Lost my Best friend this week (MY DOG) need your help if you

[dave shady]

Can.....

Hello everyone....

This is very very hard to pass along to you. We sit here with tears in our eyes crying. At about 6:30 tonight our best friend Murphy had a stroke and as we found out latter he was in heart failure. We called our vet she met us there at the clinic to check him out. He would hardly walk and when he did stumbled alot. He has droped over 10# since last at the vet. She examined him and his body was very cold. no color in his skin, he was anemic and breathing very heavily. He had no chance of a full recovery and we did what we promised eachother and him. If he was in pain or hurting badly we would not be selfish when the time came and let him go in peace and with dignity. He was our baby and will always be with us.

At about 8:50pm on December 11th 2005 Denise and I held him on the floor on a soft blanket. We hugged him and held him both of us gave him a kiss goodbye and he colapsed in my arms..... This is one of the worst hardest things we have ever had to do. He has been the best pet we could of asked for. He was a great hunter and an even better friend.

Please say a prayer for Murphy as he makes his trip to heaven where he wont hurt anymore and can play with all the other good dogs. You can see some photos of him here http://www.cattailproducts.com/davelarsen.htm

He was our kid and we miss him terribly.... We were planning on finding a
puppy in the spring but i think we are going to bump that up to sooner. The house is so empty with no doggie... the cats just dont cut it they dont care about us like a dog does lol...

If you know of a breeder or someone that has a litter of pups were looking for a Black Male preferred but not against a female. Please let me know. Were looking for a healthy pup that needs a good home and a comfortable life.

thanks Dave

http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/murphypose12032003.JPG

I posted this on the GENERAL BOARD to start with but a certain person from TEXAS was offended that my post was not about a person or a rider just my dog... So i moved it to the IOWA board for safe keeping and in hope that someone may know of a good litter and help me find another buddy.

[Stumpy]

I feel your pain. I spent many years as a single guy and traveled alot with my job. I had a chow names Bubba who was my family. I even took him with me many times and snuck him into hotels. He knew that if there was a knock on the room door to run hide behind the bed till the coast was clear. I also had to spell words around him he had such a high vocabulary. Bubba disappeared one day while outside making his usual rounds. I searched and searched, called and called and couldnt find him. I drove down the road looking and found him lying stretched out on the side of the road on his belly just as he always slept. He didnt have a scratch on him. Still til this day I really dont understand what happened that day but the vet told me he was old and as many dogs do chose to go somewhere else to die rather than do it at home. Kind makes sense because I always called him the dog with no doody option because he never pooped in my yard he always went to visit the neighbors :D .. Good boy Bubba! :twisted:

I replaced him after he passed with a black lab I rescued at the grocery store. Someone had set him out and he was wandering and scared. I took him in and he too was a fabulous friend & companion. He was older though and only was with me for a few years and he too passed. Each was special in their own way and one can never replace the other. You are doing the right thing by getting another but you can never replace one. They each leave behind special memories.

You have my condolences.

Heres a pic of my friend & best bud Bubba.

http://ibp.homestead.com/files/Bubba2a.JPG

my condolences. im sorry to hear about your bud checkin out. you did the right thing. with every animal there is special memories that are attached to that being and as along as you keep those in your heart they will always there by your side. good luck findin that next friend to share your home and life with. keep us posted about the hunt for a new friend and give us some pics when you do find him.
jason

[KyHillBilly]

Dave I am so sad to hear of your family's loss. I know how it feels to lose a long time, devoted, loving family animal. It was very nice that you shared your grievance with us, as it's a really good way to heal from this sort of loss. I think it is very kind of you to express your loss here at the VTXOA message boards where I would feel people would be kind and understanding and sympathetic.

I guess not eveyone has had the pleasure of a life long family pet loss as I am sure some don't understand the pain you are feeling. As sad as it may seem, I guess you just have to overlook ignorance.

My Sympathies,

JD

[crankshaft]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I know you're going through a hard time. My dog is my kid also. I do everything with her. And if I were to lose her I'd have a difficult time getting over it. Hang in there.

[Woot!]

Dave,

My condolences as well. You never really understand how much they mean to you until they're gone.

I think getting another dog is the right thing to do. Helps to fill that hole in your heart. No pet will ever replace the one that you lost, but they can help take your mind off the loss.

Also big dogs don't seem to live all that long. Cats can live as long as 18 years. But when they go, as ours recently did, its like losing a child.

We'll say a prayer for Murphy and wish him lots of running, playing, food and love.

Woot!

[Steve-Oh]

It's hard to be a big strong man when you're sitting at your desk with tears in your eyes.

