Very Sad Day in the family Wilheim today.

[wilheim]

Sad day here at the two Wilheim residences as we have to have put down our eleven year old Rotweiler Zucca in a few hours. A beautiful dog that my wife and her now grown very early 20s children raised from a pup.

Our vet came to the kid's house about two miles from my house which is a highrise and not suitable for a big dog like Zucca. She lives at a house my wife still owns where her kids now live that has a yard and is suitable for a large dog. She was always escaping but only for a couple of hours at a time. Zucca was very gentle, especially with children.

Zucca was my everyday pal a year and a half ago when we lived at Manuel Antonio.

A vet came last night and gave Zucca a shot to kill the pain and make her sleep until my wife and I can take her to his office for the euthanaza shot in a few hours when his clinic opens. The Vets office was closed on Sunday but he made a housecall for us.

My step daughter is away in Quepos on vacation from school and doesn't know anything at all about this, we all dread telling her as she was very close to the dog for over 10 years. She is going to be hysterical I know, she comes home Tuesday. Everyone is taking it hard but she will take it the hardest.

Poor Zucca came down with cancer recently and went in like 2 months tops. My wife went and got something at the pharmacy to sleep herself as she is also very "triste". I have to wake her now.

I know Zucca is only a dog but they have a way of becoming loved and Zucca for a Rotweiler was especially smart and gentle.

All I can say is it sucks but we can't let her suffer, we tried some cancer treatment but it was futile and only made her suffer more. She puked blood all over the house yesterday until the vet gave her a shot to make her sleep.


wil. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[whalewager]

I have a 3 year old rott myself. Very good dog. Sorry to hear wil.

 

[GODFATHER]

I feel for your family

Sir,

I'm sure your children will be very upset as well as you and your wife, the dog was your family as well, this situation is very sad and will be hard to get over.

I wish you and your family well,

Mike

 

[steaktartar]

i ve had some very hard times with our little guy who finally passed on nov of 06.....it is tough wil they are family members

 

[JudgeWapner]

Very sorry to hear that Wil.

 

[quantumleap]

Very sorry to hear that Wil. We had dogs in our family most of the time while I was growing up and then I had dogs after that as well. It's losing a good friend.

Will you be getting another dog in the future?

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

Sorry to hear Wil...I know it's not going to be easy telling your daughter...she loves that dog...

 

[Inactiongirl]

I'm so sorry Wil. My thoughts are with you and your family. I have 3 dogs...so I know how important they are as friends and members of the family. You don't need to explain or say "only a dog, a loss is a loss and it will be a sad time for your entire family. Again, I'm sorry to hear this.





IAG

 

[billhill999]

On behalf of my wife and me, our deepest condolences.
We have two great, and I mean great Jack Russel terrirors (two years and five years) that are our best friends, and give us love without conditions.

Like Zuca, Zippy and Cooper are not 'just' a dog, they are family.

We feel your pain at the Hill residence.

Rest in peace Zuca, and God Bless.

 

[sloppyjoe's]

Very sorry to hear that wilheim, they are without a doubt anyones best friend. You need to get anotherone asap.

 

[Jack Herer]

Very sorry Wil. Always motivating to see people here in CR treat their animals like family since most ticos view their pets as guard dogs and never consider them part of the family. We are decades behind in Veterinary Medicine here in CR so I know its frustrating for foreigners that are used to specialists which we only have a couple. My dog was put to sleep while I was in the US, she had some abnormal bone formation in the vertebrae that was causing her a lot of pain and the vets that saw her here couldn't manage her pain. If you decide to get another dog there are several shelters with many dogs that need a home, I can get you some numbers. Best of luck to you and your family.

 

[Betallsports]

Very sorry to hear this Wil.

Pets are like Kids, without the Talking back. But then again, sometimes they do Talk back at you.

All the Dogs, Cats and Horses that I had in my life are My Family.

You my friend are Losing apart of your family. But you are doing the Right thing here. It's better this way, then letting them Suffer.

Here is something a friend sent me over 20 years ago, to make me feel at Peace as to what to do.

It has been estimated that less than a quarter of all dogs die peacefully in their sleep of 'old age' or natural causes, which means that most dog owners will have to go through the trauma of having a dog put to sleep. Although this decision can be one of the hardest that you'll have to make, depending on the circumstances it may also be the kindest thing that you'll ever do for your pet.
How can you tell when the time is right? Your vet will be a good guide to help you make the decision; however, ultimately it must rest with you and your family. Don't make any rash decisions that you may regret at a later stage. Here are some questions you can ask yourself that will help you decide if your dog has a good enough quality of life to justify keeping him going.
With the necessary veterinary attention, can your dog:

• Eat and drink enough to maintain normal body function?
• Breath without difficulty?
• Urinate and defecate normally, without discomfort or distress?
• Walk and move well enough to get around without falling or risk of injury?

 

[wilheim]

Zucca is at peace now. Thanks for the kind words.

My wife right now is not rational, nor is her son and we all dread tomorrow when my step daughter comes home. Even I was emotional, having an animal you love put down can be traumatic (a first for me).

