I'm so sorry to hear this Booman.  

Mundane Doesn't Describe It

Poor sweet Buster!  I am truly sorry, Booman.  How hard to say goodbye to your beautiful, brave companion!  I have always wondered if animals have a foreboding about their own mortality, or if they are spared that?  At least he has you to give him as much comfort as possible!   {{{{{Booman and Buster}}}}}}  Hugs and love!

This is a terrible thing to have to go through, but something every pet owner has to face. I have, with great sadness and heavy heart, had to make one of the most difficult decisions with two beloved companions.

The bonds of love, respect, trust and joy that you shared will remain with you long after the sorrow has been dealt with. May his end days be full of peace, and may you find the strength to do what is required to assist him in his journey.

I will hold you both in my thoughts.

Peace and Blessings.

the revolution will not be televised...

Damn. I am so sorry that the news was so terrible. I have been through this several times and it's very hard and very sad. But I've come to accept it because I wouldn't want to give up what I've gained by sharing my life with them.

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit - Edward Abbey

I don't think he knows what's happening to him.  Just that he loves you and you're with him and what more could he want.

I had to put my 8 year old cat to sleep last year and the vet had me get real close and look her in the eyes so that my face was the last thing she saw.  She was purring even though she was in tremendous pain.

Wish there was something comforting to say.

Hugs to you both.  Enjoy your time together.  Now is the time to be happy he is still with you, ok?

I HATE being filled with this much hate and rage. I just want to love...

Oh Booman and Buster, I'm so sorry. Love 'em while you can, and send him off gently.

Oh BooMan I am so sorry. It is a hard thing to say goodbye to a beloved animal friend. Best wishes.

Enough!

{{{Hugs to you both}}}

parvum opus

Hey Booman, I am so sad to hear about Boo.

I have lost several buddies, and know how hard it is.

My first one, Yagan, lived to about 14 years. It really broke my heart when he left. Two weeks after he died, someone called me and told me that there were two Rotties for adoption. When I went to see them, I approached this 10 months feamale, got down to pet her, and she sat on her butt with both paws in the air, and placed one of her paws on my shoulder. Right then and there I decided to adopt her. She really helped me with the pain after Yagan.

After I adopted Sasha, I adopted Romeo. He was six when I got him. We only had him for a year. He had Auto Inmune Disorder (wuold not produce plaitlits)He had pretty much the same symptoms that Boo has. He fought to the end, and with the vet telling us that she could save him. Theday I went to put him down, I was glad to end his suffering. Now, I wished I had done it a bit earlier.

I will be thinking of both of you

Booman, I don't know what to say, it tears me up, too. What a fine looking fellow your Buster is. Much of my wife & I's world is built around our furry ones. Every day we have with them is a blessing. When we lost Max, our oldest German Shepherd, a year and a half ago, the hurt was the same as when I lost my dad - who was my best friend on two legs...a month ago we lost Bullet, our other dog ( we had her for fourteen wonderful years, I didn't think she was gonna make it after Max, they were really attached )and Pinkie, the statesman of our family - he laid with Max when he wasn't well. He was our oldest cat and he & Bullet went within a week of each other. All of them died in our arms. We've adopted another shepherd since Max, her name is Geigen and another cat, Louie. I love 'em up every day. I am so sorry about Buster. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Kind Regards During A Most Trying Time,
Bobby Murray

I was so hoping for a better outcome.

Although not in recent years, I've had dogs my whole life. They were the best of friends, and they helped me through some hard times.

I remember well their last days. And during those days each one had an insight to leave with me, which became even more important to me later.

My thoughts are with you during this hard time.  

Nonviolent Action information available here

oh I'm so sorry.  the suddeness of it happening, and the fact that you can't do anything for him .. I'm just so sorry for you and for him.  Pets are such  mixed blessings.  Unconditional love; heartbreaking mortality.  All of us who've had pets have gone through this and know that the happiness is worth the sadness at the end. Hang in there.

Booman,

I am so sorry to hear this.  I hope this prayer will comfort you and your family at this time:

This we know: every living thing is yours and returns to you. As we ponder this mystery we give you thanks for the life of Buster and we now commit him into your loving hands.

Gentle God: fragile is your world, delicate are your creatures, and costly is your love which bears and redeems us all.

Holy Creator, give us eyes to see and ears to hear how every living thing speaks to us of your love. Let us be awestruck at your creation and daily sing your praises.

Especially, create within us a spirit of gratitude for the life of this beloved pet who has lived among
us and given us freely of his love. Even in our sorrow we have cause for joy for we know that all creatures who died on earth shall live again in your new creation.

Amen.

We must not continue to cure the symptoms and ignore the disease!
Spiritual Awakening

I have taken solace in difficult times that my special companions did not have to face life and death without me there to care for them.  Being there for them at the end can be  heartbreaking, but I hope that I will outlive all the animals I ever own.  I want to make sure that they are well cared for in their last days and hours.  It is the least I can do for a good and faithful companion.

As you will do for yours.  I hope he has as easy a time of it as is possible, and that you do too.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

that I feel just having read your update.  I've already tried a few times yesterday to come up with something meaningful to try to assuage the pain I know you feel in your heart right now.  And others in this thread have said many more eloquent things than I can summon up right now.  So I'll just say that you and Buster will remain in my thoughts for quite some time as you go through this most difficult of times.  

Yes, time is limited, but the love between a dog and his human is, I think, immortal.  Even when they're not with us anymore.  They do come back to visit and watch over us, of that I am certain.  And I'm far from a religious man.  But each dog's spirit is as unique as our own, and the fact we do get some precious time together is perhaps one of the greatest rewards we can achieve in life.  

I know you will selflessly devote yourself during the rest of his time to loving him, caring for him, and making his passage as easy as possible.  That is all you can do, and he will know this, believe me.

Peace will come to both of you in good time.  Then you can move beyond the sorrow, and know he will live forever within your heart.  

It does take time, but it does happen.  I've been there, as have others who commented here before me, and it's never easy.  But the pain does pass, if only eventually.  

Peace and love to you, our friend, you will remain in our thoughts.
 

Urban Oasis

Oh Booman! I am so late to this news and I apologize. You are definitely are in my thoughts. I wish I just could give you both a big warm fuzzy hug.

...if we aim for the stars and fall a little short, isn't that better than aiming for the ground and hitting it? ~Omir the Storyteller

My heart goes out to you two.  Literary.  

I have two dogs.  One is a 14.5 yo Alaskan Malamute who's getting very long in the tooth, and will not be with us much longer.  She's had tumors come and go and return again, sometimes with cancer and sometimes not.  In the past six months, her arthritis has worsened while her hips and back legs have suffered from a rapidly progressing nerve degeneration.  Yesterday, when I first saw the news about Buster, she was having more trouble than usual.  She used to "shake it off" by mid-morning and walk fairly stably; yesterday, it wasn't until later in the afternoon, and the instability kept nudging back into place before we all went to bed.

:/

I understand how hard it can be for a warm & fuzzy family member to be suffering, beyond the ability for us to help save for providing comfort and love.

Peace to you both.  We'll keep you in our thoughts, our hearts and prayers.

Never, never brave me, nor my fury tempt:
  Downey wings, but wroth they beat
Tempest even in reason's seat.