Dogs, dog fighting, and personal property...

[FittyFour]

I've been reading thru the the Michael Vick's thread about dog-fighting and felt that at least one thread should be started to balance off the intellectualization of a horrific "sport" - if you can call it that.

Pesonal story:

Yesterday, one of my "pups" - a seven year old beagle/basset mix named Max - was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and possibly bone marrow disease. We understand the biopsy results due next week will only confirm what a very experienced vet has already told us. Next steps are our choice - with chemo for 6 months, he will probably only live another year.

Max, like most "companion" animals, shared our home, our food, and our lives. He lived "with" us and we cared "for" him. We didn't "own" him - you can't "own" a life whether it's two legs, four legs, or eight.

As we told our kids when we got Max, as we did with our other two dogs, they are "responsible" for him.

At the veterinary hospital, we were surrounded by other people with their companion animals who suffered trauma, the effects of chronic disease, or the surprise of a final morbid diagnosis. These people did not abandon their animals to their instincts - they continued to care for them at great cost both in money, in hope, and lastly, in grief.

None of us there could ever imagine putting our companions into a ring -with no choice - to be horrifically mauled or killed for entertainment.

And we wouldn't do it not because it's illegal - but because it's wrong ethically, morally, and spiritually.

To put it in greater context -

We sit at the top of the food chain here on this earth. And, to use an expression, with great power comes great responsibility. At the local level, I provide my dogs shelter, food, respect, love, concern, and guard their health and security. In return, they provide me and my family unconditional love, friendship, companionship.

I can only hope that each of you has an opportunity to share in that type of connection.

[Mark1T]

Wonderful post, FittyFour, and what a sweet doggie. It is heartbreaking to see a pet that is part of the family, suffer. Been through that a couple times. It brings the family together, but very sad. You will pull through.

[biggaz]

I'm sorry for your bad news and totally agree with your post.
We share our house with a two yr old rottie bitch called roxy. She's only been with us since her second birthday, March 2nd when we adopted her from a friend who was emigrating.

She's our little girl and i couldn't imagine losing her.

[Baldsnake]

Great post. All the best from the Snake Den....Randee, Bill, Squirt, Squat and Teddy. (I know weird names but some 30 critters over the years ran outta names) We truly understand.

[=M=]

I'm sorry for the bad news.

This really touched a nerve; about a week ago, I had to put my old kitty to sleep. He was almost 20 years old, and we'd had him since he was about 6 months old. He had an inoperable mass in his abdomen.

It's a very difficult decision to make.

You are so right about all they give us in return. I couldn't imagine not sharing my life with dogs or cats.

[Nikonguy]

You got it right Fitty. We are the ones with choices, the animals have none.

I'm sad for what you are going through, we were there 3 years ago and still miss her.

[Keck]

Originally Posted by FittyFour

I've been reading thru the the Michael Vick's thread about dog-fighting and felt that at least one thread should be started to balance off the intellectualization of a horrific "sport" - if you can call it that.

Pesonal story:

Yesterday, one of my "pups" - a seven year old beagle/basset mix named Max - was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and possibly bone marrow disease. We understand the biopsy results due next week will only confirm what a very experienced vet has already told us. Next steps are our choice - with chemo for 6 months, he will probably only live another year.

Max, like most "companion" animals, shared our home, our food, and our lives. He lived "with" us and we cared "for" him. We didn't "own" him - you can't "own" a life whether it's two legs, four legs, or eight.

As we told our kids when we got Max, as we did with our other two dogs, they are "responsible" for him.

At the veterinary hospital, we were surrounded by other people with their companion animals who suffered trauma, the effects of chronic disease, or the surprise of a final morbid diagnosis. These people did not abandon their animals to their instincts - they continued to care for them at great cost both in money, in hope, and lastly, in grief.

None of us there could ever imagine putting our companions into a ring -with no choice - to be horrifically mauled or killed for entertainment.

And we wouldn't do it not because it's illegal - but because it's wrong ethically, morally, and spiritually.

To put it in greater context -

We sit at the top of the food chain here on this earth. And, to use an expression, with great power comes great responsibility. At the local level, I provide my dogs shelter, food, respect, love, concern, and guard their health and security. In return, they provide me and my family unconditional love, friendship, companionship.

I can only hope that each of you has an opportunity to share in that type of connection.

