Joined
·
196 Posts
We've known this day was going to come for quite some time, but it makes it no less heartbreaking. Today, we had to send Rusty to the Bridge. We adopted him about 12 years ago, from Springer Spaniel Rescue - he was a failed gun dog. After being dumped at a rescue centre, his previous owners were traced, and they confirmed that they left him because, despite being from champion gun dog stock, he ran at the sound of a gun shot, and when he did pick up shot game, he wouldn't let go.
He's been a wonderful and loyal friend over the past 12 years, even if he was terrible at playing fetch.
About 4 years ago, he started developing benign skin tumours, which, whilst unsightly, were harmless. However, we were warned that if any formed internally, there would be problems. In this past 4 years, he's undergone so many operations to remove internal lumps and bumps, and the rate of growth was increasing. We felt it was unfair to him to keep putting him through the stress of so many operations, and the decision was made to put the pain and stress to an end.
Rusty, we never wanted you to be a gun dog, or to bring us pheasants. All we wanted was a loving cuddly family dog, and you gave us that, in spades. I'm going to miss you so much, as are your little brothers. (Even though Snoopy has already moved into your bed, and Henry has taken your toys). You were playful and bouncy until near the end, and you put up with so much from the BratDogs. I'm going to miss your eye-rolls whenever they did something silly. I hope that you're as good a big brother to all those bassets at the Bridge as you were to Snoopy & Henry.
![]()
He's been a wonderful and loyal friend over the past 12 years, even if he was terrible at playing fetch.
About 4 years ago, he started developing benign skin tumours, which, whilst unsightly, were harmless. However, we were warned that if any formed internally, there would be problems. In this past 4 years, he's undergone so many operations to remove internal lumps and bumps, and the rate of growth was increasing. We felt it was unfair to him to keep putting him through the stress of so many operations, and the decision was made to put the pain and stress to an end.
Rusty, we never wanted you to be a gun dog, or to bring us pheasants. All we wanted was a loving cuddly family dog, and you gave us that, in spades. I'm going to miss you so much, as are your little brothers. (Even though Snoopy has already moved into your bed, and Henry has taken your toys). You were playful and bouncy until near the end, and you put up with so much from the BratDogs. I'm going to miss your eye-rolls whenever they did something silly. I hope that you're as good a big brother to all those bassets at the Bridge as you were to Snoopy & Henry.
Rusty sounds like a lovely dog, and he was so lucky to have you.
