I never thought I'd feel a bond with Tyler Hamilton.
 

This really sucks. Our dog passed away yesterday.

She was a rescue dog, and after about 12 years of being abused and neglected by various owners, she kind of fell into our laps, and we decided to adopt her. She was this ugly little chihuahua-terrier mix that just seemed totally ridiculous and a little annoying at first, but in no time Mollie and I were sold.

A few months ago she developed a heart murmur, and as it turned out she had congestive heart failure from valvular disease. She did OK for a few months on meds, but this week she got really bad. After 2 emergency visits to the vet and boosting up her meds she continued to get worse, and even walking around the apartment was a struggle. So we decided it was time, and last night we took her to the vet one last time to put her to sleep. We had both watched her struggle so much and we didn't want her dying a drowning death at home, alone.

I haven't been on the bike in 3 days. I think I'll get on tonight, but I never thought that losing a dog would be this hard. Every time I came home she would come running to me and start climbing my leg, except when I came home from rides--she was afraid of my bike, so she would patiently wait till I put the bike away, THEN jump on me. The welcome home was always the same, no matter how well or poorly I rode.

Mollie and I are a new couple, and not having kids yet she was really the first addition to our family. She'll be missed.

Time to re-focus on next Saturday's race and get back in the saddle, I suppose...

sorry to hear that man. sounds like you gave her a good home though. losing a part of the family is never easy.

+1

I remember having to put my 10 year old Akita down. Had her since she was 2 months old--depressing.

Kudos to being a rescuer. You made her life better, gave her love, and that is what you should remember.

I'm really very sorry to hear that.....

My girlfriend and I have 2 Lhasa Apsos.....Pookie and Odie. Pookie (girl) is around 6 years old, and Odie (Boy) is around 4. Bought them both when they were puppies. Before Pookie came into the household, I was never that fond of dogs....was more of a cat person. Now....it's the complete opposite. I think I actually like dogs better than most people, to be honest. I absolutely dread the day when "the time comes". I get all choked up just thinking about it, and also did when I read your post.

Good luck....

sorry to hear as well.

would LOVE to have a dog, but work generally keeps me on the road way too much to be able to take care of a hound.

Being pet people ourselves, we can empathize with you. It was especially nice, though, that you could give her a good home for at least a while. The pain will pass and hopefully soon you will be able to remember only the good feelings you had toward her. What puzzles and infuriates me is how mean people can be towards animals.

+1,000,000

A lot of people are ignorant and dumb, though.....so that explains a lot.

Sorry to hear about your dog Dr. Pete. Some of my best friends are dogs.

This is really my first post in here, but I really feel for you. I was thinking about my dog, and her back. She always yelps when we touch her int he wrong way, and she's growing huge lumps on her. There is one the size of a baeball on her stomach, and I'm not sure whether they're hernia's or just fat deposits. She's 10 years old, and I got her for my 6th birthday.

Sorry to hear the news Doc.

Dr. Pete - my wife and I got a Golden Retriever 3.5 years ago for our 9 year old daughter. She had always wanted a puppy.

Guess who fell in love with the dog? Right. It's like having a little kid all over again. One that never grows up. Best thing we ever did. He brings us so much joy - that we don't even mind the endless waves of shedded Retriever hair that we're constantly vacuuming up ever other day.

Sorry to hear about your loss. I never thought I'd get this attached to a pet again. Amazing.

Thanks so much for all of your kind words.

A couple sad moments over the past few days--The UPS man brought me a pair of YPro bibs I had ordered, and Mollie promptly burst into tears because of the conspicuous absence of barking at China's former arch-nemesis.

For me, it was getting ready for my ride today. Mollie was at work, and when I'm home alone and leaving for a ride China would always follow me around with this really sad look on her face like I was never coming back, and would always seem to need extra petting and reassurance that I was, in fact, coming back. Today I just got ready and left, and it wasn't till I had left that I realized what was missing.

Life goes on, but now the little things are getting noticed...

Thanks again to all of you.

And riding your bike will help you feel better. Even when all those doggies chase you along the edge of their property. Now I always say 'good dog' - because they're just protecting their owners. As long as they don't actually chase me (none of them ever do).

Sorry to hear of your loss. My unsolicited advice, if your planning on having kids, wait to replace the dog. It works better to have the kid first, then get the dog, than vice versa. Second piece of unsolicted advice, if you get another dog get a Lab, heck I've got one to donate (only kidding). Again sorry for your loss.

Maybe at your next race you can do a lance armstrong and win the race and point up to the sky. Wouldnt that be cool eh? :D

But honestly, sorry to hear about your loss. Dogs are hard to let go.

Very sorry for your loss. We have a 14 yr old Cocker and a 1-1/2 yr old Beagle/American Fox Hound mix. The cocker (my wife's dog, named Kisses) had a stroke, she has recovered somewhat, but still staggers and walks around with her head perpetually cocked to the left side. She is pretty much herself, personality wise, but for several days we thought we would lose her and it tore my heart out. I can't say what is right for you, but I would go find another right away. Again, I am very sorry, it is much like losing a child.

We have a 7 year old Choc. lab.... Labs are a dif. breed (they are like a 6 year old mentally ******** child) in an adults body. But one of the greatest companions.


Sorry to hear the news Doc.