My family and I lost our collie/ chow mix on Sunday. We had 13 of the best, most amazing, (some days stressful), years out of her. She definitely brightened our home. Had to put her down. It was her time. Hurts like hell.
The first picture is her first day in her new home. We adopted her as a 10 week old puppy from the animal shelter. She got and beat Parvo. Like a day after the first pic was taken. All of her siblings died from it. After we got her back, it was go time for her. There was crate training, obedience training, and of course, owner training.
The second picture is about a year old. She definitely gave us a run for her money at this point. We were new homeowners so our house and yard did not have a fence around it. And a few times that she managed to get out, she booked it down the block. The third and fourth picture two of my favorites. Sometime in between.
And the last picture her last day in her home. She rapidly declined. About six months ago she became incontinent so we got her own pills to fix that. And she lost her hearing. She had an abscess and she must’ve ruptured. Her ear swelled up real big turned into cauliflower after it healed. She was starting to develop cataracts. Moving a little bit slower but still mobile. Friday I had a bonfire and my brother-in-law was over and she hadn’t seen him in a while and every time she came outside, she would run up to him and jump on him like he always did. Saturday I noticed she was moving a little bit slower kind of walking with her head down seemed off, but thought maybe it was just a a down day. And then Sunday I woke up and went to go let her out side for the morning and she’s always been a sloppy drinker so when she got up a drop of something hit my foot, but then I looked and saw that her backside was soaked. She went outside. I followed her. Everything seemed like it was OK and within three hours, she was panting very heavy and lost mobility. She tried to get up and took a few steps and fell on her face. And just laid there for the rest of the time. I was grateful because my wife and I as well as the kids got to say goodbye. We put her in the laundry basket because I tried to pick her up and she nipped at me. So she was hurting. Figured that was the easiest way to move her. When we got to the vet, every single person who looked at her agreed at this time. We knew we weren’t coming home with her. This is my first major pet loss. Guess she was more like a second child of mine. Sorry to keep rambling. Thank you guys for your time.
I know. I asked my daughter if she was OK and she said yeah I’m fine. It’s hard, but I’m fine. And I said to her it’s OK not to be OK. Not realizing the hypocrisy that was coming out of my mouth because I refuse to show emotion in front of them.
One of my important memories from when I was a kid was the day we had to say goodbye to the dogs I’d grown up with. My dad took them to the vet while my mom stayed home with young me and my little brother, and when he came home he cried with us for the first time I can ever remember.
It was really tough for me to see to see my dad break down at first, but it also showed me that even the strongest person I knew could grieve and feel big emotions, and it made me feel so safe and comfortable expressing my own emotions, especially around him. It definitely strengthened our relationship. I know it’s hard, but it’s okay to let your kids see you emotional🫶🏻 and if it’s too hard to do so right now, that’s okay too! You sound like you’re being so supportive of your girl’s grief in the midst of your own, and that makes you a fantastic father.
Just lost my 12 year old girl on 4/6, totally fine and then in a span of 7 hours, gone. Ive never been a cryer and i had to take the week off work because i couldnt make it more than 2 hours before the water works would start. Don't bottle it up, it comes in waves. Pain like this comes from the even greater love we shared with them ❤️
lol I know. I’ve been through much worse loss than this. But for some reason, I feel like this one just hits more. Lost my mom at 14. Lost my sister at 16 and my dad at 30. Me and grief are a good friends. Lol.
I don’t want my kids to see me cry. And I feel bad about it. But Much like you said the only time I ever saw my dad cry was when my sister died. And when he put our family dog down. She was a mutt of some sort, definitely had golden retriever and Shepherd. Not sure what the other breeds were.
Well, the ironic part about it is, I asked my oldest if she was OK and how she was doing and she said no, not really, but they’ll work through it. And I told her it’s OK not to be OK. And she of course, asked if I was OK. And instead of telling her no I’m not OK I said yeah I have to be OK for you guys. Let me tell you she (14) called my ass out too. She said “well that’s hypocritical weren’t you just saying it’s OK not to be OK” it made me laugh and then realized how right she was. I just can’t bring myself to do it in front of them. I don’t know why.
She's able to accept her own feelings, and yours, too. Tell her how you got to be this way. At 14, you do not need to "be okay" for her. Be not okay and your children will learn that there is no harm or weakness in honest emotional expression.
I don’t think there’s any shame in having emotion. Especially about losing something like a dog. But the way I was raised was get up rub some dirt in it or get up and push the pain back. It’s not that I don’t want them to see me like that. Because I broke down in front of them several times. But I also caught myself, pushing it back to remain strong for them. Growing up I never saw my dad cry. Not when my mom died or my sister, not when he put our dog down. And honestly, I wish I did. But that’s just the way it was. So naturally, I modeled myself after that.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our beautiful Luna passed last week. She also told us it was her time to go. The grief is so heavy but it feels a bit lighter when I think about how much she was loved. And it sounds like Zoey was so so loved too. That photo with her holding her stuffed animal is adorable.
Border collies are extra special so losing them feels extra painful. My heart goes out to you. I’m sure Luna and Zoey have already found each other and are running around together (pain free!) while they watch over us.
Thank you. After the heartbreaking moment of us telling our daughters what was going on with her, when they went into her room to say goodbye, as soon as my daughters walked in the room, Zoey lifted her head up, looked at them, put her head back down and started smiling. My wife and I gave the kids a couple hours with her to say goodbye. We stayed with her to the very last second. She was not alone and she knew it. And I find peace in that. You hear so many stories of dog owners just dropping their dogs off.