I'm with you...ANYONE who thinks this type of behavior is alright or " it's their property, it's their business" is really EDKUCF in the head. It pisses me off to no ends to hear this. Some people think it's just a dog...wrong...it's a life and they have as much right to live their lives as we do...but we think we're SOOOOO fu@king superior that we can do what ever gets our sick and twisted minds off. People like that ought to be treated like that...they want violence and blood shed so much we should give it to them.

[IR45N]

Thanks for sharing the photo of Max. Sad, there are far too many houses that also have an animal with no more attention or concern than an inanimate garden hose, garbage can or table. It's just a thing or piece of 'stuff' the owners have; not a living creature with needs.

me and my pal toby send our best too...... and i agree anyone who puts an animal into a ring for their pure entertainment..... is a criminal and a poor excuse for a human.....

[Shannon Dey]

I couldn't agree with you all more!! All these creatures want in return for their love and devotion to us is kindness!! That specific quality that they instinctually posess them makes them almost angelic. Thank you for starting this thread and we feel for you and send our prayers to you and your family.

These are pics of my Persian "Babette Bardot" first at a kitten, and last week at one year!!

[FittyFour]

Hi Folks;

This is all great stuff! I really appreciate the kind thoughts and the wonderful pics.

[RubenC]

I feel your pain Fifty-four, my wife and I have been through this a couple of times with our first two Corgis. One left us peacefully the other was slower, but we loved them dearly and miss them still.

We've adopted two more since and I feel we will alway have a dog in our lives, they just give so much and ask so little. Choice is definitely ours, and for my part I choose companionship, love and respect for our animals.

[DumpyMom]

I see news stories about dog fighting and it makes me sick. I just don't understand how watching something like that could be "entertaining".

Me and Amy (brittany) wish Max the best. Due to health issues, Amy will probably only be with me another year or so. I refuse to even let myself think about that though, just makes me cry.

[FittyFour]

I think we should always enjoy the time we have with ourselves, family, friends, close companions like Amy, Babette, Toby, Roxy, all of Baldies critters past and present, and all of the great and little ones that share our lives.

Update: Max took a turn for the worse last night. Got a call around 5 AM and doc said that he was having trouble breathing and needed another blood transfusion to get thru until we have a final diagnosis. I gave permission - reluctantly. It hurts to put him thru this but felt that there may be some slim chance that he's got something more treatable and less deadly than cancer.

Beyond that, we may just bring him home to have him with us a few more hours. Just have to figure out exactly which pain to deal with.

They're not just pets are they...they're little bandits that steal our hearts.

[PhoenixBuff]

Originally Posted by FittyFour

I've been reading thru the the Michael Vick's thread about dog-fighting and felt that at least one thread should be started to balance off the intellectualization of a horrific "sport" - if you can call it that.

Pesonal story:

Yesterday, one of my "pups" - a seven year old beagle/basset mix named Max - was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and possibly bone marrow disease. We understand the biopsy results due next week will only confirm what a very experienced vet has already told us. Next steps are our choice - with chemo for 6 months, he will probably only live another year.

Max, like most "companion" animals, shared our home, our food, and our lives. He lived "with" us and we cared "for" him. We didn't "own" him - you can't "own" a life whether it's two legs, four legs, or eight.

As we told our kids when we got Max, as we did with our other two dogs, they are "responsible" for him.

At the veterinary hospital, we were surrounded by other people with their companion animals who suffered trauma, the effects of chronic disease, or the surprise of a final morbid diagnosis. These people did not abandon their animals to their instincts - they continued to care for them at great cost both in money, in hope, and lastly, in grief.

None of us there could ever imagine putting our companions into a ring -with no choice - to be horrifically mauled or killed for entertainment.

And we wouldn't do it not because it's illegal - but because it's wrong ethically, morally, and spiritually.

To put it in greater context -

We sit at the top of the food chain here on this earth. And, to use an expression, with great power comes great responsibility. At the local level, I provide my dogs shelter, food, respect, love, concern, and guard their health and security. In return, they provide me and my family unconditional love, friendship, companionship.

I can only hope that each of you has an opportunity to share in that type of connection.

Excellent excellent post! Thanks for that.

I'm one of those people who spares no expense to allow my animals to live long, happy lives and I won't change a thing. I have 2-20 year old cats that will be hard to let go some day.

[claycat]

Great post

Sorry about Max's diagnosis, I am glad he has such a caring family to see him through it.

I have an alaskan malamute and a border collie, 2 cat and three horses all rescues to some degree.

