Not a Yorkie, but..
 

I brought my Yorkies to the vet today for a minor issue. A young couple entered the waiting room cuddling an elderly looking dachsund.

On my way out, I encountered the couple again; they no longer had their dog. They were both in tears. The woman was sobbing, the man just quietly streaming. The others in the waiting room were pretending not to see. The receptionist announced that "the ashes would be sent to the address they gave". :-( at which point I almost keeled over.

I wanted to hug them, I wished I could make it better. I told them I was so sorry. I did learn after they left, that he had lived 16 years. I wished I could have assured them that their sweet dog enjoyed their love and caring. I am just posting here in honor and memory of their sweet friend and their broken hearts. Thanks for reading.

It is always heartbreeaking no matter what the breed. it's still someones baby.

omg!!! i almost just bursted out in tears, but was able to stop myself at work

I'm kind of new here, I'm sure all of the threads on this folder are pretty sad. The dachsund had to be pretty well cared for to live 16 years, sigh.

I do think the vet office could have done a little better on compassion. It might have been nice if the couple were allowed to conduct their payment transaction privately from the exam room maybe , I'm sure those moments seemed like forever to them waiting for the print-out and signing off and stuff. Maybe I am idealistic but it might have been nice if an employee had escorted them through the process physically.

As it was, the receiptionist did not even express her condolence until after I mentioned it. She was treating it like any other transaction. Not to give TMI, (and I will probably delete this post later) but I myself have left the maternity ward without a baby, so I know what it's like to feel like you're having the worst day of your life, and it's just a regular day to everyone else. Sometimes just small acts of compassion and recognition can go a long way.

Hug your puppy everyone.

Omg! I cried for them! I know all to well how hard it is to lose a pet. I had a Golden Retriever named Goldie for 12 years and she was suffering from Kidney disease and towards the end I had to have her put down bc she wasn't eating and she had been in the hospital for a week with no improvement and the vet said that she was going to die and now she was just suffering. It was so hard to let her go, The whole family was there bc she grew up with the kids and when she walked in the room it was like she knew she walked over to everyone and said her good byes and I sat on the floor with her holding her head in my hand and stroking her face and telling her that when she got to heaven to dig a big hole under a tree and wait for me bc Godlie was a hole digger and we were forever filling in holes. My tears were dropping down on her face and the vet gave her the shot she took one last look at me and she was gone. I went home a balled like a baby. I sat outside under her favorite tree and cried.
I still have her ashes and I am having them buried with me when I go. I still miss her as I am filling up with tears writing this. It has been 5 years and I miss her every day. I use to tell her she was the best puppy dog in the whole wide world. She would smile at me, I swear she would!! ok so I babbled sorry! That poor couple I will say a prayer for them!!

Weeping so hard right now I can barely speak/type. I lost my baby Jazzy kitty a year ago January and it still breaks my heart beyond belief. I too have her ashes and she will go with me to my grave.

How heartbreaking it is to lose our precious babies.

What a heart breaking story. It just takes a few compassionate words from someone to make such a difference during a difficult time like this.

How heartbreaking, 16 years omg the pain they must be feeling.
I'm sure your kind words meant alot to them...

I think many of us who love animals have gone through this, I remember a couple years ago I had to put my 13 year old cat Buddy to sleep. I sat with him in the vets cold little sterile room and told him I loved him and how I wished I could help him, I was bawling my eyes out, and after I paid my bill with barely a glance from the receptionist, I left the clinic I went out to my car and sobbed my heart out. It is one of the most difficult things to cope with :(

Sympathy
 

My hubby had to bring our Adele to the vets to be put to sleep without me last Thursday because she was suffering too much. They were so kind and compassionate to him. He didn't think to bring anything to bring her home in, and they wrapped her in a towell and placed her in a box. We got a sympathy card from them yesterday, personalized and signed by everyone in the office.
I will always appreciate their kindness to my husband and my girl.

In October 2008 we had to put our mixed terrier Buddy to sleep.He was 23 yrs old. He was born in Sept 1985 at the start of my wifes senior year in highschool. I had the privilage of knowing Buddy or 13 years.At first he did'nt like me much but that changed soon.I can honestly say he was my best friend. The last year of his life it was obvious he was in pain and the vet suggested we end his suffering. I did'nt cry when my grandparents died but I cried a lot that day.I never thought I'd love another dog as much but I think I love Toby as much just in a different way.Buddy was my friend but Toby is my baby.

It's always sad when any dog passes on for any reason. They are all innocents and it seems unfair as they give their love so freely.

Vet Payment
 

I had to put my sweet Yorkie down in Sept, The vets office was wonderful. They had me pay in the room first, They gave me a paw print. I was escorted out a side door for privacy. Later that month they made a donation to Tufts in my dogs name,
I feel bad for that couple they did not get the same wonderful treatment.Its one of the worst days in your life.

Oh, how very sad. The furbaby must have been their live. Our pets make our lives so much better. Blessings to you for acknowledging their grief.

Omg!! This thread is one of the saddest ever.. Im crying again.
God help me with my little lexi. I wouldnt be able to handle it.
((( at all)))) god for bid..

I'm in tears right now. I witnessed something like that once when I had to take my yorkie to the emergency. A woman came in with a baby blanket with something all wrapped up. They rushed her in. She came out a few minutes later just balling her eyes out with her hands empty. I wanted to say something. But I had such a lump in my throat.

It doesnt matter if it was 1 yr or 16 yrs when you lose a loved pet, it's so hard and painful :(


Gen

I'm crying too
 

I wish I could have been there to hug them. I think we have all been there at one time or another. I lost my cocker of 14 yrs Sept. 9th and our Penny was born Sept 9th. It was meant to be. Our vet is very good. His staff was great. My heart goes out to the couple. This is just so sad.

i feel sadness for this couple of course, as they lost a dear family member.

even so....i am most struck by your extraordinary kindness. anymore it seems like people can't be bothered to say "hello" or "excuse me" to a stranger....you went way beyond that for this couple, reaching out with comforting words in a time of tremendous grief. and then, you came here even later to honor their little guy. i am moved to tears by your actions.

i realize vets and their staff members deal with loss on a regular basis, but just like people docs, they need to keep in mind that what they see as one more in a long line of deaths is someone else's one-and-only. easier to say than do, i suppose. still, it sounds like the staff of the office you were in could learn a few things about compassion from you.

I had to make the decision to PTS my Chipper (13 years). He had bladder cancer and I knew that it was time to say good-bye and I tried so hard to stay calm for him so that he wouldn't be scared and upset. His passing was so peaceful and that made me happy but the pain I felt in my heart was overwelming. The vet gave me time alone to say good-bye and when it was time to leave he told me not to stop at the front desk but to just go home. I didn't pay the vet bill till the day I went back to pick up Chipper's ashes. I thought that was very thoughtful. I was also very touched that the veterinary hospital sent a card stating how sorry they were for the loss of Chipper.

oh, that does sound nice. i never want to find out, but hopefully most vets are like yours.