"RIP my friend...." Topic

My first dog, Xena, The Warrior Princess Rhodesian Ridgeback, died last Saturday. She was 12 years old and died of Degenerative Myelopathy. The last 6 months were hard, she lost the use of her back legs slowly, and things really went pear shaped Friday night. We were going to put her down this week but she took a turn for the worst Friday night, and had to get her to the Vet Saturday morning.

She was a great friend, and loved to go fishing and camping with us. She was a watch dog, teddy bear, cleaner upper of spilled things in the kitchen and had a keen interest in hassling our cats. No pie cooling on the counter was safe, and she could pass wind and burp at the same time.

I will miss her soft brown eyes and the truck rides we would take together, the walks in the woods, and the swims in the ocean. Goodbye sweet Hound.

It's always sad when a great friend passes. Xena sounds like a great friend, you have my sympathy and best wishes.

Donald~

My sympathies. Take comfort in the fact she had a long and happy life.

I am sorry for your loss. She sounds like a great friend.

It's always rough losing a good friend and rougher when the pooch only is with you for 12 years. Sounds like she was a great companion.

Thank you. Only now are they screening dogs for this disease, which affects larger breeds.

My condoleances

Please accept my condolences. A great dog is the best friend.

"Best friends live forever in the memories we keep."

I'm sorry for your troubles. It's *hard* to lose a furry friend.

I'm so sorry you've lost her, it's a horrible disease. I'm so glad that you had her for those 12 years, though, she couldn't have been more loved.

Sorry for your loss.

Handsome animals, they are. Don't they use them to hunt lions?

Sorry to hear of the loss of your companion. Our Greater Swiss Mountain Dog died in a similar way. You try to hang on to them as long as you can, but you don't know if it's the right thing to do, he passed naturally as well.

She can play with my Conan in Dog Heaven.

I have already explained to my dog, that he will have to live as long as I do.

If dogs don't go to heaven, then when I die I want to go where they go. (Will Rogers)

Yes they were used in packs to flush out Lions for the hunters in Africa. Once again, thank you all for your kind words, they helped cheer us up.

Xena is probably romping with my Lady (1/2 Lab, 1/2 Ridgeback, passed 2 years ago at age 11), now that they don't hurt and everything works like it should.

You were blessed with 12 years, so was she.

We bury our dogs with grave goods – their leash & collars (so they can take themselves for walkies), dog dishes (so they have "their" food in heaven), and balls or other toys for them to bring to us when we get up there.

Condolances for your loss, it never gets easier, but a new dog helps it get better.

My condolences, always hard to lose a friend

So sorry for your loss. Prayers sent for both you and Xena.

I just hate to loose dogs, I've lost two dogs in my life and I just could't deal with it.

We now have a 10 year old semi paralized dog, she's not in any pain and she can walk, so we aren't going to put her to sleep, but 10 years means we only have a few more years left with her.

I realy feel 10+ years just isn't enough for something you end up loving that much.
I won't by another dog before you can get geneticly super dogs that live for 50 years.

I'm sorry for your loss, all dogs are uniqe, and you are never gettig another Xena

All the very best.
Sounds like you and Xena were both very lucky to have one another.

So sorry to hear of this. It hurts unbearably to lose a friend this way.

Rest easy,Xena. And deepest sympathies,Iouliared.