[St. Nicholas]

Excellent post - my aunt used to say - pets are people too- I am not sure why people would want to use what normal folks would consider pets/members of the family for amuzement. - I guess I just don't get it -

Thank God!!

[jacktheblack]

somebody rep fitty for me the site wont let me give him any more

great, great post

[Dave76]

Originally Posted by jacktheblack

somebody rep fitty for me the site wont let me give him any more

great, great post

Done.

We currently have four dogs. I don't "own" them, I am their caretaker. I love them all dearly.

[rmomjian]

Originally Posted by jacktheblack

somebody rep fitty for me the site wont let me give him any more

great, great post

done

[RubenC]

Originally Posted by FittyFour

I think we should always enjoy the time we have with ourselves, family, friends, close companions like Amy, Babette, Toby, Roxy, all of Baldies critters past and present, and all of the great and little ones that share our lives.

Update: Max took a turn for the worse last night. Got a call around 5 AM and doc said that he was having trouble breathing and needed another blood transfusion to get thru until we have a final diagnosis. I gave permission - reluctantly. It hurts to put him thru this but felt that there may be some slim chance that he's got something more treatable and less deadly than cancer.

Beyond that, we may just bring him home to have him with us a few more hours. Just have to figure out exactly which pain to deal with.

They're not just pets are they...they're little bandits that steal our hearts.

Our first Corgi was diagnosed with leukemia at 7 years, we were given a week for her. We were devastated and tried treatment for about a week, the treatment was not pleasant for her, so we opted to let her go with us at home. Our little girl passed away peacefully at home, there was no pain fortunately. My wife and I cried for a week, yes they do take our hearts, but you know I remember a quote that read something like this"

"It is better to love someone with all your heart and feel the pain, than to not love and wonder what could have been".

Here is a poem that was given to me when we had to say farewell to our little companion:

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done, for this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand, but don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest, your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years, you wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where to my needs they'll tend, only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me, until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree, it is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you, who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years, don't let your heart hold any tears.

-- Unknown

[FittyFour]

That was wonderful - thank you.

Update - although Max has escaped the cancer diagnosis, it seems he has autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Basically his own immune system is attacking his red blood cells as fast as he can produce them. Doc said the prognosis is poor - they can at this point support him with immune suppressing drugs like steroids. But complications are already there - his respiratory distress could be a sign of clots in his lungs.

So we opted to take him home and treat him here. They sent us home with the prednisone and when to administer. We just didn't want him to struggle in a clinical setting - we wanted him here with us and we'll take the fight on ourselves. We'll add in some complementary medicine to provide additional support.

Thank you all for your good thoughts. I really appreciate the friendship.

[RubenC]

My best wishes to you and yours, this is the tough part, but I'm sure you'll get through this.

[JesusReagan]

Godspeed, Max!

[PhoenixBuff]

Originally Posted by JesusReagan

Godspeed, Max!

X2

[BrianT14]

Great thread, and so true.

They give us they're all and want so little in return.

A quote I saw and liked is,

"May we always be the person our dogs think we are."

Thats alot to aspire to... great thread.

[pitmommy]

I think that boxing is a terrible sport.

[Minotaur]

My heart goes out to you, FittyFour.

I lost my Misty to feline asthma when she was 3 years old. She was on prednisone pills, and depomedrol injections for acute attacks. But in the end, it got her. She died on the way to the animal hospital, during an acute attack.

I lost my Toby to Chronic Renal Failure a year ago March. She was 16 1/2, and with me for 16 years. She was my baby. We threw people out of the house who made disparaging comments about "that cat".

At the end I was giving her sub-q Lactated ringers solution to try to keep her hydrated. Finally I realized that it was time, and called the animal hospital. I cried for two weeks before and after. It still sneaks up on me occasionally. To this day I cannot read Rainbow Bridge or even think about it very long without tears (like now).

They are our babies.

[FittyFour]

Max is gone.

His breathing became very shallow and labored by yesterday afternoon. Even though he could manage a wag of the tail, we knew he was suffering terribly.

We met the vet early yesterday evening. It was a very difficult decision. But he was surrounded by his family and by a loving doctor who took care of him for the seven years he was with us.

Thank you all for your kind wishes and thoughts. BrianT14 - I'm going to use that quote for a while if you don't mind.

Love to you all.

[IR45N]

Darn! So sorry to read about Max's passing. Take care during this hard time.
You're right, that's a good quote to live by! RIP Max.