Lost A Best Friend Yesterday......................

[BBQMAN]

My Chow Candy just couldn't get up yesterday morning, and had not eaten the day before.

Unfortunately, at 14 years of age a tumor in her abdomen started bleeding and we were forced to make the only decision that we could.

She was not just a dog, she was a big part of our family and will be sorely missed.

On a positive note she had a great 12 years or so with one of the best homes she could have gone to.

We got her from the SPCA when she was about 2 years old. They had kept her for almost a year because nobody wanted to adopt a grown dog I guess. She was so sweet they named her Candy! We usually adopt from the SPCA and highly recomend other's to do so. So many good pets that need good homes.

After a year of living on the streets, that dog just loved to break out of our fenced in yard every chance she got when she was younger. I chased her almost a mile down the hood one day.

I found out in later years that she loved a car ride. So if she took off, I would bust the car out and go for a short drive with the door open. She would run up and jump into the car with no problems! My next door neighbor nicknamed her "Houdini" because she was quite the escape artist.

Needless to say, I loved that dog more than most people.

I hope some day when I cross the rainbow bridge she will be waiting for me..........................
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[RodinBangkok]

Sorry for your loss, but there is a lot of satisfaction in providing a good home for unwanted animals. All our dogs are rescued street dogs we've found almost near death when taken in, and they are all a valued part of our family. Now you need to go out and find a new one to rescue, not to replace, but to start that experience all over again!
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Rod

[istock74]

Sorry for your loss Mike.
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Superior Smokers SS-One with Stoker
18" WSM With Stoker
24" x 48" Offset
UDS
Weber Performer

[Haaseman]

Last month I lost my friend of 10 years. She also just couldn’t make it anymore so I feel you BBQMAN.

but last week I was over at a friends and his neighbor was out in front of his house kicking the crap out of a pup for pissing in his house. Mind you I don’t usually get in other peoples business but this was the day and I got pissed off. I started over and my wife said Mark where are you going ( She already knew). I actually walked over to him very calmly(LOL) and said that I was taking the dog because he obviously no longer needed it. He said something under his breath and looked up. Mind you I am 6’2” about 380lb. I now have a new lab mix pup. Point of this story! You never know where joy of a friend will come from. As Rodin said not a replacement just new joy!

[Chuck]

Mike sorry for your lost of Candy. I feel the same way about
are dogs ( love that dog more than most people )

Mike we just got another dog about 3 weeks ago, some ahole
dump her out where we live, she had been out on the roads
for about a month, as I type this she is sitting next to me.

Every one talks about this GREEN thing now days, I wish people
would stop throwing away their PETS.

Again Mike sorry for your lost

RainBow Bridge is always in my heart

Stilwell Chuck

[AcesWithChips]

Sorry for your loss, Sir.
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Weber Kettle

Sure I have a gas grill. It's white with four burners on top.

[Paymaster]

Sorry about your loss.

[Rubit]

All of my dogs are strays or from a shelter and you are so right they make the best dogs in the world. I feel your pain.
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Vertical Brick pit wood burner
Converted Lazy Q Charcoal
Tank smoker Charcoal
Tank smoker wood burner
Tank Charcoal grill

[SoEzzy]

I feel your pain BBQMAN!

Our eldest dog is 13 going on 2 and still plays with the kids and other dogs like a puppy, I don't know what I'll do when we loose her, except love the others a little bit more, and remember the great times we had with her.
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Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

[Bedlam BBQ]

Mike - we are truly sorry and sad to hear about your loss. We know how special a pet can be. We adopted our Lab from the local Lab Rescue about 6 months ago and he has become a big part of our family. We often refer to him as "our little boy in the fur suit".
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Steve

Stumper clone with Stoker
Bedlam BBQ
Competition Team

[BBQMAN]

Thanks so much for the kind words- greatly appreciated!

I ran into an old friend in the grocery earlier, and he wanted to know what happened to me- I guess I look a bit beat up today.............................

We are lucky to have three other dogs to keep us company. The Doberman/Shepard is another rescue dog, and two chihuahuas are cheerful little lap dogs.
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[Poppa's PTL Club]

So sorry for the loss; I know it hurts. My wife and I still tear up every once in a while over Lily, our mutt that died earlier this year after being with us for 12 years. Strange, how close we can get to those stupid dogs!
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I likes to eat 'da pig!
Acts 11:5-9

[tic]

Rainbow bridge.

