Through growing up, I had many pets; Turtles, frogs, dogs and cats and yet when they go, run away or pass away I never feel emotional. I see people all the time getting emotional over the loss of their pet. Tears, sadness and everything, but I shrugged it off because you know I never been in that situation, even though I do give them my support. Well when I was about 9 or 10 my grandpa had got a puppy named Sky.

I'm not sure what kind of dog he was. he was a white dog and had large black spots on his body (he becomes a pretty big hairy dog if ya don't keep him shaved). I loved that dog and we grew up together. He loved everybody and hated snakes. My grandpa also had a much older dog named Teddy and they would always fight for my attention so I had to break these two dogs up. Well ya know going over my grandpa's house I always see the dog around and i put my arm around him wherever I go, so much that if my arm is not around his he does it on his own.

Well I'm going on 22 now and it was about a month ago when my dad told me the news about Sky passing away from cancer (never knew he had it because he was always full of energy). At first when my pop told me, it sunk into me about 5 minutes after that and just the one though of me visiting my grandparents and not seeing that dog run up to me killed me. It made me tear up and I'm sure grandpa took it harder than I did. Me and that dog grew up together and I remember the first day I saw him to the last time I saw him.

Well I still have my rottwiler Sheba (which is the family dog at my place) and you know I love her dearly and even more now. It sucks to see a pet go like that. Life goes on though. I'm going to see if I can get a dog for my grandpa for chrismas though. I just wanted to share the story as I'm sure many of you been in the same situation. Sorry for my spelling too.

ya, pets are great.  Love them while you can because they dont stay around long.  Ive been a pet owner my whole life, lost several cats..one dog who lived to be 22 years old.  It breaks your heart, and I know it sounds corny but they bring a lot into your life and no matter how rough it is its definitely worth having the little guys around.

Losing a pet is not fun. But. If you want to get another pet for your grandfather it would be better to find out if he wants another pet. If he does, take him to the pet adoption center (whatever title you prefer) and have him pick one out. Or not as he chooses. Pets are very personal.

 Sorry to hear of your loss.  Its always hard to see a pet die, i've buried so many myself throughout my lifetime.

A lot of the pets i have were rescued by myself, from terrible people who just dumped them out in the middle of nowhere...they live good now, they are family. =]

First one i rescued during a bad winter, we had like 2 feet of snow and it was still coming down, i was getting ready to head home from work and there she was out in the fields...i didn't really have proper winter clothing on as it was a freak kinda storm but i walked out there, it took awhile, picked her up, wrapped her in my jacket and walked back to the car, that was a long time ago but i can still picture that day heh.  She's getting older now, she's an awesome dog.

Anyways, sorry to hear about your dog. =[

Sorry, Riki, that's sad.  I've lost pets in the past, too.  I have two kitties right now and I would be heartbroken if anything happened to them.  It's true about finding out whether or not you grandfather is ready for another pet, though.  Sometimes you need a bit of time to get over things and adjust to the loss.

Lost a dog once - his name was Max - sheppard/chow mix - just an awesome dog.   Held him in my arms while the doc euthanized him because Lupus had ravaged his body to the point he could not stand up but for short periods of time and he had a tumor that had started to form on his throat.    I won't go into details of what that was like because it will get me to crying.  Needless to say I will never own another dog again because I could not live through watching the life leave his eyes as he looked up at me for a second time.    Never again.

Originally posted by Rikimaru_X

Through growing up, I had many pets; Turtles, frogs, dogs and cats and yet when they go, run away or pass away I never feel emotional. I see people all the time getting emotional over the loss of their pet. Tears, sadness and everything, but I shrugged it off because you know I never been in that situation, even though I do give them my support. Well when I was about 9 or 10 my grandpa had got a puppy named Sky.

I'm not sure what kind of dog he was. he was a white dog and had large black spots on his body (he becomes a pretty big hairy dog if ya don't keep him shaved). I loved that dog and we grew up together. He loved everybody and hated snakes. My grandpa also had a much older dog named Teddy and they would always fight for my attention so I had to break these two dogs up. Well ya know going over my grandpa's house I always see the dog around and i put my arm around him wherever I go, so much that if my arm is not around his he does it on his own.

Well I'm going on 22 now and it was about a month ago when my dad told me the news about Sky passing away from cancer (never knew he had it because he was always full of energy). At first when my pop told me, it sunk into me about 5 minutes after that and just the one though of me visiting my grandparents and not seeing that dog run up to me killed me. It made me tear up and I'm sure grandpa took it harder than I did. Me and that dog grew up together and I remember the first day I saw him to the last time I saw him.

Well I still have my rottwiler Sheba (which is the family dog at my place) and you know I love her dearly and even more now. It sucks to see a pet go like that. Life goes on though. I'm going to see if I can get a dog for my grandpa for chrismas though. I just wanted to share the story as I'm sure many of you been in the same situation. Sorry for my spelling too.

I know how you feel, a pet is a beloved family member, and often people do not understand the bond we share with our pets. We love and a treat them as a member of the family for years, and when you lose them it hurts. I had two large 25 lb house cats that did tricks, opened doors, flushed the potty, jumped through hoops, balanced balls.. They were great. I used to wake up with them attacking my hair in the morning making a mess of it.  I loved those cats, and when they were killed by two dogs that broke my gate and broke  into my backyard it was devestating to me. I had to clean up their dismembered bodies and burried them.  I have not had the heart to get another pet since. Maybe one day I will be ready to jump back in, but even after 6 years it still hurts the same. Some people can get right back in and get another pet, but for me I still need more time. A loss like that can be hard, especially when their deaths were such a tragedy. They went before their time.

 I still hang up their christmas stockings every year. Not to make me sad, but to never forget them.
 

What's great about pets is that they never judge you , they never stop loving you even if you're being a bastard to them.

And if you actually give them some love, they give it back to you ten times. Plus they usually are funny and it's been proven they help keep away or fight depression. Kids who grow up with pets around are more well- balanced psychology-wise.

So yes a pet is never a loss of time, even when you know you will probably outlived them.

( oh, and please, never abandon them... I remmeber an ad here: a dog laying on the tomb of its master and below was the comment: A pet never gives up on you, don't give them up.")

Thank's for the support guys. I mean I really miss that dog. I'm going to see if my grandad does want another dog. Every puppy (I think 3) either was killed or stolen during the time he had Sky. A dog that needed no leash at all and knew where he needed to be and what was properity and territory (I think he was eletric fence trained, not sure).  I did loss a cat that did make me a little emotional, but that cat was such a pain tho. I'm trying to look into a dog that isn't common for people to have for him. Even though I could get him a rottwiler, they uhhh...yeah need a 100% friendly dog and nothing less.

Get them one of these, Pomeranian's for the win!

I miss mine, was so hyper and cute and i was sad when we had to put him to sleep from old age. T_T

As said previously, if you want to get him a dof he can get along well with, let him choose it.

Much like with people, you simply have affinities with some pets and not with others.

Whatever you get him, try and go for a rescue dog.  You'll be surprised how fantastic you'll feel when you give a needy pet a home.

I took in a stray cat about two years ago now.  The poor thing was nothing but skin and bones.  Unfortunately, he never got very healthy and he died last May.  I only had him for a year and a half, but I was really broken up.

I still have my two regular cats that are getting up there in age (one 14, the other 13).  I hope they still have years left, but I know the day for each of them is getting closer.  It's going to be very hard on me when I lose them, but I love having them as pets.  Wouldn't get rid of them for nothin'.

Found this video on Yotube which I thought was funny.

Cat fight - Star Trek style