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Sorry to hear the sad news. Bert is awesome. Take care, and know you've both given eachother the best love possible.
That's hard, best to all of you
Aw that is so sad,he was a most excellent hound.
All the best RNP.
Oh no, that’s awful news. He’s an awesome dog who from what I’ve seen here has had an amazing life, I’ve loved all the posts / pics that you’ve shared of him.
Feel for you, take care.
Sad news.
Always looked forwards to any posts with Bert in.
7 years of the best times for Bert, a very good boy indeed. Loses points for no seatbelt use when driving.
Good luck with today.
Rusty, I'm so sorry to hear that,it's genuinely reduced me to tears just now. You will hurt for weeks, but just be glad you gave him a better time for the last few years. They're never with us long enough 😪
So sorry to read the latest news. My condolences to you Rusty. It sounds like you had wonderful times together
So sorry to read this. Enjoyed seeing pics of Bert over the years and he looked to be a fantastic and loyal companion. RIP Bert.
I just wanted to say that I really feel for you, it's really tough.
When we lost our cat Tigger some years ago I posted about it on here and someone sent me The Cat's Will (adapted from A Dog's Will) and it really helped (we now have 3 bonkers rescues). You never forget, but perhaps in time they're be another.
The Dog’s Will
When humans die they make a Will
To leave their homes and all they have
To those they love.I too, would make a Will if I could write.
To some poor, wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home.
My dish, my cosy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand, the loving voice
The place I made on someone’s heart.
The love that at the last
Could help me to a peaceful, painless end,
Held in loving arms.If I should die
Oh, do not say
”No more a dog I’ll have
To grieve me by its loss”
Seek out a lonely, unloved dog
And give my place to them.
This is my legacy.
The love I leave behind.
T’is all I have to give.
He's gone.
Bert's bedroom is his den at the base of our spiral staircase, I slept on the floor next to him last night, he was more comfortable than me!
Tried getting someone to the house this morning but the earliest was early evening - when we got the diagnosis last night I wanted it to be as soon as possible as he was deteriorating quickly.
Took him to our wonderful (independent) vets first thing this morning in his favourite Berlingo adventure mobile as he was settled and comfortable, they did the deed in the car.
He slipped away peacefully with me and Lara tickling and talking to him - it was a good death. I carried him inside and laid him to rest.
Thanks for the kind words - I know he had a good life.
Love you Bert.
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So sorry to read this, as others have said he was a gorgeous boy and I loved seeing pictures of him.
Dusty in here.
It may sound trite, but his passing sounds a lot more civilised than most people are afforded. I had to make the final call with my old girl, the vet did a house visit and she died in my arms.
It's never long enough but you had, what, seven years of mutual love? Again, not all people can say that either.
Sorry for your loss, mate.
Aw shit - so sorry to read this. As you said, as deaths go that sounds like a good one.
All I can say is
Top dog.
So sorry, but you gave him his best life and that’s all we can do with our faithful companions.
So sorry to read this RNP. Bert was such a special dog and friend to you, that was very obvious.
You clearly gave him the very best life and he felt loved right until the very end.
Rest in peace beautiful Bert xxx
Sorry to hear this mate.
We have Lola because of Bert.
Sorry he has gone, but what a happy life!
Sorry for your loss, but you made the right call and to be with Bert until the end is the greatest thing you could do for him. Run free Bert.
Bit dusty here, with Esther our black lab beside me who we rehomed 6 years ago and joins me on our adventures - I’m now thinking of running up a mountain with her tomorrow in tribute to Bert. She’ll be 8 this year and gets a bit stiff at times after a run and having to think about reducing the length of our runs, but I need to cherish those moments.
Wow I'm really feeling it this morning.
I love(d) Sundays, Bert and I always have a big stomp somewhere. Early morning walk on the beach at Lytham / Hardcastle crag's / Holcombe moors etc, just nice beautiful surroundings appreciating the weather and nature.
Then come home have some breakfast whilst watching LRTime on YouTube followed by a snooze with Bert fighting for space at the other end of the sofa. Just not this morning.
Sorting his photos out, these from August last year seem appropriate.
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Ah man, I didn't want to open this thread just in case. Brought me to tears, I'm coming up to 5 years with our rescue idiot. When it's her time, I'm not sure how I'm going to get through it, she's my first dog and it'll definitely be a hard time.
Feel for you RNP, he was a true character.
Bert was our first dog as well. The saying goodbye part was what I considered more than anything else before we took a dog on - I'd seen the effects it had on my good friend Jay when he lost Derek dog.
The physical act of saying goodbye is fine, the awesome vets at our practice took their time (and cancelled some non urgent appointments with understanding waiting clients), and it took place in the back of my Berlingo that Bert loved and we'd had 100's of adventures in.
We were strong, I knew I would have to be for Berts sake, it's quick painless and untraumatic - he just drifted off to sleep. I scooped his lifeless body up carried him inside and placed him with dignity on a blanket. My work was done.
This first morning is hard. I'm in tears writing this. I'm writing it more for myself and don't expect replies, I'm guessing crying is good.