This poem helped a great deal last year when I put my 13 year old dane asleep. hardest thing ive ever done.

[roxy]

Sorry to hear about your loss Mike. I know how much a dog can get into your heart and I feel for you my friend.
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Chargriller Akorn
WSM
LIAR #100
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Do not rely on a rabbits foot for luck, it did not work out too well for the rabbit...

[Crabman]

My condolences on your loss. I lost my boy Bo the day after my annual pig roast last October & didn't think I could ever want another dog after the pain of having to put him to sleep. This past spring, I found my schedule was pretty full and I asked Vicky if she wanted another dog to keep her company. She said no, that she wasn't ready yet. On my third deployment this year, I got an e-mail asking if it would be o.k. to adopt another, since this dog was going to be put down if no one adopted her. I told her no problem, and now Portia is a part of the family. Every so often I swear I see Bo in the house though. I sure do miss him. Yes, the Rainbow Bridge helped me through that time too.
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In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost

[necron 99]

Sorry to hear of your loss. We have 2 labmatians that are 13 and now 'special needs' dogs. One of the two was a rescue animal. It'll be hard when we lose them, one was my wife's first dog ever.

But, like yourself, we have 2 others.

One is a German Shepherd and we think Dobie mix that found us collapsed in the middle of I-37 the last year we lived in Texas. She's obviously someone's house pet dumped out in the country. After an initial bout with tick borne illness and a rattlesnake bite, she's been healthy as a horse. We figure she's probably 10 now, just starting to have some grey in the muzzle.

Then our latest - maybe 1 and a half year old white lab and I'm positive Jack Russel terrier mix, that showed up out of the cane fields right before Christmas last year. This little 40 pound pooch is something else!
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Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!

[Boomer]

BBQMQAN

Very sorry to hear about your loss Mike. I had to put a
couple of dogs down and it is one of the hardest things
I ever did in my life. In fact I got the nickname Boomer
from the last dog that I lost in the divorce. She didn't love
the dog but she knew I did so she took him. The little
story below I have had for the last 30 years. It was from
a fellow from New Jersey if I remember correctly that
wrote to Ann Landers. I always share it with my buddies
when they lose or have to put down a dog.
I thought I would share it with you my friend

Boomer

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and
cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.
You bounced around the room with eyes flashing
and ears flopping. Once in a while you'd let out a little yelp
just to let me know this was your territory.
Making a mess of the house and chewing everything
in sight became a passion, and when I scolded you,
you just put your head down and looked up at me with
those innocent eyes, as if to say, "I'm sorry, but
I'll do it again as soon as you're not watching"

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the
window and barking at everyone who walked by.
When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting
for me with your tail wagging just to say,
"Welcome home, I missed you."
You never had a bad day, and I could always count on
you to be there for me.
When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you
would hop on my lap, looking for attention. You never
asked for anything more than for me to pat your head
so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.

As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then,
one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn't
stand on those wobbly legs anymore, I knelt down and
patted you lying there, trying to make you young again.
You just looked up to me as if to say you were old and
tired and that after all these years of not asking for any
thing, you had to ask for one last favor.

With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the
vet. One last time, you were lying next to me.
For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in
the animal hospital, perhaps it was your sense of pride.
As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant,
turned your head and looked at me as if to say,
"Thank you for taking care of me."
I thought,
"No....thank you for taking care of me."
_________________
Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.

[roxy]

[VaGriller]

There's always something about reading someones sad story about their animal passing that touches me. Moreso than reading about a humans passing.

I've experienced animals going to Rainbow Bridge several times since I was little. It never gets easier, if anything IMHO it gets harder as you get older. One of them I had to put down myself because he was hit by a car and never would have made it to the vet even if we tried. I cried like a little girl that day.



Rainbow Bridge

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 and 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 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. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away 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.

It reminds me of the ending of Gladiator, when Maximus dies and his family is waiting in the field.

[k.a.m.]

Sorry for your loss BBQMAN, I have been down the same road with my best friend Max a dachsund that the family and I cherished for 11 years.