Men don't cry....

[Comshaw]

...or aren't suppose to. Especially crotchety old men. We're suppose to be tough, ornery old shits that don't have those kinds of feeling, 'specially for things like cats and dogs. It shouldn't bother me that he lays on the floor staring at space, won't eat and can barely walk. A trip to the vet, a shot and home to bury him, that' shouldn't bother me at all. He's only been around me for 13 years, since he was three months old, so there ain't gunna be no damned tears, until I'm alone so no one can see 'cause real men don't cry where others can see.

As a pup

Comshaw

 

[adrina]

I won't tell a soul.

 

[nowisthetime]

The first time I saw my father cry, that broke me to tears. I still tear up to this day about it. I'm also the type of person who cries when someone else cries.

Hugs to you, my dear!

No shame in a man crying. Crying releases all those toxins and makes one feel better. Holding it in is not good for the heart, the soul.

 

[raindancer]

 

[patient1]

Sometimes your dog is your closest and oldest friend. They're worth a hard cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIZ_U1y3aKQ


"His love is unconditional, and that just makes me stronger.

Oh, the greatest wish I want to come true, I want my dog to live longer."

 

[Saint Peter]

The vet came into the office and gave me the prognosis.

My eyes began to water as I looked at the dog.

"Fuck."


I looked at the vet and his eyes were watering too.

No shame in that.


I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Comshaw]

You cry all you fucking need. Saying goodbye to our furry pals is heartbreaking.

He was a Blue Heeler?

Yes. The second one we've had. The first one, CB (it's an abbreviation for "Can't be a dog 'cuase he's to damned ugly") was with us for 10 years. It took us 3 years after he died to adopt Mick. Probably will be another 3 before we find another. After all it's such a hassle raising a heeler pup.

Our vet doesn't make farm calls, but she told us for us she'd be happy to come here instead of us having to take him there. She'll be here at 4:30 today. It's going to be damned quiet and strange not to be tripping over the damned dog all the time. He insists, no matter where I sit, to be right at my feet. Damned dog anyway.


Comshaw

 

[Aphro]

Aw. I'm so sorry.

Lovely looking little guy.

 

[Comshaw]

Thanks all. The vet arrived and it went as planned. I always have second thoughts when this happens: did I do it for me or him? For my convenience or his comfort? She gave him a shot of morphine to begin with and within seconds you could tell some of the pain was gone and he relaxed.

It took 3 years after our last Heeler CB died before we got Mick. It might be that long or never before we get another. As much as I want to be a grumpy tough old shit, it just hurts to much to loose them.

Comshaw

 

[patient1]

You did it for him. I say this in hindsight. When they don't want to eat any more, they don't really want to live. I didn't realize that with my last heeler, and would pick her up at the vet and take her for car rides, because she liked to eat while we drove, and it was the only thing got her to eat. But that only prolonged her suffering. Her liver was failing. When she stopped eating it was because life wasn't worth it any more.


You did it for him.


Oh, we switched breeds after that. Easier that way.

 

[Comshaw]

You did it for him. I say this in hindsight. When they don't want to eat any more, they don't really want to live. I didn't realize that with my last heeler, and would pick her up at the vet and take her for car rides, because she liked to eat while we drove, and it was the only thing got her to eat. But that only prolonged her suffering. Her liver was failing. When she stopped eating it was because life wasn't worth it any more.


You did it for him.


Oh, we switched breeds after that. Easier that way.

Yea, I get that but I do love Heelers. They are so damned smart and loyal. I taught CB and Mick in his turn to close the door. I would tell them ,"Close" and they'd run over and jump against it until it closed. Sometimes both would only push it to almost closed because they were in a hurry and knew there was a cookie waiting. When that happened I'd say,"Check it" and they knew they had screwed up and would jump against it until it clicked shut. It took all of 20 minutes with each to teach them that.

Right after I taught CB the trick my wife came home from grocery shopping. She set the bags down and unlocked and opened the door. As she picked up the bags CB ran into the house and slammed the door in her face. She said she could see him sitting on the floor inside staring at her through the window like,"Well, where the hell is my cookie?"

Comshaw

 

[Froya]

Crying is good for the soul, no matter who you are. It hurts like hell when we lose them, but worth it. I'm sure you were lucky to have each other, and I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[patient1]

Yea, I get that but I do love Heelers. They are so damned smart and loyal. I taught CB and Mick in his turn to close the door. I would tell them ,"Close" and they'd run over and jump against it until it closed. Sometimes both would only push it to almost closed because they were in a hurry and knew there was a cookie waiting. When that happened I'd say,"Check it" and they knew they had screwed up and would jump against it until it clicked shut. It took all of 20 minutes with each to teach them that.

Right after I taught CB the trick my wife came home from grocery shopping. She set the bags down and unlocked and opened the door. As she picked up the bags CB ran into the house and slammed the door in her face. She said she could see him sitting on the floor inside staring at her through the window like,"Well, where the hell is my cookie?"

Comshaw

Cool.

I often think of a cowboy who said heelers are smarter than most 16 year olds. My last one ( I had at least 3 before her) never learned to drive, but she did learn to use the power windows and blow the horn.

My last one learned to close gates after it put the cattle away. All I had to do was latch them. In fact it got so that we had the cattle sorted, and the heeler loaded them when the driver showed up, before we could even get there from the farmhouse on the neighboring property. All I had to do was communicate what I wanted, or simply follow a routine. She took it from there.

Of course, she never did get the idea that I didn't want her to practice nipping the vacuum cleaner and the wheelbarrow tire. After a couple of flats I gave up and bought a solid tire. Cracked a windshield once when another dog got too close to my SUV ( crank windows ). Then there's the matter of screen doors...