1pcarnut

Animals are wonderful companions. We just got a new Great Dane puppy last week, she loves that duck.

Mark in Baltimore

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone.

Bobby, hope it's getting easier. I still miss the hell out of Rudy.

Congrats on your new pup, Roger.

The Brewmeister

^

Dan Snyder

Dad always said that dog guys get ONE great dog....if they're lucky. So you've been lucky. love the new one and don't be disappointed if he' s not Rudy. You sound like a good enough master that you will probably never have a bad dog. Tight lines !

Dan

Mark in Baltimore

Thanks for adding the link.

Thanks, Dan. I haven't replaced Rudy yet, but I now have two sweet cats. I'll get a new dog at some point.

Kigiin

That too is what my vet told me - not true though, I am on great dog #2!

MrRoboto

Mark, i'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I lost my dog of 18 years in 2009 and it still hurts.

tcsracing1

My heart goes out to you. I dont know what i would do without my little pup. I fear the day it comes.

I advise everyone to cherish each day you have with your furry little friend like it was the last.

I sneak my little pup into hotels for track days too....
I hate being without her.

M. Schneider

Mark -
Fond memories for sure . . . what-a-pup!

My girls (age's 12) came home with a Portuguese Water Dog bitch 4+ years ago.. . .. I feel your pain.


+ 993 . Well said.

timothymoffat

My two dogs are getting older. Dino is close to 14 and Daisy is almost 10. We get closer as they get older.

I fear the days ahead.

Ed Hughes

I've been lucky, in that I've had three GREAT dogs in my life. I've also been lucky in that I've not had to make the tough decision.

There's a song that I love:

http://www.scottkirby.com/album/4-good-dogs

I'm taking the lyrics to heart, as the gospel truth!

We may take the plunge again later this year, and adopt another adult, but probably not as old as the last time: our vet put Kai at north of 12 when we got him! We gave him the best two years of his life....

mrsullivan

deleted stupid me didnt see original post date

clib

while I'm sure Mark still has pain remembering this, I know I have with ours, just a note for those who didn't notice it, the origiinal post was from 2010.

Mark in Baltimore

Yup, it was a while ago, Bill. The pain is still there but has gotten better. Hard to not think about him.

Thanks so much. Eighteen years was a good run.

There were very few days when I didn't shower Rudy with more love than one dog could ever imagine.

Thanks, Mike.

One of the hardest parts was realizing that I was going to have to let him go and to know that all I would have left are memories, photos and video. Well, there's this thread, too.

Ed, I'm hoping to have another great dog like Rudy. I think it can be done, although it is the luck of the draw.

Thanks for your words, Jonathan; they are much appreciated despite the amount of time that has passed. I read them on my phone yesterday and didn't have a chance to respond.

Ed Hughes

The good side of this late renewal, is to show that the extreme sorrow at the time does lessen, to be replaced by all of the good memories. They never replace the loss, but they fill in a good chunk of the holes left in our hearts.