I'm sorry for your loss Dave. I have 2 labs myself and dread the day(s) that they are no longer with me.

[Tombstone]

Hey Partner,

Words fall so terribly short at a time like this. I can so empathize with you right now. I had to have my Shadow (black lab) put to sleep late last year when he was diagnosed with cancer. My poor puppy (11 years old) had rampant tumors throughout and he was in constant pain. I sat on the floor of the vet's office with my puppy's head in my lap while the doc administered the injection. I sat there, holding my dog, until he wasn't there anymore. I'm sitting here crying even now thinking back on that late afternoon when I did the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life...I had to let go of a best friend that I had bottle fed as a puppy when the mother rejected him shortly after birth. You and I both know the depth of feeling we had/have for these very special members of our family. When they're gone, we're left with a few material reminders and a heart-full of memories. Both your dog and mine are in a better place right now; a place where there's no pain and its always warm and pleasant. Like I said above, words fall so incredibly short at a time like this. Just know that, despite one or two A$$-WIPES out there, most of us sympathize (and a few of us can even empathize) with where you and your family are right now. Hold tight to the memories Partner, until you can cry the pain out of your heart...then let the memories of your best friend fill the hole. Take care Dave and all the best to you and yours.

[extreme vtx]

Sorry to hear of your loss Dave. Losing a pet is just like losing a kid. We get so attached to them and then they are gone. I told myself that when our dog is gone there won't be another. It's just too hard when they are gone. Take Care, Dave

[Chugum]

Sorry to hear about Murphy. Its tough to lose a freind, our lab passed away after 14 years of friendship. We miss him alot.
Take care Dave,
Merry Christmas Iowa.

[IOWABOB]

I know how hard it is to lose a close pal . Had to put my Red Heeler, Boomer down a couple of years ago . Still think of him every day . I never had a better friend.

[dave shady]

been a hard few days. too boot today was my lovely wifes birthday and was hard for either of us to feel much like celebrating...

thanks again we have some REAL good leads on a new puppy.. the house is so empty without him here and he wouldnt want us to be sad... he never liked that at all.

here is one of the last photos of him i took around thanksgiving.

http://www.cattailproducts.com/SSmemberpics/774434-R1-039-18.jpg

[RayJay]

Hey Dave my heart goes out to you,

I've always thought the love a dog give you is the most unconditional love there is, and when that love is gone the is nothing left but a hugh hole in your heart,

A new puppy will start to fill that hole in until your heart is whole again.

Get one soon..

I know whenever my Rowdy passes the wife and I will have a difference of opinions on whether to get another one,,,, I think she will give in when she sees my saddness,,

[Breezy]

I am very sorry about your loss, and there are those that dislike animals and never will understand how close one can be to a pet. Such is what I think happened on the General board..

I lost my cat Spooky last year, and I lost my dog Cokie a few years back.. They both were a hard lost, your pets become your members of your family. They give you devotion that no one else gives you. When i would come off the road and sit in my recliner Spooky would lay on my chest and put her head in the crook of my neck.. It was very comforting for both of us.. It would relax me a bunch anyway.. Spooky died of Lung tumors at 10-years old, Cokie died of old age at 18yrs old..
It hurts a lot when you lose a pet, as someone here said, it creats a huge hole in our heart.. Something that is not easily filled...

2002 I got a new dog, a poodle named Ozzy .. He comes with me everywhere. He rides shotgun in the truck and is a trip to have along.. The day he is no longer here will be very sad indeed.. My boy Ozzy is below, sitting in one of his favorite places.. We were down in NO, LA.. He always needs to see where I am and keeps his eyes on me at all times.. It IS like having a kid..

http://vtxotb.com/photos/myboy.jpg


Breezy

[VACMAN]

I feel your pain, in less than 1 hour I am closing my store to take our beloved cat to the vet after being on the losing end of the fight with a larger animal, my wife just called to say she believes it will have to be put down, good Lord I hope not, I always say I hate the stupid cat but I am crying like a baby just at the thought of losing him.

[dave shady]

We have 2 cats also one is my buddy the other wants me dead i believe. lol.

I hope things turn out ok with your pet. No matter how much we hate them some of us still have a place in our hearts that will miss them.

Take care and we will say a few words for you pet.

Dave

[VACMAN]

Stupid cats going to make it :lol: amazing how much carnage the little guy could take, the lucky little basturd hates me now after shot, cages, shaving, scrubing wounds, and medicines, even though he can barley move he tries to crawl away when I come with medicine and peroxide, hope he is smart enough to appreciate :D

[indicolts]

Hi Dave -

My sincere sympathy for you and your loved one. I came across this forum because I moved from North Carolina to Iowa (near Cedar Falls). I know where you are coming from here, I view my pets as my children. I've enclosed a poem below - I think its appropriate, especially if you believe in the afterlife.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know who from Texas it was, but like it was said previously, don't let one jerk get to you.

