RIP Little Alfie

RosieTosie · #1 07-23-2016

My current avatar is of a little rescue dog we took in two weeks ago, only had him for those 2 weeks unfortunately. His previous owner had dementia and was unable to care for him and he grew terribly thin. We started feeding him up and moved on to taking him out for short walks but the damage had been done and yesterday his liver gave out and I had to take him for the final journey to the vets. I have posted this in 'everything else', I remembered there was a thread about people's dogs and cat's, but this was slightly different so posted it here.

Thanks to ilcarletto for helping me out immensely to get Alphie's pic down to the right size.

Forgot to say, he a Westie, a West Highland Terrier.

unkown5454 · #2 07-23-2016

sorry for your loss rosie. was probably sick for a long time, but at least you gave him some days to look forward to in the end with proper care

jeffweico · #3 07-23-2016

So sorry about the loss. I wish people would understand, it is not "just a pet" but our beloved family members that have passed. Every cat, every dog, every bird has its own personality and intelligence. They are not just a bunch of molecules running around.

yankee · #4 07-23-2016

I would be lost without my little dog. I am sorry to hear Alfie did not make it.

RosieTosie · #5 07-23-2016

Yes since I took him yesterday for his final journey I have seeing little dogs everywhere of course and they just remind me of him. For his two weeks with us he really came into his own and seemed to get a great deal of enjoyment out of his walks. Our cats moved out and went next door to our neighbour who kindly fed them for us.

So glad we still have our Labrador Retriever Rosie, hence my username on this forum, we would have been completely lost without her. She got on well with little Alfie and has also been missing him.

yankee · #6 07-23-2016

It sounds like you may have found a calling. Lots of cats and dogs need homes. Old and young alike. Maybe when you are ready you will find another little furry friend to take into your family.

RosieTosie · #7 07-23-2016

You may be right there yankee, who knows what the future holds

jeffweico · #8 07-23-2016

Rosie, Alfie was lucky to have lived his last weeks with you. You gave him comfort and companionship and love. Many animals are not so lucky.

I don't know what the statistics are in the UK, but in the US, over 50,000 stray dogs and cats are euthanized EVERY WEEK for no other reason than a lack of loving homes. This is a horrible thing and it MUST STOP! No living creature deserves to suffer.

In the US, many people decried "Obamacare" but those people are damn lucky that I am not the President. Because I would have expanded that to animals and created a foster home program for the homeless dogs and cats and other animals. It would be the morally right thing to do. We humans created this problem and we owe it to them to solve it.

I don't know how anybody can look at those numbers and simply not care.

RosieTosie · #9 07-23-2016

Yes that is definately an appalling figure over 50,000 unwanted and unloved animals euthanised every week over there jeff, the leader of the free world failing its pets spectacularly!, we were just getting used to him being part of our lives. The deterioration in him over the last 3/4 days was tragic and we had to watch it play out knowing we could do no more for him, he gave us his best and we returned that to him.

rsot · #10 07-24-2016

Tough to hear Rosie - I love these furry guys....are you going to be getting another?

jeffweico · #11 07-24-2016

People who have read my posts here know that I am never political and don't try to push agendas, but I am going to make an exception here.

If you are considering getting a pet, won't you at least CONSIDER adoption? There is no such thing as a second class living creature. It costs very little to adopt and you will be saving a life. One of the biggest myths is that there is something wrong with the dogs and cats at the shelters. This is not true. They screen out pets who are unadoptable and will recommend cats or dogs based on whether or not you have kids in the house, and may other factors. They really WILL try to match you with the right animal.

And if you have it in your heart to adopt a special needs animal, then there is a special place in heaven for you. MamaCat was with me for only a year, but I think of her every day. She had Feline Leukemia and died at 5 years of age. But I was able to give her a great final year and she gave me lots of love.

And, actually, you help to save two live,s the life of the one you adopt and the life of the one who now has a place in the shelter.

