Longtime DUers might remember my great big feral rescue dog.....

[Coventina]

FLVegan helped me out with a lot of advice while I civilized him, back in 2009....

Had to say goodbye to him this morning. He just turned 14 (estimated).

Long life for a GSD mix - 100 lbs.

He was an amazing dog. So smart that he went from completely feral to a civilized gentleman in a few months.

My tiny house sure feels empty without him....

Dogs are perfect, except they don't live long enough.

I'll miss you so much, you big guy.

[blm]

1. 😢🕯

[Diamond_Dog]

2. They are never with us long enough

I know how it feels. I am so sorry for your loss

[hlthe2b]

3. I am among many here who truly understand. I guess the tradeoff for our having the love of dogs

is the acceptance that it is very much limited time.

[CottonBear]

4. I am so sorry.

🕯 🐕 💛

[3catwoman3]

5. One of our vets once said that we bring our animals into our lives knowing...

…that we will most likely outlive them, but we do it anyway, because life is so much better with them in it. So true.

[Me.]

6. ...

Dogs are perfect

[sinkingfeeling]

7. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[cilla4progress]

8. Pic?

Similar experience here. 💖

[irisblue]

9. 🕯️ I am sorry for your loss

[catbyte]

10. I'm so very sorry, Coventina

They're family.

[UpInArms]

11. Am so sorry, dear Coventina

[mgardener]

12. I am so sorry

[GPV]

13. I'm so sorry.

[DBoon]

14. humans don't adopt dogs

dogs select their families.

This dog knew you were the best, and chose you

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. I am sorry for you loss

It is hard to say goodbye to a member of the family

[ZZenith]

16. Holding you in my heart, Coventina.

Thanks for taking him in and providing paradise for him.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

17. Sorry for your loss.

[Phentex]

18. My heart goes out to you!

I know you will miss your sweet big boy!

[gademocrat7]

19. So sorry for your loss.

Take care.💕

[Nevilledog]

20. ...

Thank you for giving him a wonderful life.

[MontanaMama]

21. I am so sorry for your loss.

Dogs are indeed perfect.

[FoxNewsSucks]

22. I'm so sorry,

All dogs are better than most people and most dogs are better than all people.

Every time I go out, that gets proven.

[HAB911]

23. Good Dogs

[KT2000]

26. Thanks for posting this!

I know I will be sharing this with friends.

[KT2000]

24. You have my sympathy

It is so hard to lose our best friend. Peace to you Coventina.

[cheri010353]

25. Hugs, Coventina

Losing a beloved pet is a special kind of hurt. They fill our lives with so much joy and love it's incredibly hard to lose them. The time goes so fast...

[niyad]

27. Lady of the Beasts, please take Your little one gently home in Your loving arms, and

send peace and comfort to his grieving loved ones.

So very sorry for your loss.

[SheltieLover]

28. Deepest condolences

Healing vibes on the way to you. 💓💓💓

[MLAA]

29. Sending love

💖💖💖💗💗💗💕💕

[beemerphill]

30. Sorry for your loss.

A good dog can be an important part of a person's life. They are so much more than just animals. They listen and understand what you are feeling. They never judge, they just want to be your best friend and protect you. You are lucky to have had him as part of your life.

[Niagara]

31. We would love to see photos :)

My deepest condolences on your loss.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

32. I know how that goes.

My wife brought home a puppy that had been abandoned, and told me that we would only keep it until she found a good home for her. Seventeen years later, Micaiah died in my eldest son's bedroom -- so Suz did find a good home for Micaiah, it was ours. Micaiah was the nicest dog you could imagine: sweet, intelligent and a very good companion.

Suz met and got to know a Great Pyrenees, and told me, "That's the kind of dog I want." She found one at the local animal shelter. Abigail had been bought as a puppy by some people who tied her to a tree in the back yard (and Illinois can have nasty weather), fed her whenever they thought about it, and then moved out-of-state leaving her still tied to the tree. When she was rescued at about 18 months old, she weighed 55 pounds -- her proper weight was twice that. We adopted her, and despite her early life, she turned out to be a truly sweet, gentle, intelligent, loving dog. She died at 13, which was far too soon.

We are currently on our fourth and fifth Pyrs, Constanze and Amadeus (named after Mozart and his wife). Also, really nice dogs.

[NoMoreRepugs]

33. Another adventure in dogdom awaits at your local shelter.

[Rural_Progressive]

34. Have lived with my best friends my whole life

except the service and university.

Am old enough now that the Kangal Dog puppy I got in May will likely be the last dog of my life. For a giant breed they live a long time, 12 to 15 years. If she lives to 15 I will be almost 85. Not fair to die and leave them without their best friend. She's a great motivation for me to stay fit and healthy as long as I can since she is a total joy.

Knowing that in all likelihood I will never enjoy things like the wonderful puppy smell again makes everything and everyday amazingly special.

I'm sorry you lost your buddy, it never gets easier.

[Permanut]

35. Good on ya for providing him a good home..

We just got a twelve year old rescue chihuahua two months ago; we'll spoil him rotten as long as we can.

[BigmanPigman]

36. I know!!!

My apt is a tomb and has been for over a year since my baby left me (17 years is a long time to be in love with someone and we were). It hasn't gotten any better either. I hope you handle the "loud silence" better than I have.

[GeoWilliam750]

37. Terribly sorry for your loss, but I am sure you know that

ALL dogs go to heaven.

It sounds like you may have several friends waiting for you

[Laffy Kat]

38. They leave a hole in our heart every damn time.

He was obviously well-cared for if he lived to 14. I am so sorry for your loss.

[kpete]

39. Your statement

Dogs are perfect, except they don't live long enough.

I lost my Roo last year. Not over the loss yet, such a good loyal companion. I still talk to her.

peace to you and may the memory of FLVegan fill a space in your heart forever,

kp

[Hotler]

41. Epitaph To a Dog

Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains
Of one
Who possessed Beauty
Without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man
Without his Vices.

The Price, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over Human Ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
“Boatswain,” a Dog
Who was born at Newfoundland,
May, 1803,
And died in Newstead Abbey,
Nov. 18, 1808.

When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown by glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And stories urns record that rests below.
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master’s own,
Who labors, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!
By nature vile, ennoble but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who perchance behold this simple urn,
Pass on – it honors none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one – and here he lies.

Lord Byron’s tribute to “Boatswain,” on a monument in the garden of Newstead Abbey.

https://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/byron/epitaph_to_dog.html

[WinstonSmith4740]

42. So sorry.

This says it all.

&list=RDQ7-PfzpQcJs&index=2

[Tribetime]

43. So sorry dogs give perfect unlimited live and

Just want love in return....they are gifts from God.

[CrispyQ]

44. They enrich our lives so much, don't they?

So sorry for your loss.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

45. 🐶💔🙏

So very sorry, it’s a searing grief.

[lambchopp59]

46. I went a 6 months dogless after Caleb, 120 lbs of mellow yellow lab

Much as I still miss him terribly 1 1/2 years later, my new shelter adoption project has my hands very full: This is Tiago. Short for Santiago, but he's no saint. Far from it. It was unknown how long he fended for himself during some of the california fires. He showed signs of abuse/neglect all trusting now. Still has some doggie socialization issues, but now turning estimate of 2 years old, all the working with him is starting to come back to me. So loving...