Woody Options

[Steve K.]

I was here ten years ago for my Beauregard. Now I am here for my Woody. Woody was a dog that nobody wanted so me and the wife took him in. He was a handful at first and he made us wonder if we made the right decision but he turned out to be a wonderful dog. He was a retriever mix and a beautiful red color.

Well, on Sunday 09/21/08, I went out for the day and the wife took the dogs (we have another shelter dog) for a walk. They were both on a leash but Woody pulled away from my wife and ran into the street. He was hit by a car and the wife got animal control to take him to the emergency clinic where the vet said it didn't look good. The wife made the decision to let Woody go and when I got home, my heart was broken. My poor wife had to watch him get hit by the car and then make the decision to let him go. We are both heartbroken. I can't sleep, I can't eat, and all I do is cry at the drop of a hat. Our other dog (Smokey Joe) is 9 years old but Woody was only four. I expected him to be around for many years. Why did God take our dog from us? I don't think that we are bad people. We took in both dogs and two stray cats. We love our animals like children. Why was he taken from us?

[LoveThem]

Why did God take our dog from us? I don't think that we are bad people. We took in both dogs and two stray cats. We love our animals like children. Why was he taken from us?

When I read these questions, it made me think of a topic I put in the Tributes section of the forum, called "A Dog" about a little boy's answer to such a question. It was a feel-good answer when I first read it and there may be a little bit of comfort there.

I am so sorry about what happened to Woody and that your wife had to witness it all. That to me is one of life's cruelest moments that can't be explained. It is a terrible accident and seems just so senseless a loss. And yes, the question would be WHY?

There is really no comforting answer because it is just felt it should not have happened at all. What power is it that does this to such an innocent baby?

I see by his pictures that Woody was a beautiful boy and big dogs are always so very huggable!

It is understandable to cry, and then cry again. Taken so young is heartbreaking. What has helped me over the years is I came to the belief that when it is a baby's time to go....it will be taken out of our hands and we will have no control over what happens because that is the one battle we will always lose.

If they are not truly meant to go, we will be able to do things to keep them with us longer. We are allowed to win that battle.

I have seen puppies go, I have had a 3 year old boxer/shepherd become epileptic (at a time there was no cure or treatment), and we have no choice but to accept what happens. All we can ever do is the best we know how...sometimes it works and we are thankful but other times...it is truly beyond our control.

In the way it happened....part of your crying may be looking for a closure because you were not there through it all. That can make you feel helpless but if you can think of it as fate was in charge..you will realize...nothing could have changed what happened. It is a terrible tragedy and all you can do is hug your wife and you two cry together because you both have the same pain and understand just how much it hurts inside. Of course, you two are not bad people. The answer to your WHY question is asked by many who have been in similar situations...and I guess a simple answer would be that....it was just meant to be. Not fair? Of course not..it never is. But it is a cruel part of life that sometimes becomes a part of our lives...for no reason at all.

I like that you mentioned you have another shelter dog. A few months ago, I got a shelter cat and gave him a home when we lost our last one, Little Guy, last September. Sometimes I think they are taken from us because maybe there is another "brother" or "sister" who needs us and I know when I have such a loss...it helps me to get another and it helps them to have a real home. I also know if over the years...I never lost the first one...I would never have known the next one, and so on. Sometimes it helps to feel something good can come out of a tragedy.

And, instead of "no reason", I like to think of what the little boy said in that topic I posted in Tributes called "A Dog".

Please write here as often as you feel like it. Share your thoughts and feelings and questions. We all share the same pain because we have had the same loss so we do understand and we try to let you know what has helped us to start healing.

Grief is exhausting and very overwhelming and it takes time before we are in more control of it.

You describe both your dogs as shelter dogs. You and your wife gave both these babies a good home with love in it. They could not have asked for a better life than you provided. You both did the best you could for Woody for the time you were allowed to have him. He knows that and you both know that too, deep down in your hearts. What takes these precious ones out of our lives is something we cannot win that battle.

Woody has a special place in your hearts. That is where he can never be taken from you. In time, you will be able to remember the good days of happiness of being together and just know that time is so very special....we are always glad we did have it.

One "Mom" here said: The pain of losing him will never ever be greater than the joy of knowing him.

Think about that. I do and it helps me because no matter how great or how little the time, I am grateful I had each one of these precious best friends for the time that I did and I would never ever have given up having them in my life...even though I know there will come a time they will be taken away. We always pray it is many years in the future but we and our best friend never have any guarantee, do we?

Hugs to you and your wife. I am so very very sorry about what happened to Woody. His pictures show a very happy, beautiful and loveable dog.

I wish you peace and healing....and just remember (as you said you were here years ago) that it really does take time. But by coming here, you are never alone.

There is always someone here listening and wanting to help.