolate lab.

damnit. i should go get a puppy.

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@audioidkid

It really sucks big time if you have young children also.

I am so sorry to hear that Ed. Dogs ARE aprt of the family. My lab is 9 tomorow. He is physically healthier than I am (mentally still a mess), but I do worry when that day will come. My thoughts are with you.

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07

Can't help but agree. My former fiancee had two very nice cats, the younger (and infinitely stupider) of which she rescued from a dumpster on 55th and Cornell (you know, the Thai joint strip) after seeing Independence Day. Rescued cat was thusly named Will Smith, though he didn't especially look like Will Smith.

Anyhoo, vet advised that Will had something of a bum ticker. Later, we returned from a Mother's Day weekend at her parents' place in Michigan, and Will was lying--stiff as a board, eyes open--on the kitchen floor. It was a nightmare.

It's an extremely difficult thing to do, and it's hard to bring them in to the vet because you know the end result. You keep hoping for the dog to somehow get better, but it never happens, and, probably after waiting to long in the first place because you didn't want to put it down, you bring it in. Sittting in the room with the dog is extremely tough, and they will look at you. Thankfully, it doesn't last long, and, although it's difficult to see at the time, you are doing a good thing, and letting them go without having to suffer anymore, and as their owner, it's up to you to take care of them, and, this is one way you've done it. It really sucks though, and never gets easier.

Sorry Ed. I had to put my rabbit down a few years ago and my dog has been gone for almost 10 years. I still miss them. In both cases it was the right thing to do, they were suffering.

The sad thing with any pet is we treat them like family yet get such a short time to be with them. My dogs are getting older (10 and and we could have lost the ten year old a year back when she had back surgery and walking out of that room that day before her surgery was one of the toughest things for me. i still have both of my parents but I'm sure the day I lose the dogs will rack high on the list of heart breaking moments.

I'm sure my parrot will be sad the day he has to put me down.

Not meaning to make light of the situation, but those birds live forever.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That bird will probably outlive you. Make sure you put it into your will.

That really sucks Ed. My wife and I have a Golden Retriever who is like a kid to us. I don't even want to think about what that day is going to be like but thankfully she's only 4. From what I hear the best remedy to get through it is to get another dog.

Depends on where you are in life. While he might miss the companionship but he might enjoy the lack of responsibility. I'd love to get a dog but I know it's not the right time.

[[/quote]

Yeah , it's not easy but you think that the dog was with me for 17 years and all that has happened over those years and it puts things in perspective. I got married , had two awesome daughters , Sox won it all ....

When you guys hit 40 things start to speed up and you start looking back and saying time really does fly. The dog was great and we have a second dog, a little Chihuahua and he has cushioned the blow a bit but that Husky was special.

I caught my wife on line last night already looking at a second dog. We both are animal lovers and do a lot with the Humane society and have gone to a few PETA events( those people are bit to scary for me) but their heart is somewhat in the correct place. But we will see if a new dog is in the future. Maybe Christmas ????

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"You can't put a bounty on a man's head"!

Was she visiting Michael Vick sites?

17 years is pretty old for a Husky. I had my dog for the same amount of time. We got her when I was 4. Good luck finding a new one. It's nice you are looking in to the shelters and stuff.

`17 is ancient for a little pooch, ed. im sure he had a good full life. its never easy putting a pet down, but its the right thing to do. and whether you had him for 17 years or 17 days, they are kids essentially...they're members of the family just as much as anyone with 2 legs

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totally agree with this.

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@audioidkid

It's always sad losing a pet. We had an English Mastiff who had to be put down @ 10 1/2 earlier this year (life expectancy is from 8-10). Having super big dogs is always tougher because once they are gone there is a huge void left (in more ways than one).

I'm going to stick to smaller dogs from now on. I would love to get a new dog but with me and my fiancee's work schedule I hate the idea of keeping it locked-up all alone while we are at work. I should try to search out some neighbor kid who will walk, play, and feed the dog while we're away.

Does anyone recycle new pet names from previous pets? Some think its strange, but to me, its the best way to pay tribute to the dog (granted I wouldn't name the immediate next dog after the previous one).

I don't know about recycling pet names.... my dog Stan I don't think I could ever name another dog Stan- he is so his little person.
Our next dog will be 48-49 pounds- learned the hard was any dog over 50 lbs is double shot costs, kennel costs, groomong, etc. I am already thinking about the next dog, the house will be too empty without him....

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07

we recycled one name. well i shouldnt say 'we', may parents did. they had a lab named boots back when i was just an infant, and had to get rid of it when we moved.

the dog we put down in grade school was also named boots, but she had wierd markings on her paws that really made it look like she was wearing boots.

the husky we have was going to be named boots, much to my chagrin. my dad said 3rd times the charm, but i said that a husky would not look like a boots. when we got her home, everyone else saw my side of the argument and we named her dakota. so, i dont think you can have a set dog name until you actually see the dog you're going to buy/adopt

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Ed,
These guys are great, and local in the western burbs.
Most of their dogs are rescued from kill shelters and given a foster home.
They are responsible for getting our Beagle/Lab mix.
http://www.roverrescue.org/

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

I'm naming my next dog Bacchus.

I was allowed to name our dog because I never had a dog before and I didn't know it at the time, but my wife was pregnant and wanted the upper hand in the naming of the baby.
I went with Layla.

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It's never easy with a pet - they look at you as if you can do no wrong, always are happy to see you even if you did yell at them for chewing something just five minutes before - and when you have to make that decision, it is one of the harest things to do.

My wife and I (and son) had to put our lab down - she was 12 and had pancreatic cancer; my wife couldn't go in, and I did it alone. the dog looked at me and she seemed to know it was time - and all she did was give me a kiss. Still brings tears to my eyes everytime I think about it.

We did go to anti-cruelty - where we got that dog - a few weeks ago and got a half retriever/half st. bernard who is a great addition - and really, really hates the vet. Seems to know that is not a good place to be.

My dog LOVES the vet- doesn't matter which one- thinks it is a field trip. He gets so juiced when he is there his paws are sliding all over the tile. He looks ridiculous.

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07

Yeah,
Mine does too.
He goes right for the cookie drawer.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

I put my cat down all the time.

Examples:
"Your ass stinks, go lick it or something"
"Can't you find anything better to do than jump in the damn blinds"
"SHITHEAD! Get yer ass back in the house!"
"Eat a little more FATTY"
"Dude, what about me sitting here watching the game made you think I want your ass in my face?"

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

who made fun of him?

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@audioidkid

I didn't.

btw... I think you are bigfan.

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@audioidkid

Ding ding ding!

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014