This has been a very difficult morning.
Many years ago, we adopted a stray dalmation. Hard to say his age. Older than a puppy...Maybe a year or two in age.
He had been terrorizing my daughter's friend's family because they had cats. They had threated to call the pound.
The problem was that he had not collar, seem to be beaten, and had a broken leg.We knew in our hearts that no one would adopt him.
My daughter begged me to take him and I did.
We took him to the vet, put a cast on his leg and nursed him back to health.
The weird thing about him is that although he was lovable to my dau and I, he hated men. I mean hated them. It took a long time for him accept my husband and son, but until old age set in, those were the only two men he gave a pass to. This, in some ways, came in handy. When my husband would work at night, I often felt kinda safe having this big male dalmation around. He stayed outside usually during the day. Outside, he had a big dog house under a tree. We kept him outside a lot because he was not fully housebroken. And if he got jealous of our other pets, he would sometimes "mark" furniture! However, we brought him inside during the day when the weather was bad, including very hot weather. I also brought him inside if I was frightened. He came inside at night and had this big thick rug he laid on under the piano. That was his Kingdom. He had a very "elegant" evening "dog house."

It's been well over a decade. He's had various health problems. He became deaf. He has had trouble seeing. The broken leg never healed correctly and he had great difficulty walking. This led to a bad hip problem. He's had trouble breathing lately. He lost total control of his toiletry habits. His pain has increased in recent weeks and he has been wimpering...which is unusual for him.

This morning, we had him put to sleep. We waited for the doctor to give him the first shot to relax him. We told him that we loved him and he was a good boy. Then we left. It has been very hard and we have not stopped crying.


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We do have his collar and I am wondering what others have done to memoralize their lost pets.

He must have been meant for you & your family.

How about a favorite photo enlarged and framed or a grouping of smaller ones if you can't decide on one.

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I'm so sorry.....but bless you for giving him a loving home and giving him the opportunity to see that not everyone is bad and not everyone will hurt him.

I agree with Jo. Pictures are great reminders of the happy times.

to end up with you.

I personally think Dalmatians have a mean streak! Our neighbors' dog who was treated well, attacked my son (when he was five--attacked from behind), for no provocation, and also another neighbor. I think something has happened with the breeding of them. Our vet says, the meanness is a common trait with them.

In my opinion you qualify for sainthood with that dog. He was very lucky to have you. It is always hard to euthanize a pet.
So I know how you feel. Each day we look at Sheba and wonder, when her time will be!

(((Vowel Lady))) I'm so very sorry about your companion. Of course you have cried and cried. It's so very difficult to euthanize pets even when we know it will be a blessing for them.

Your baby was a very lucky dog to have you.
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Maybe I didn't catch it in your post...what was his name?

I like the idea of a picture of the sweetie as well. My very favorite cat of all time passed many years ago. Well, I had to put him down, he was suffering hopelessly. Macho Man. I still miss that fantastic cat. I have a wonderful picture of him on my bedroom wall. He always, always slept by my head at night. His last few nights he would 'hold' my hand.

It did take awhile to be able to have a picture of him up though. It was too painful for me to even think about him. 2 years ago I lost another one whom I adored and it's STILL too painful for me to see pictures of her, but someday...

((Hugs)) and I hope your pain lessens very soon.
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Thank you everyone. Your posts really touched my heart and were helpful.

Last night continued to be very difficult. I ended up with a migraine and this morning I woke up with a headache. First thing this morning our doxie went looking for the dalmation and it broke my heart. DH and I never thought about it before, but now we are wondering what percentage of the time owners end up having to put their dogs down like this. My husband did this once with a previous pet and I did not go and we have had another pet actually die while he was at the vet's office being treated for serious illness.

This morning, I put a little photo of the dalmation on the piano with a lighted candle next to it. Perhaps some time later, I will get a larger one and put the collar nearby. I really can't look at the collar now.

Mrs. D...I did not know about the biting reputations of dalmations originally. Our dau is adopted and has a big heart. My thought was that she would not be able to cope with the thought of the dog being brought to the pound. I recall vividly how sweet he was to the two of us, so it was a big surprise when he didn't like my husband and son (at first). However, within a few days he was okay with them and in time, he really loved them too. However, it took many, many years before he was good with any other males. He also didn't really like children. Therefore, taking care of him was always extra work. Extra work because of his potential to bite and also because we did not get him as a puppy and he was not completely housebroken.

So only the immediate family could really enjoy him...particularly my daughter and I. He also liked one of my girlfriends...thank goodness. Sometimes she would take care of him if we went on short trips. He was a "ladies man!" LOL!

Over the years...people told me plenty of stories about the biting habits of dalmations. "Fear biting," is what some people called it. He seemed territorial to me. It was as if he only "loved" my daughter and I and that was it. He also seem to really liked my girlfriend. My son and husband came along with the package and eventually they became close. Men...well, they had to prove themselves to him first. Otherwise, they might get bitten. This dog had issues with them.

Well, I didn't shower yesterday.
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I think it is time.
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This is one aspect of pet ownership that I was not truly prepared for. My heart goes out to all here with aging pets. It is a heartbreaker.

my husband made a wooden picture frame with several different pictures in it and somehow folded the collar with tags and nailed it at the bottom of the frame, its really very nice.

I am sorry for your loss and sorry I just saw this....

I had a golden retriever that passed at 16 from Cancer. She was a Pet Therapy dog, I would take her to the local hospital and nursing home to visit the patients. When we went I would put a bandana on her - after she passed my mom took all the bandana and made a small quilt out of them. It was so cute! When we got the second puppy I used the quilt as her bed, I felt like Prudence (Golden) was taking care of Indy (new Chocolate Lab) and helping us raise her.....

We also took pictures of her and put them in a frame - My oldest DD has it now.

I am so sorry for your loss. I have been on vacation and am a bit late with my respnse.

I am in tears reading these posts. I am still missing my Sweet Nala I put her down almost 3 yrs ago. I have her picture in a special frame that I had made for her. I also have a tatoo of her with angels wings, because she was an angel.


I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
As loyal and loving as mine
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore him for being devine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog
Would have followed him all through the day
While he preached to the crowds,
Made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
To face death alone and apart
With no tender dog following close behind
To comfort the Master's heart.

When Jesus rose that easter morn,
How happy He would have been as His dog
Kissed His hand and barked its' delight
For the one who had died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now;
I just sent him mine, the one so dear to me-
And I smile through my tears
On this first day alone
Knowing they are in eternity.

Your stories touch my heart as well.
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How are you doing Vowel Lady?
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