R.I.P Maggie Mae

[berettabone]

It was a tough weekend. Our Shepard mix Maggie had been having a difficult time walking for a while. We could tell she was in a lot of pain We could see she was slowly going downhill. We had to drive a couple hours on Sunday to UWM Hospital in Madison. We thought it was myopathy for a while, but vets said no. It was either deteriorating spinal issues or cancer. Today, she couldn't walk at all. She had lost most of her mobility and for a Shepard, that's their life. So, we had to put her down. We've been through it before, but this one has been the toughest. Most intelligent, brave, intuitive, loving dog I've ever been around. Anyone who owns or has owned a Shepard knows what I'm talking about. RIP Mags, you'll be missed more than we could express with words.

[jeepster09]

That's tuff loss. I feel for you.

[jeepster09]

https://scontent-msp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/242316576_1781229272071989_1154386737249616807_n.j pg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=cc71e4&_nc_ohc=3JTC6Pp8u7QQ7kNvgFzlhCq&_nc_ht=scontent-msp1-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBzHkDenB58r1PXe25IHb2Aeo9-V7ksFrlPLgCSVejjA&oe=66DD64CF

[Bawanna]

Terribly sad day when we lose our furry friends. She was a fine looking dog. So sorry for your loss B.

[Armybrat]

Sorry to hear about Maggie Mae.
Always a very sad thing to endure.

[getsome]

So very sorry bone, it’s so hard to lose them but I believe you will see her again…..All dogs go to heaven…..

[AJBert]

I know your pain a few times over. We put our last GS down about 9 years ago. Tore my heart out. We replaced her a year later with a mutt from the local shelter. Still miss our Shepard, but love the dog we have now. After this dog, I don't know if we'll get another. We are both getting up in our years and I would hate to leave a dog with someone else a dog after I/we are gone.

[dao]

Sorry for your loss BB. It's never easy, but it's especially hard when you have to make the decision that's best for them, yet hardest on you.

[kenemoore]

I feel you, had to do the same a few times, it's never easy.

[berettabone]

I know your pain a few times over. We put our last GS down about 9 years ago. Tore my heart out. We replaced her a year later with a mutt from the local shelter. Still miss our Shepard, but love the dog we have now. After this dog, I don't know if we'll get another. We are both getting up in our years and I would hate to leave a dog with someone else a dog after I/we are gone. Kind of where we're at.....................

[340pd]

Sorry bud.

[Bawanna]

We went for quite a while after our last dog passed suddenly. Just didn't want another dog. Then we found an ad for the Schnauzer while over at the lake 2 years back. Friend over that had one for many years and he was just my pal. He'd run over and jump in my lap. Great dog. He did the same thing after he passed and went without for a couple years. We both gave in. Guess men just need a dog.

[berettabone]

Yeah, we went 11 years after our lab died. Wife said no more dogs. Then I talked her into visiting the Humane Society. We were introduced to Maggie, and she ripped across the room and looked out the window with me, put her paw on my leg and said get me out of here. She was rescued from an Alabama kill shelter. They don't keep them long down south. A family had adopted her, and after one day, they took her back but took her back to a different shelter. No balls. It's more difficult when you don't have/know much history. She was approx. 3 years old when we got her so who knows what she went through. She wasn't leash trained, picked up paper and cigarette butts and probably was a bit of a runner. Who knows what she had eaten in the past. Needed a bath badly and had worms. Slowly, with some patience and a lot of work, we trained her out of all of it. She did like to chase the occasional squirrel or rabbit but turned out to be a great dog. Never wanted to go on the bed or furniture. Always told us when she had to go out. She did a few things that we think may have been taught to her by someone else. Sitting up on her hind legs, rolling on her back and playing with a tennis ball without dropping it. Shaking. Was never food aggressive. I would like to get another dog, buy the wife needs some time. I said don't wait too long, I could be next.................:p

[Bawanna]

My schnauzer is very possessive of our back yard, we got lots of birds and squirrels and a neighbor cat that likes to torment her. She chases em all every chance she gets. It's a fenced yard so it's her domain.
I think it's just what dogs do chasing em. It's funny watching the squirrels torment her, sit just out of reach knowing she can't get to em. She has caught a few but just whipped em around and they got loose and took off.
Most of the squirrels will come right up in my lap for peanuts, even just outside the gate. About this time of year I don't go to the shop without a pocket full of peanuts in case I get ambushed.

[jeepster09]

Get off my [*lawn] *DECK.....

[AJBert]

The dog we have now was a year old went we got him out of our local shelter. He was originally picked up around Los Alamos, NM around 8 months old, shipped over to some place in Texas for four months, then imported up here. Pretty sure every shelter in Texas is a kill shelter, and the shelter here finds as many dogs and cats from kill shelters as they can. After the first couple weeks we had him we could tell he was abused. Took some time for him to trust us. Even today, if I raise my voice for any reason, he will run off and hide in the bedroom. I have to coax him out and let him know I'm not mad at him. He follows me everywhere, mopes if I leave the house without him, goes crazy when I get back home. Took some training for him to understand NOT to chew anything in the house when we both leave. As far as chasing critters, he learned a valuable lesson early on. After I started walking him off leash (we live in the country a stone's throw from the National Forest land) he smelt something down the hill that caught his attention in a big way and took off. I yelled to him to no avail. I then heard wood crashing down below and knew he found some elk bedded. I looked down between the trees until I saw 6-8 elk beating feet and him in hot pursuit. Yelled and yelled to no avail again. Came in the house and told the wife what happened. She asked if I am going after the dog. I told her he was getting close to a mile away by now and it is up to him to get home. I was out working in front of the garage when I saw him coming up the road, tongue dragging on the dirt about 2 hours after he took off after the elk. I hollered to him, he wagged his tail and dragged himself up to the house. Since that day, he will not chase anything without looking at me to get permission. I'll let him chase a rabbit or squirrel now and then. He took off after about a dozen turkeys the other day, hens and goslings, until I yelled and he turned around immediately. I didn't see the turkeys before he took off. I will say it was pretty cool seeing those turkeys take to the immediately and roost in the high branches of the trees, though. He is much better off leash than on. He is very well trained for me, not so much my wife. He's 9 years old now, healthy as all get out, still about a quarter of the puppy in him. He's about 60 lbs, so I figure he's still got a few more good years in him.

After this topic started, I said I don't know if we'll get another dog after this one is gone. Then I got to thinking, there are plenty of adult dogs in the shelters. Maybe, we will get one of these older dogs as most folks would rather have a puppy. Maybe be able to give that older dog the best life they ever had for the years they have left. This way, just maybe, I won't have to worry about anyone taking care of the dog after I'm gone. Will have to think more on this after Tuco, our dog, is gone. I'm sure quite a few of you know where that name comes from. I've waited for years for the right dog to come along that warranted that name.

[Bawanna]

When it's time to shoot,,, shoot, don't talk?

[dustnchips]

I lost my little Yorkiepoo that I had for 15 years about 15 months ago. I pick up my new one in two weeks. I got rid of everything when the old one died so I am gathering stuff in anntisapation.