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?

[ann]

Hi Steve, If you feel the time is right for a new dog, then go for it. You know it won't replace Woody but heal the wounds a bit. I know how you feel about wanting to say something to your partner. In my case, Dave wants to just forget about the whole thing and move on. Not forget about Arthur but the shattered heart he experienced. I cannot ignor the pain, tears, all that. He wanted him to be an indoor cat, I wanted outdoor. He use to say to me whenever he came home hurt "your the one that wanted him to be an outdoor cat". Even after this I said please don't say it and he said no, no, he loved it outside that's where he wanted to be. But I can't help thinking he's bursting at the seems, holding it in, and one day boom! "he should have never been an outdoor cat this is all your fault". It makes me sick to my stomach but that is how I'm feeling. Is he thinking this or is it my own guilt. Like you I know how you want to say something, but your right, there will be problems, she will think your blaming her and it was just an accident. So, let the tears flow. I also know that you didn't get a chance to say goodbye and I know that has played a big part in your grief. When my cat Daisy was put down without my knowledge I literally had a nervous breakdown. This time I was there, I had to be. But in all honesty, the vet called Dave at 4am and said he had a rough night and was having a hard time breathing. Dave said after the whole ordeal "I wish they said he had died so I wouldn't have gone thru this". And in some ways so do I. My first euthemism and it was the most horrible thing I ever went thru.. Only we know when it is time to let our grief go. I hope your new pup will help you with yours.. Let us know.. Hugs ..Ann