Sad Day
Today has been a sad day for us. We had to say a final goodbye to our old boy Harry 12 years almost to the day since he came to share our home as a companion for George. He was bred as a show dog (3 Crufts champions in his pedigree) but had a retained testicle so had to be castrated and was not able to be shown. Bad luck for Harry but great luck as it turned out for us. But boy, was he hard work to start with - the hardest of all our Setters. It took a great deal of patience and hard work to turn him round but he eventually qualified as a Pets As Therapy dog - he loved his visits to our local Leonard Cheshire home! He was everybody's friend - especially if they had a pocketfull of treats and always loved the children round here making a fuss of him; he was a great leaner and they loved that too.
We shall miss him terribly but, as always, the decision has to be made in the dog's interest rather than ours and for the past few weeks he'said not been able to do much more than toilet walks.
So for a time anyway Lady will get even more spoiled - we will look for another rescue Setter eventually but for now we'Ll be content with our memories of a very special dog.
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Sorry to hear of your loss M, been there a few times ourselves and it's never easy.
Our thoughts are with you.
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Also sorry M. I have been there myself and it is never easy whether a dog or a cat or I suppose any companion.
Probably not really the place to mention this story but I shall. My eldest daughter had her cat run over by a car about 6 years ago as it ran across the road as she returned home in a friends car and it was hit by a passing car. The cat ran off but was no doubt injured. Sam spent hours trying to find him, A few days later the black cat turned up dead in her garden and she took it to a local vets to be incinerated. As she walked through the house for days she kept thinking that she saw him in the corner of her sight just as we did when we had to have our cat put to sleep.
Over a week later she was at the kitchen sink and the door was open when she felt a cat brush against her legs which made her jump. She looked down and it was her cat. he was a little emaciated and had sustained some damage to the end of his tail. She must have found somebody else's cat.
I am sorry if the story is inappropriate M and I really do send my sympathy.
Alan
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M, we understand fully what you will be going through now. It's terrible they live such short little lives, but bring such joy and fun. Hang on tight to all those memories. They are just all such individuals, have little stories all of their own. Glad you have Lady, it doesn't seem quite so hard if you still have another dog to cuddle. Wishing you all the very best. You will have given Harry the perfect life, take comfort in that.
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Hi, sending you my thoughts today. They spend such a short time with us but leave a deep impression on our hearts.
I still carry my last Westie, Millie's, harness in the car with me. We are in Cornwall for the summer and like to think that she's with us too.
My best wishes to you all.
Gill
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So sorry to hear about Harry, M, he was such a lovely dog. We know what you and Mrs M must be going through at the moment.
Our best wishes to you both, and please give a hug to lady from us.
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Sorry to read of your loss of Harry but send kind thoughts. We've been there too and it's not a good time.
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For Harry
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...
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Sorry to read about Harry 'moulesy', like yourself and others we have been through it before but it never stops us doing the same again. It's the difference between 'just owning a dog' and having a dog as part of your lives, they're family, they're us and we don't forget.
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So sorry to hear about Harry. Time will heal but you will have all your memories.
thinking of you all
lynne
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Oooh we are so so sorry to hear this very sad news. Our hearts go out to you
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I'm really sorry to hear your news Moulesy. We experienced the same thing a couple of months ago but the problem we now have is that our other dog, who has only ever lived with 'Sid' is also missing him dreadfully. The vet has suggested a few things that haven't worked so far, we are trying to stay with her as much as possible. They will always be in our hearts.
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We were worried about that as well. Lady has never been on her own; before we got her through Setter Rescue she had always been kennelled with other dogs by her breeder. Maybe she got used to her companions coming and going. Certainly she hasn't shown any reaction to losing Harry. Time will tell but she seems to be coping so far - probably better than us!
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With not currently having a pet I've not looked in on this section for a while so I've missed your post, M, and would like to add my own condolences to all the other ones. Am also thinking of how Lady must be feeling, so best wishes to all of you.
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Bless. Such a lovely boy.
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Moulesy,
Just doing one of my rare look-ins on this site and spotted your post.
Really sorry to read your news.
Harry looks a fine dog and I'm sure you will miss him terribly.
Hopefully in time, you'll be able to take on another like him and Lady will have some company again.
All the best,
Ian
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Thanks, Ian. Good to hear from you after all this time. Yes, we are really missing Harry. We'd been walking the two of them separately for some time and we at times still think Harry is just chilling in the living room and expect to see him when we come back in with Lady. He had a good life though - if he hadn't come to us he'd no doubt have been taken backward and forward to shows. No life for a dog really.
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Arty, it’s a very old thread, sadly raised back to the front page by HQ tinkering with things. Very very sad at the time.
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Artyboo - thanks, but as TtDA points out it's almost 2 years ago now and I really don't know how the thread has re-emerged. Time, of course, is a great healer, but we still miss Harry as we do George and Sparky and Zac who went before him. All Setters and all rehomed to us and marvellous companions.
We now have these two, Lady and the latest boy Ralph looking after us!
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