I had to put my buddy to sleep last summer...he was a miniature Schnauser, 11 years old, and was at my heels every step I took, or in my lap if I was sitting. He got cancer, and it was inoperable. I still miss him, and I always will.

That Rainbow Bridge sure brought a tear to my eye!

[dave shady]

appreciate it much. I still think of old murphy every day and thank god for sending us our new buddy gordy.. hes a good drug to heal the pain for sure!


http://cattailproducts.com/SSmemberpics/021806gordycats001k.jpg

http://cattailproducts.com/SSmemberpics/021706-THINGS036k.jpg

10 weeks old as of today and is already house BROKEN! hes smart!

[dave shady]

Not what you would expect. As some of you know I decided to put Murphys
ashes into a Labrador decoy I carved for him. Well Here are the finished
photos of the pair. I also did one for one of my hunting partners that lost his
boy Duke in 2004.



http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/labradors002.JPG


Black Dog Tags with Clear Silencers with Each Dogs name and Dates of Birth
and Death along with Rest In Peace were placed around their necks today. I
will deliver Duke back to Kevin tonight. He has not seen the decoys since we
put Dukes Ashes inside along with his tags, the Patch from kevins old
Waterfowl Usa Hat that he wore since Duke was a young pup while hunting.



The keels are from Kevins Grandfathers home in nothern Iowa 20 year old
Walnut. I purchased a bunch of slabs from kevins dad to make calls from and
thought, That would make a fine keel nice grain and looks good.



Inside Murphys decoys is a chewed up shell hull ( a bad habbit he loved) and
one powdered sugar doughnut his favorite in the blind treat. Now they are
done the new season starts on saturday, Gordy is filling in for Murphy he is
almost 9 months old and Coot is taking Dukes place he is now 3. Both good
dogs but will never replace our origonals thats for sure.....



http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/labradors003_copy.jpg
http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/labradors004.JPG


These are Labrador Ducks, Diver Ducks that have been extinct since before
the 1900's. I had 2 cork ones I carved and gunned with, I still have one the
other I gave to my breeder we got Gordy from as a gift when we took the lil
Idiot home lol....


http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/shakedwn027sm.jpg


Thats gordy saying hello to a wood duck decoy on loan to me yesterday out
on the river. We had a shakedown run of the new blind and got him some
time in the boat to relax.......


Best of luck everyone the season soon begins :tu

[extreme vtx]

They look good. It was also a pretty cool idea. Looks like this weeekend will be a bust. :evil:

[Cupcake]

Sorry I am coming in so late to this, I was so sorry to read of your loss. It's so hard, isn't it. The only thing we can do is help ease them out of pain, and if we can hold them, their heads on our laps, comfort them, say their name and what a good dog they are as they slip away, it's the least we can do.

The decoys are amazing, what a wonderful memorial to your friend.

I hunted around my papers and found these -

"I've changed my ways a little, I cannot now
Run with you in the evenings along the shore.
Except in a kind of dream, and you, if you dream a moment,
You see me there." Robinson Jeffers - "The House Dog's Grave"


"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am."
Unknown

[el mucho grande]

Hey Dave, sorry to hear of your loss. My neighbors currently have a litter of black lab puppies for sale (not sure if they are pure bred or not) if you are interested let me know and I will talk to them and get more info for you.

[dave shady]

Hey Dave, sorry to hear of your loss. My neighbors currently have a litter of black lab puppies for sale (not sure if they are pure bred or not) if you are interested let me know and I will talk to them and get more info for you.

Thanks for the offer this is a perty old thread, we lost Murphy back in Decmeber of 2005, In Janurary of 2006 the new lil pup gordy came home with us.

http://cattailproducts.com/SSmemberpics/6weeksdavegordy.jpg

This is gordy the week before he came home

8 months latter hes 98# and this

http://www.cattailproducts.com/images/hunting_2006_090906019sm.jpg

[extreme vtx]

Great pics. Who is that redheaded guy in the pic? He looks familiar.

[Arvie]

God Dave,haven't been on the computer much,just constantly at the store.I am so sorry to hear of you losing your best friend...my heart aches for you,my mother said if I had a brain in my head my next pet would be a turtle,something that would outlive me so she wouldn't have to go thru me losing another dog//I just can't live without one by my side/You are in my prayers,your new baby is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!