OK, stepping off the soapbox now.

RosieTosie · #12 07-24-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

Tough to hear Rosie - I love these furry guys....are you going to be getting another?

We have our Rosie the Labrador Retriever and we have had her since she was 4 months old, she is now 9 years old and being a Lab will eat anything and everything, it's a constant battle to try and get a few kg's offff her to keep the vets happy. But yes we will get another rescue, funnily enough another local pet rescue has a Westie that is 8 years old and called Alfie but it hates bigger dogs so would never be able to live with our Rosie who, although she is small for a Lab, she would still be huge to that Westie unfortunately.

colt63 · #13 07-24-2016

So sorry for your loss. Alfie was blessed to have you in his life, if only for 2 weeks.

RosieTosie · #14 07-24-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by colt63

So sorry for your loss. Alfie was blessed to have you in his life, if only for 2 weeks.

Thanks colt63, during his two weeks with us he met quite a few fellow dog walkers who have been asking me where the little chap is,he left a lasting impression on many people in his jaunty little tartan coat and matching collar and lead, he really was very very cute.

**ilcarletto** · #15 07-25-2016

As I told RosieTosie in my email, I am surprised on how many pets lovers are populating this forum.

I am really glad to be part of this community, lots of nice people around.

RosieTosie, again, I am relally sorry for your loss but you did great giving little Alfie 2 weeks full of love and care.

Thank You for sharing this with us.

#16 07-25-2016

Sorry to hear of your loss rosie. Pets really are part of the family.

Porque · #17 07-25-2016

RIP Alfie

RosieTosie · #18 07-26-2016

Cheers Porque nice to have your condolences from Yugoslavia, thanks very much just smile as well, great to feel so much support for the loss of little sweetie Alfie. Since he has gone seem to be seeing normal sized healthy Westie's just about everyday in our area. Funny how we never really noticed how popular they are as a breed before, now when we see them it just drives home what a sad condition he was in, if only we had been able to have him for a bit longer might have made all the difference to his little body, but of course we will never know for sure.

oompaloompa · #19 08-03-2016

I showed my little daughter the doggies pic and she asked if 'he is really small or medium small?' (whatever that means)
she thinks he is cute and says she will plant a seed in her pet garden for him, as she has a herb and flower patch to remember her pets, she has a few that are gone now, inc. her pet chicken last month......

RosieTosie · #20 08-03-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by oompaloompa

I showed my little daughter the doggies pic and she asked if 'he is really small or medium small?' (whatever that means)
she thinks he is cute and says she will plant a seed in her pet garden for him, as she has a herb and flower patch to remember her pets, she has a few that are gone now, inc. her pet chicken last month......

Oh that's sweet oompa, Alfie was really small unintentionally due to his recent past history just b4 he came to us, the poor little chap had missed so many meals that it brought about his demise much too soon. I have seen so many normal sized Westie's since he went and realised how he should have looked and would have looked if we could only have had him for a couple more months.

oompaloompa · #21 08-07-2016

someone should have been keeping an eye on the dementia person anyway, dont you think, then the pets would indirectly have an eye on them too...

RosieTosie · #22 08-07-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by oompaloompa

someone should have been keeping an eye on the dementia person anyway, dont you think, then the pets would indirectly have an eye on them too...

Yes absolutely oompa everyone who knows about poor little Alfie's situation has said the same. The elderly woman herself actually pleaded with her vet to euthanaze him, but the vet said he was not at that stage yet and it was only right to let him enjoy whatever time he had left with someone else.

It was definately appalling that no one amongst her family members had the gumption to step in and look after little Alfie properly. It is even worse that the woman herself obviously realised how he was deteriorating, she was heartbroken when the vet wouldn't put him down, which was good for us to get the chance to care for him for that couple of weeks. I think the woman managed to get it straight in her mind that we had loved him as well for the brief time we had him