On Monday 3/21 our little dog Max left the physical world. We got him from the Human Society alomost 4 years ago to the day (Good Friday)...he was a gift to my daughter who was turning 5. Max had just arrived at the pound about 25 minutes before we fell in love with him. He had recently lost his family, who were in their later years. Our family was quite different...we had four children between the ages of 5 and 13. Max seemed to adjust to the second round of his life extremely well...he fit in perfectly with our crazy family and we all loved the companionship he provided us...he had separate relationships with each one of us.
Yesterday I experienced my first day off work without him and it was heartbreakingly empty in my home...my companion who laid with me while I did yoga, my morning routine and ate the meat from my breakfast sandwich is gone. I miss his presence.
Max had wanderlust and always managed to find a way out of our fenced in back yard. Being so small, ( about 8 pounds)he could slip through a ground hog or bunny hole in the fence. He had not gotten out of the yard since last summer but the warm spring day must have tempted him to go on an adventure. I can see him breaking out of the yard and and enjoying freedom as he had done in the past. On Max's last adventure he encountered a Husky dog who was tied out in his yard, Max must have gotten under the fence and the Husky being territorial defended his home. Max had two puntcure wounds on either side of his belly and many broken bones. We assume he was shaken to death and died quickly.
A friend called after hearing of our loss. She felt she "needed" to share a story about when she accidentally hit and killed a 13 year old black Lab last year. She was affected greatly and could not get over what had happened. A friend and a pet communicator shared that often an older animal will choose to end life quickly rather than live in old age. Our Max was at least 15 and his heath was declining. He was wearing a doggie diaper and he didn't enjoy it. So I have found some peace in knowing that Max may have chosen to leave the physical world at that time. He was surrounded by his family loving him and he had a beautiful funeral sevice. He now rests permanently in the back yard he couldn't wait to escape!
This is my first loss of a pet in my adult life and I can not believe the hurt and pain I feel. I know that when the time is right, Max will lead another furbaby to this family to be loved! Always and forever Max and his beautiful spirit will live in our hearts!
My heart goes out to all who have experienced this deep loss. Much love to you my little Max spirit!

I'm so sorry about little Max. He sounds like such an adorable little free spirit. When I read what you wrote about some animals choosing a quick end to their life, it reminded me of something I read..."The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Loved Dog." I posted it in the tribute section, but I'll post it her for you. It's a little long, but it's very dear.

You're in my thoughts.
Kathleen

The Last Will & Testament of an Extremely Loved Dog
I, Silverdene Emblem O'Neill (familiarly known to my family, friends, acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him to inscribe it as a memorial to me.
I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain objects they have not.
There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my loyalty. These I leave to all those who have loved me, especially to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me the most.
I ask my Master and my Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life, I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having overlingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be a sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life.
What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe that there is a Paradise. Where one is always young and full-bladdered. Where all the day one dillies and dallies. Where each blissful hour is mealtime. Where in the long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth and the love of one's Master and Mistress. I am afraid that this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and a long rest for my weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.
One last request, I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say,"When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one". Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again.What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow, jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good. My successor can hardly be as well loved or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat He can never wear them with the distinction I did, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.
One last word of farewell, dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves not only with regret, but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long, happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved". No matter how deep my sleep. I shall hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail. I will always love you as only a dog can."

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your precious little Max. How horrible that a huge Husky got a hold of him and mauled him to death. That just made me cry to think about that happening to him. I hope he didn't have to suffer a lot of pain.

Cry all the tears you need to and come and talk to us about your sweet Max. I am so glad he had many years of happiness with you and your family.
Ann

Oh My That is an awful way to lose your baby Max. I am so so sorry!! But I say BLESS YOUR SOUL for being there for Max, I am comforted by the fact you saved him from the shelter, he had just lost his family and must have been so alone and confused, what a wonderful thing you did for him in his season of winter (later in life). It just warms my heart thinking you saved him.
As I have learned from my Moose getting hit by a car ....accidents happen they just do, no matter how hard we try to keep them safe, things do happen. When it happened to Moose, I felt so guilty like I had thrown him in front of the car myself, I mean it was my job to protect him..what made sence to me is when someone said..you would have never done anything to hurt Moose, accidents do happen, they always will.
The hard part for me is the day to day, and missing my constant companion and having to go through the process of getting used to it. It has been 5 months for me and I still look for my constant. My boy, my mooser...I loved him so much from the deepest recesses of my soul. Again, I am so sorry about Max, I hope you will share more with us as you adjust to the loss of your sweet Max. Pamela

Kathleen,
WoW, I like it.........

I'm so sorry about the loss of your beloved Max. How wonderful for him and your family that he had a second chance at a great life. I have no doubt that one day, Max will lead another furbaby in need of love, to you.

Lynn