RIP Charlie Bear

The Best Things in Life, no particular order- A good woman, good parents, a good friend, and a great dog/pet!!...I am sorry for your loss midgetwrestler.

As the poet says, "It is better to have Loved and lost, than to have never Loved at all."

Sorry for your loss.

Great book about the loss of a companion (animal or people lol) "Goodbye Friend" by Gary Kowlski

I've lost two of mine within the past month.

You have to believe they wouldn't have had a better life and friend than being with you.

Sorry for your loss man. My dog currently has cancer and his time is coming unfortunately. Just got to make the best of it while he is still here. I'm not sure if people who don't have pets know how tough of a loss it really is. Anyway, I'm sure your dog had a great life. RIP

You are right, many don't know, but loosing a blood relative is very very tough too, but saying that with some experience, once we have left the nest and go out on our own away from parents and siblings, I don't have the same sadness or loneliness when a relative has passed since we have been apart for so many years. It still hurts, but does not compare to loosing a campanion who is waiting at the door and wagging his tail every time I walk in. I remember each one of them that chose me to spend their life with.

This has helped me to heal a little, carry on midgetwrestler.

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments. Charlie was a big border collie/great pyranese mix, a true gentle giant and very smart. Charlie had a very rough start in life, he was abused and abandoned and contracted heart worms. But with a lot of patience, love and perhaps too many dog treats Charlie came alive and thrived with me. Everybody that ever met Charlie fell in love with the big guy, that big tail of his was always wagging.

On the day I took Charlie on his last ride he had lost the fire in his eyes, he was loosing his spirit. I gave Charlie his dignity and ended his suffering. And as my vet was administering the drugs to end Charlie's pain, Charlie looked up at me and wagged his tail one last time.

There is nothing like coming home and bending down and having a bunch of wet kisses all of your face from your best friend....There are some great bonds between a man and his dog....

I am sorry MW for your loss.

He will live on in your memories.

Do not hurry to get another dog. Allow yourself to grieve. When the time is right another dog will present itself. So you do not have to hurry things along.

I just recently lost my dog "Chevy " after being with him for 17.5 years. It was my longest relationship I have had! They are truly family and stick with you through anything. I can feel your loss, but he is pain free.....that is the best thing you could do for him and you can live with that..... Sorry for your loss

Wise words Pyramider, very wise words indeed. I was not really looking for another dog as I had just lost my oldest dog. Charlie was there, wagging that big tail and he stood up and gave me a look and next thing I know he is on his way home with me.

A great dog lives forever in the heart of its master. Dogs make a house a home. THe problem with dogs is they dont live long enough.

BodyShopGuy congratulations on having "chevy" for all those years. That tells me you truly cared about your friend and took great care of him.

Sorry for your loss. I have lost companions to age, parvo, cancer. It is never fun.

A great dog lives forever in the heart of its master. Dogs make a house a home. THe problem with dogs is they dont live long enough. Originally Posted by midgetwrestler

Very true midget wrestler. In my lifetime I have put down 3 companions. The last one being Butch Cassidy, my prized beautiful black female Labrador Retriever. Her name was sorta a joke, she was a Tomboy and also a reference to Paul Newman one of my favorite actors. She was my hunting, fishing, workout partner, cooking critic (funny, she always loved everything I made). Sometimes I'd even take her to watch me play a friendly tennis match with buddies. She'd sit there by the net post, head going side to side, just waiting for me to say, "Go git it Butch" when a ball went stray. Bringing it back all slobbered up...Ahh, great memories.

One day I may find another companion and just like when I think of my Dad I lost a few years ago and the tears well up in my eyes thinking about them, I look to the heavens and say to myself, "Thank you God for letting me have them as long as I did."

When you lose a dog due to old age and its various maladies, another dog will find you. Do not look for it ... when the time is right the dog will find you.