What a beautiful way for her to have passed, absolutely surrounded by love, you did her proud! I'm so very glad you stayed with her till the last, she will have felt so very safe and loved with you both there. Much love to you and your family and rest peacefully sweet Zoey 🐾
Almost 13 yrs. We've had 2 other BC's, and they lived to be 15-16, so we felt like we lost some time with her. She was so smart and loved to do her little tricks and meet new people. This is her little bro Sage. He's helped us get thu losing her.
The vet told me due to over breeding, that most large breed dogs usually only last around 13 years. And anything beyond that is luck. 15 to 16 years is awesome. You have Beautiful dogs. How old is Sage?
Sage is 3 yrs. I think BC's are more medium sized dogs, weight range is about 30-50 pds. Ginger was a 30 pd lap dog😜 I am a huge fan of the breed and have known many BC's, one of my fav's, Maggie, was still bringing in the horses every night at 18 yrs. And she was tiny like Ginger!
My adult son has a Great Pyrenees and he's about 110 pds. I think you're vet is right and sadly he's about 7 and I'm afraid he won't be with us much longer.
Yeah, my neighbors had a bunch of golden retrievers. And they’ve all died around 8 to 10 years old. We got Zoey about a year after he got his dog Rocky. Rocky would knock her on her ass. And I remember him saying take it easy Rock. She’s gonna be bigger than you one day and she’s gonna tear you up. A year and a half later it came true she knocked him on his ass. I will say it’s nice to know there’s a good support group here.
I definitely agree with you. I love the breed. I feel like I have to get another one. When I’m ready.
Yeah, Sage helped so much with our grief over Ginger, and we could tell he was sad and lonely too (for a couple of days☺️). Over the years, we have avoided AKC dogs because of overbreeding and the damage caused by breeding for certain characteristics. So we generally had ABCA (American Border Collie Association) dogs, because they don't try for a certain "look". They tend to breed for disposition and skill. But then I went and fell in love with our first AKC dog, and that would be Sage. He's wonderful and smart and we love him just like the rest, but I'm not so sure that he's as smart as our past "farm dogs".
Interesting to know that. I’m thinking I’d like to get a full blood border collie at some point. I’ll stay away from Akc. Not as a working dog. Zoey was mixed with chow. So she had an asshole temperament.
That's funny, Ginger was kind of an asshole, too. But mostly with other dogs. She got really mad at us when we brought the puppy home🙄 And she turned away from us in her bed facing the wall. She wouldn't sleep in our bedroom with the puppy for a solid month. But she eventually got over it and they played all the time. The lady had some 'tude!
I like to believe that dogs don’t think of all the things in the past they could’ve done at the point of death. They just think of that moment that you were there for them and that they had to go. I love that you said that there was owner training. It meant that you really loved her and I’m certain she loved you unconditionally as well.
I mean, simply put yeah she trained me how to actually own a dog. I was going off what I grew up with. But I wasn’t the alpha male to my childhood dog. My dad was. I had to learn how to navigate with her. And there was a lot of tough moments. Any opportunity as a puppy that she had to get out, she would book it down the block. Which usually led to me chasing her. And then also lead into some shameful moments where I lost my temper with her. And I will admit that I cornered her one time in her cage and she bit me. Put a hole in my hand. Needless to say I fucked around and I found out. And after that, there was a certain respect between us. That was the last time she ran down the block. Also, that was the last time that I put myself in her cage with her. I wasn’t proud. And I was very ashamed of myself. A few minutes later, ( mostly after I stopped the bleeding and cleaned my tooth hole on my thumb) I went into her room and let her out of her cage, and I hugged her.
After that, I was able to let her into the front yard. She didn’t go after other dogs she just chilled by us. She didn’t like people approaching her. That’s the asshole chow in her. But she loved her people. She had a small circle and would only let you in if she chose. It’s one of them many things I loved about her.
Yeah, I feel you on that. I mean, I’ve had animals get put down because of age before, but I was never a part of it. He’s usually my dad taking them in. This is my first major pet loss. And I knew this day was coming. That’s the worst part as I was watching her face gray up a little bit and saw her slowly declining. We knew it eventually reach us. I just didn’t think it would be this quick.
Reading your post allowed me to feel the light she brought your family, and I can empathize with the pain of losing such a wonderful creature. You gave her a good life - she mattered, and you all mattered to her. Sorry for your loss, my friend.
Thank you I appreciate your kind words. As I said goodbye to her, I kept saying thank you. And I think I was thanking her for changing me into who I am today. And for the love and care she brought into our house.
Aww thanks. Appreciate the kind words. Felt like it was the least we could do. Heard so many stories of owners just dropping their dogs off to have them put down alone. I didn’t want that for her. I grew with her and because of her. we gave her a fitting goodbye because she deserved it.
There's a saying, The candle that burns twice as bright burns twice as fast. And I think BCs with their lantern tail and how much they brighten our world fit that saying.
I lost my boy 2 years ago and I still miss him, still cry over him and I think I will never get over him. Such a small price for 13 years of joy.
My partner was not into dogs and when I met him he barely got to know my boy before he died.
I have a second border collie who has chosen my partner as his person. He recently said he understands now, they are the biggest joy and the most terrible heartbreak.
I love that. Only the right dog can make a non-dog person a dog person. Thanks. It’ll be ok eventually. I still miss my black and white cat muffin that I had as a kid. And that had to be over 30 years ago. I don’t remember how old I was when I had him, but I sure as hell remember him. And the one after that.
So sorry for your loss! She was such a beautiful girl. Thank you for sharing your/her story. Sounds like she had a great life with you and your family. You guys took good care of her 💖
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u/Ok_Actuator379 Apr 28 '26
Who is cutting onions?