I think there will be another doggo in our future life, dogs are absolutely brilliant, I loved every second of being Berts guardian.
I'm just back from a morning sniffing and 'hunting' expedition with our six-month-old wirehaired pointer goofball of a pup, and I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose your four-legged buddy. He's our first dog and the only regret I have is that we waited so long before getting him. Sounds like you had so many fantastic times with Bert, he looks and sounds like an amazing dog. who had a really big life with you. So, so sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear this, but you obviously know how good a life Bert had. Currently sitting in a hotel room missing my own mutt, maybe that’s why it’s a bit dusty in here
Sorry to hear this mate, RIP Bert.
Sorry to read the update, rip Bert.
Really sorry to hear about your loss. Bert seemed to be a wonderful dog (and photogenic!) and it is always saddening to know a loved companion has gone.
Run free Bert.
Sorry to hear this news, RNP
RIP Bert, x
Just adding my condolences - I’ve loved reading about your exploits with Bert over the years, and seeing him as an ever present feature of your inspiring adventures in bangernomics. He looked a handsome big lad in your pics, and always came across as having a lovely temperament. Losing a pup can hit pretty hard - the furry little buggers leave a massive empty hole when they go!
I think there will be another doggo in our future life, dogs are absolutely brilliant, I loved every second of being Berts guardian.
Its pretty clear he adored being part of your pack.
All dogs are awesome, this is a fact. But dogs with human names are the top of the pack.
Those pictures tell me all I needed to know about Bert, defo the bestest good boy and without a doubt loved as hard as he was loyal.
Big love to you and yours. x
Aww man. I wish I hadnt opened this thread, he looked absolutely magnificent. I'm sure he had the best possible life and couldn't believe his little doggie luck when you rescued him from the pound..
I'm with my 2 now. Both are snoozing away happily but I know I probably won't have them in a year. I was just told today that one has failing kidneys so just a matter of time so reading this upset me a bit.
****.
Bert was the STW forum dog. This sucks balls.
Sorry RNP.
Thanks.
I've taken solice that literally 100's of people have written/emailed/rung with words of condolence. I think we took for granted what an amazing super chilled dog he was as he was very rarely away from either of us.
It's a week ago tonight that the scan results told us we were dealing with something very different than expected. Bert always happily placed his paw on my hand if i put it anywhere near him.....before rolling over and demanding a tummy tickle
I slept on the floor in his 'den' last Friday night and in between fitful sleep I remember reaching out and holding his paw, he deliberately placed his other paw on top of mine for a few minutes. I don't think I've ever had a more {struggling to find the word as I'm not religious} spiritual/emotional/overwhelming feeling of love to anyone or anything else in my life.
A few years ago I had an existential crisis in that I was trying to figure the meaning of why or how Bert had come into our lives beyond us initially just wanting a 'dog'. They do say people do their best work from the grave - I am carrying momentum from Berts passing and am interested in where it leads MrsRNP and I.
Bert came home again yesterday just in a different form to the underweight apprehensive unloved dog that first came home seven years ago.
The vets wrote a heartfelt card and the packaging and remembrance keepsakes were beautiful. We were in floods of tears last night. The small jar of fur particularly got me.
We are lucky to live where we do and there are lots of beautiful walks and parks where I loved walking Bert. I'm going to scatter a small amount of ashes on our favourites.
{Thread closed}
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I've posted previously on my litter picking thread that I always used to collect acorns and conkers when out walking with Bert. Most of them got redistributed/planted on other walks but i kept a few back.
The attached photos from the 17th September 2022 show that days haul, from those grew this little oak tree that started in a window sill pot before being transferred outside.
I contacted a local lady over the weekend who sits on the council and also runs the Friends of Whitaker Park group (they all knew Bert) to ask if they'd mind if I transferred the sapling from it's pot into the park. She was delighted with the idea and suggested two areas that have benches nearby. The area I'm choosing has a beautiful willow tree nearby and is a nice corner of our local park.
We're away for a few weeks but are going to plant it on the 17th so it will be 3years to the day the photo was taken/the acorn was planted.
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I also have two year old and one year old saplings from subsequent years acorn masts that will get repotted and subsequently planted somewhere.
That's a lovely thing RNP and hopefully a lasting tribute to the wonderful Bert.
So sorry to read this OP. Genuinely got upset reading this last night. Lovely tribute to him too.
Rest easy, Bert.
Hey OP, my sincere condolences in these dark days. We too lost our boy 10 weeks ago. He was diagnosed with Cancer and had an operation to remove a growth in his intestine. We count ourselves lucky we had another 5 months with him before we had to let him go. And not a day goes by where I don't miss him terribly. It's bloody horrible eh.
I never really understood why people got so upset over losing pets until we lost Oskar. The only upside is we rescued him from a pretty grim life and gave him an amazing 3 years. Nowhere long enough but it was amazing nonetheless.
I hope you find a way to have happy memories only of Bert. They give us so much happiness eh.
Magnetodog is the forum pupper for me
Bert was spectacularly beautiful, but not magnetodog.
Edit: how complicated is it to post here nowadays? 🙁