Dakota I miss you

[Luvtails]

I just wanted to write this because I am still missing my boy Dakota very much. Dakota was 8 when he went to the rainbow bridge in October 2007 after a long battle with Rheumatoid arthritis. One day in May 2007 he was running and playing with my son and the neighbor's little girl and the next day he was limping. I thought he just over did it. he has always had problems with is elbows. I took him to the vet and they thought it was lymes. we treated for that but it got worse instead of better. He was walking on 3 legs. My poor boy already had bad hips and from putting all his weight on them it made them worse. In a short 3 weeks my once exuberent and full of life boy looked as if he was 16yrs old. We tried steroid and he rapidly improved but the damage was already done. Here he had RA which destroyed his elbow joint. He was walking but with a limp. Slowly the steroids began to fail and he was beginning to hurt. They night before he went to the rainbow bridge he got up the strength to walk up the stairs for one last time. He barked for me to lift him into my bed where he usually slept until he got sick. that's when I knew he was telling me this was to be his last night with me. I woke the next morning to him licking my face as if to tell me he knew his pain would be over soon. I just held him and cried and wondered if I was making the right decision. I just couldn't let my best friend suffer anymore. He seemed so calm and relaxed as we went for that last car ride. I just know that he knew he would be out of pain soon. I just hope he knows how much I loved him. I was with hime when he went to sleep. It couldn't have been any more peaceful. He just went to sleep in my arms. I miss him so much. He was such a good friend to me, my husband and my kids. It is so hard when my 3 year old asks where his co co is. I have to tell him that he lives at God's house now where he can run and play and swim like he always loved to do. Thanks to everone on this forum that shared their stories. It's nice to know that many special rotties have touched our lives
Jen
mommy to Dakota 1999-2007 UKC Ch Rinehart's Kodeman V Konefal, CGC

[TrinaJ]

I am so sorry for your loss. I can completely understand how hard it is for you when your 3 year old asks where the dog is. My dog Shadow was PTS on the 7th Janu 08 and my son wants to know when we can visit him in heaven.... It breaks my heart everytime, i miss my dog very much and being constantly asked where he is .... well sometimes its extremely hard to handle.

~*sending you a hug across the Pacific*~

[Luvtails]

I too am sorry for your loss. they are like our children. I think my son acted as if Dakota was his brother. he constantly played on him and with him. they were inseperable. Dakota was attached to my son from the moment my son was born. He was also attached to my daughter. I have posted his pic in my gallery. He was one of the best!
sending you a hug too

[TrinaJ]

I just had a look at the gallery, what a handsom boy he was.

[Sam's Mom]

I so understand and feel your pain. My Sam also went to the bridge in October but in 2006.
There is just never enough time with our treasured family members. I still have my moments...I guess it will be a life long affair this "missing him". Someday we will share big slobbery kisses with our boys again.....until then...precious memories will just have to do.

[harleychik66]

I am so sorry. I really feel what you are going thru. We lost our Niko at 10 years old in Sept of last year. Even after 5 months some days I still cry because I miss him so bad. You had a very handsome boy and he was so lucky to have you. It really is to bad that they just aren't with us long enough.

[marya]

I too am sorry to hear about your loss. I had to put my Roxie to sleep on November 17th at only 3 and one half years old. Sadly, her problem was behavioral, but nonetheless no less a loss felt by me. Its not easy to make that decision to PTS. You did the brave right thing, but the hardest thing to do. My tears still rise to the surface, and its been almost 3 months. We have a new dog, but he's not the same. In some ways he is better but in the good ways of our Roxie he's not.

I hope you can get over your grief and have a new furry companion enter into your lives. It certainly does help. I will go to your gallary and look at your pooch.

[AngelBunny]

I am so sorry for your loss. Our dear canine companions do not live long enough and sometimes require us to break our hearts to set them free from pain that can't be cured.