Another furry friend has passed on

My parents and brother took Ralph in on Monday after his laryngeal paralysis progressed to a point that something had to be done soon, and it was decided sooner rather than later was better considering how the natural death would have occurred at that point.

Good Lord, this is harder than when my grandma and grandpa passed away. And my grandparents, who I adored and adored me, would probably agree.

My dads emailed Eulogy:

We had Ralph put to sleep this afternoon. His laryngeal paralysis seemed to worsen yesterday, and he was struggling for air. Last night I was reading about the disease, and everyone said, better to be a few days early than a few days late. [mtn's brother and his girlfriend] took him for an ice cream cone and took him to visit his dog friends, the ones he liked. He was a good boy and only was under house arrest for an altercation one time. Afterwards, he always expressed remorse, you could see it in his face. Almost a Saint for an Alpha dog I say. Saint Ralph. I miss him terribly. I'm sure he will put in a good word with God for your pets. Even [mtn's uncles] cats.

To which my other brother replied:

Maybe the patron saint of "the sob had it coming" or in Florida, the patron saint of Stand-your-ground doctrine. I'll never forget him hopping off the counter, licking his lips and winking his paralyzed eye as he pushed past mom toward his bed with a platter full if purloined perch in his stomach. Or finding an empty butter dish in his bed.

Some pictures to close this out:
Before we "rescued" him (we adopted him at 5 years old from a wealthy family that was moving to a penthouse in Chicago)

As he looked for the last few years, white faced and happy

And a picture of him on his last day. My brother and his girlfriend took him for ice cream before taking him to the vet.

So sorry to hear. I've been through this a few times, and it never gets easier.

I got something in my eye after scrolling through the pictures. My condolences for your loss.

Sorry to hear man..

Someone's chopping onions in here.

My condolences to your family. The right decision isn't usually the easy one.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Ralph.

I am so sorry to hear this. He looked like a very happy dog and was obviously well loved. Not allowing him to suffer is the hardest but most loving decision you can make. My thoughts are with you and your family.

My condolences. My ex texted me last week that her older cat passed away in his sleep. I loved that cat.

My deepest condolences. I'll give my fur babies some extra love for you.

The look on your brothers girlfriends face is what gets me. I can tell what she's feeling

Sorry for your and your family's loss

Sorry Mtn. It sucks. I've been laying low since Charlie passed the end of May. He turned 12 in January and started aging rapidly and loosing weight. We kept him happy and he kept us happy. We only had him for the last eight years. I feel like we got shorted.

My condolences too. I'm going to be facing the same situation with my knucklehead side-kick Wilco pretty soon.

He's a mystery-mut about 14 years old, and has diabetes that daily insulin shots are just barely controlling. He's loosing weight and his eyesight rapidly.

These creatures honor us with time and friendship that we hardly deserve. So sorry to hear this man. That whole "circle of life" thing is a harsh MFer sometimes.

Thanks everyone.

If I ever die and go to heaven, I'm going to ask God why he made us live for 80 years and dogs only 10-15. It really is one of the great injustices of life.

You know I have had to do this a couple times over the years and it is never easy. In fact it is very painfull. I have always taken comfort in knowing that my four legged furry specila needs kids have a great life. They had fun, well fed, proper medical treatment and most of all they were part of a family that loved them as much as they loved us. You give them happiness that so many other's do not have. When there time comes it is sad but they have had the best life I can give them and in return then give there everlasting devotion and that is what makes is so hard. You become part of the pack and they become part of a family.

I like to think they have moved on to a place with no pain they are young again. There is everlasting tennis balls and frizbes. The food is always special and they never know hunger or being cold and wet.

They are always warm and free.

mtn wrote: Thanks everyone. If I ever die and go to heaven, I'm going to ask God why he made us live for 80 years and dogs only 10-15. It really is one of the great injustices of life.

I would guess that He likes dogs more than people; preferring to have us to suffer their losses so He can enjoy their company longer...

Who could blame Him?

Sorry to hear about your loss man, I don't think it's fair either. But it looks to me like his tail was waggin in every one of his pictures, that's a happy guy right there

So very sorry. He looks like such a lovely boy. Damn fur babies, they break your heart.