This evening I was doing my usual routine...check the furnace, load it with coal, let the cat and dog in to the garage, then head on to bed. Well Shelby, an 11 month German Shepard/Golder Retriever mix was not to be found. Usually she is waiting at the door or with two sharp whistles she comes running. A wonderfully trained dog...had her since she was 6 weeks old and dearly loved by all..especially Sara (my 16 month old daughter).

Well...Eddy (the cat) was acting funny. (I know some people don't like cats, but I do) I let him in and he did a quick "once around" the garage and started meowing at the top of his lungs...usually he just eats then goes to sleep...but he wanted back out. So I let him out and called for Shelby again...still nothing...but Eddy is sitting half way out the driveway still screaming. So I grab the flashlight and follow. He goes halfway out the yard and stops. I keep going and walk along the highway for about 100 yards and find Shelby in the ditch...stone cold dead. She usually does not bother with going near the road but aparently she did so more frequently than I thought and lost this time.

Man am I bummed.................

Dan, I'm sorry to hear about your dog, I know alot of people don't understand being upset over the loss of a pet but I for one do, hope your daughter dosn't get to upset, and again I'm very sorry to hear this. By the way I like cats too, one of mine just dissapeared we think it may have been a coyote or cat.

sorry to hear dan. can't keep a dog around here for nuthin, unless ya tie em up. i hate doin that also.

i like "thomas"........my ol tom cat

dang.........i remember when that lil girl was born. growin like a weed. ........time flies...... hold on while ya can.

Sorry to hear about your pup. Losing a pet is like losing a member of the family.

Gary

Sorry for your loss Dan. Pets in a small way become part of the family. My daughter got a cat this last fall. I'm not much on cats, or so I thought. This silly cat is starting to grow on me.

Sorry to hear that. I lost a lab on the road years ago. I still miss that dog.

Dan B, I am truly sorry about the loss of your dog. I am an animal person and I shutter to think about losing either my dog or that stupid cat. Hopefully the stress on your daughter won't be too bad. Again sorry about your loss.

Sorry to hear about the loss of Shelby. Hopefully Sara will not be too bummed out. Like Kyode, I remember when you posted the first picture of Sara. She has definetly grown.

Sorry for your loss Dan. My little dog is 10 years old now and I dread the day she leaves us.

Sorry about your pooch Dan. I know you can get another but it won't replace the one you lost. Now that we bought our house it was a while since we owned a dog. I can't imagine being without Xena. Crazy Pit Bull loves the kids and is my wife's new baby.

Sorry, we have 4 dogs and there all part of the family.

Dan,
I can feel your pain. We had to put both of our German Shorthair pointers to sleep within the last six months. It's not like losing a member of the family. It is losing a member of the family. Not a dry eye in the entire house each time. Our remedy has always been to get another puppy as quickly as possible.

Sorry Dan. Like Frank White used to say,"I have been owned by several." You miss them all but some will just hold a special place because of their personality.

Cats, now I can live without'em. there are two that live here and we tolerate each other. My current dog is old and can't hear and most of her teeth are gone but still really happy and has a puppy attitude to this day. She will be missed when she goes.

Real sorry to here about your loss.I lost one of mine last september the same way but I did not find her for a week.She was in bad shape but I brought her home and buried her.Friends said I was nuts but that dog was one of my best friends and I was not going to leave her on the side of the road.

That's a hard thing for some to understad. Having lost a few myself, I can sypathize. They become so much more than just a pet. Explaining to kids can be even worse. I'm sure she gave you and your family many years of fun and companionship.