Will you be getting another dog in the future?

According to my wife right now -- no, but I think her thought process is not right. Once she calms down and accepts that for a very big dog 11 years is a long time she may settle down and be more reasonable.

I am thinking of a new pet (a dog) that is smaller and more of a house dog that can stay at both our house and the kids house as we are only a few miles apart that way the dog will always have human company.

I know the Jack Russel terrirors are fantastic dogs so depending upon how things go with everyone over the next 3 weeks I might surprise the family with one for Xmas. (I am considering other breeds also but it will have to be a small to medium size animal for sure).


Thanks again everyone for the kind words, wil.

Jack Herer, when the time is right, I may contact you about the shelters. I know pedigree dogs are nice but saving a shelter dog appeals to me right now.


Viejo Dinasaur, I will call you this afternoon about the Rx Bash.<!-- / message -->

 

[billhill999]

My wife right now is not rational, nor is her son and we all dread tomorrow when my step daughter comes home. Even I was emotional, having an animal you love put down can be traumatic (a first for me).

Will you be getting another dog in the future?

According to my wife right now -- no, but I think her thought process is not right. Once she calms down and accepts that for a very big dog 11 years is a long time she may settle down and be more reasonable.

I am thinking of a new pet (a dog) that is smaller and more of a house dog that can stay at both our house and the kids house as we are only a few miles apart that way the dog will always have human company.

I know the Jack Russel terrirors are fantastic dogs so depending upon how things go with everyone over the next 3 weeks I might surprise the family with one for Xmas. (I am considering other breeds also but it will have to be a small to medium size animal for sure).


Thanks again everyone for the kind words, wil.

Jack Herer, when the time is right, I may contact you about the shelters. I know pedigree dogs are nice but saving a shelter dog appeals to me right now.


Viejo Dinasaur, I will call you this afternoon about the Rx Bash.<!-- / message -->

Jacks are (according to experts) the smartest of all the breeds, and loyal to the bitter end.
A better dog you'd be hard pressed to find.
Feel free to pm me or my wife (Billsgirl) for any advice.
My wife is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to all things Jack.

 

[DNoonan]

My condolences to you and your family. My wife and I have two adopted mutts and I know it will be really tough when the day comes when we have to put them down.

 

[billsgirl]

Losing your baby must have been one of the hardest thing you have ever done. I cried when I read your post.

Bill tells me you are looking into a Jack. Wil, lemme tell you, it will be the best experience you have ever had. I got Cooper at 7 weeks. I brought him home, (at this point I was clueless). I crated him to potty train him. Well, he didn't like it. He barked incessantly, when I was home and at work. My neighbors complained so I had to free range him. I lost couches, rugs, furniture......Bill wasn't around at the time so I was at his mercy. His comic antics and love made me forget everything I had lost.

Zippy came 2 years later. The sweetest pound of love I have ever held. Cooper loved him immediately. They are now best friends.

If you get one, I say all the cons are far less then the pros. The dogs we own are the best friends I will ever imagine. When I come home from work, they are at the sliding doors their tails are wagging, just wanting to lick you. They sit by you while you atch tv, sleep with you, and cry when you cry. I will never own another breed. They are so smart you don't even need to translate.

But, you better be prepared to exercise them, they are spazzes.

 

[docslep]

my famly "forced" a pug/beagle mix on me 3 years ago, and he is the love of our lives. i can't imagine life without him.he has become the glue that holds our familly together. i can't imagine losing him, though death is a part of life.
in many ways, the loyalty and unconditional love of a dog is very different than the love of another human. the fact that they never talk back, and never get an attitude or get pissed off at you makes the bond, in some ways,stronger. only a dog owner can really understand.
god bless your pooch. after an apprpriate period of mourning, i bet your family gets another love. if you get one from the pound, or a retired grayhound, its a double blessing. good luck, and great thread:cryingcry

 

[sharky99]

Real sorry about your loss Wil, very emotional time for everyone close to you, hang in there, it was a pleasure talking and meeting your wife at the last bash. The strong bond and love around you brings everyone together in this tough time, thx for everyhting you do for us here and all the best to you and your family for the upcoming holiday season!

 

[quinnsft34]

Wil,

Sorry to hear this for you and your family. My dog recently died while they were operating on his eye. He was 17 years old we all knew he would die soon but nothing can take the edge off of the pain that is felt by everyone that loves that dog. Our dog was old and didn't see very well. He ran into something and scratched his eye. The Vet gave us meds to put on the eye but after they didn't work we opted for surgery. He never woke up. That happened three weeks ago and it is still fresh in my mind and still very sad. Sorry that your step daughter was not home because that will be very hard for her to take not being there but I know you have to do what is best for the dog as well. Heavy heart here for you and your family.

 

[Willie99]

Sorry to hear it Wil, they do become part of the family. I can't even imagine what my wife and kids will be like when our now ten year old dog passes. She flipped out when she found a lump recently, which was only fatty tissue. My condolences to you and yours.