In which Omega wonders where this post is going

[OmegaSquad]

Yeah.....not a good week or so.

On top of the irritations of work (WHY DO STUPID PEOPLE INSIST ON MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT?!?!) and winter (START YOU GODDAMN CAR!!!!!!), tragedy befell the Omega household when my dog Lou got caught behind a UPS truck backing up. I wish I could say he never knew what hit him. Unfortunately, that was not the case as only his back end was crushed...

Took him to the vet. News was of course not good. Crushed pelvis, internal injuries, shock, etc. Choices:

A. vet stabilizes him, sends us to orthopedic vets who piece his hip back together with dental floss, duct tape, and twine, months of rehab, and probably life-long arthritis assuming he EVER walks again....oh yeah and $5-10K of expenses.

Or B. The final solution (the bad one, not the I'm leaving the internet only to show back up a month later one). Two kids, mortgage, and credit cards along with not wanting to put him through that suffering forced the latter choice.

Been a week now...I'm not really over it. When I spent last year away from my family while Aidan was in school out-of-state, Lou was there. When I got home from work, Lou was there. Bedtime, Lou was there at my feet. I had Lou before I had kids. There hasn't been a time since I've lived in NC that Lou wasn't there. Now he's not.

I realize it's a dog. The logical, practical part of my brain tells me that. Still, he was family. It's hard to realize that part of your life is gone forever. The doc tried to remind me that at least my human kids were healthy and they are what's important. True, but it doesn't really help....

I feel better writing this out at least. Still, its really hard to drive past the blood stain in the road every day.

Omega One Out-
Time after time

[BlancheNoE]

Sending you love man. Okay, we all know I'm a bit of a flake,...but I really believe Lou will be flitting around you until he knows you're going to be okay,..I also believe we cross paths with these same souls,...yeah, I said it,..SOULS,..time and time again. You'll recognize his energy , as he will yours and you'll be drawn together again,...wierd of me ?,...maybe,...but not many things ring true to me,...for some reason, that theory always has,...and I'm not the wishful thinking type. I think we run in soul packs that include animal family members.
,..all that aside. I can barely fathom how bad that sucks. I wish there was something I could do. I'll be thinking of you.

[BlancheNoE]

DAMN it,...I misspelled weird,....if I had money, they'd call me eccentric.

[Pypermarru1]

I couldn't image. I don't want to image. I'm not much of a sap but when it comes to my pets, I'm all about the sappiness. My pets are family.
Sending you love Omega. Losing a pet is as hard a lose as any. It's that unconditional thing they do.

[flophousepoodle]

I'm sorry for your tragic loss - family loss. Lost mine last summer - lived with her since I was 19.

[Dunleavy]

I am so sorry. I know it doesn't offer much comfort to say that Lou isn't in any pain now, however true that is. Pets are family and we have the right to grieve for them just like any other member. Sometimes they're the only ones who can offer us unconditional love.

[JustDee]

Omega, there is nothing any of us can say that will take any of your pain away. Just know that we hear you and in our hearts are grieving your loss with you.

[SydTheSkeptic]

To some of us (I'd say most of us here at the ARK), our pets are like kids that never grow out of their "twos". I can imagine your profound sense of loss, Chris. I've been there. A lot of us have. Of coure, no one can know the special bond you shared- that is yours alone, but the sudden loss of a pet...and that hard choice you're faced with...that I get.

Very sorry for it. He what a DAMN lucky dog Lou was to have you for a buddy.

[photo2010]

I'm sorry for your loss. I had to have my beloved cat Blackie put down over 4 years ago, and I still see him in my mind, laying on his blanket on my bed. Kneading my shoulder at 6am, (c'mon, get up and feed me), just being near me when I felt my worst, looking me in the eyes wanting to help. I remember the day he and his sibling walked into our back yard out of nowhere, as if to say: "here we are, we're gonna hang out with you guys if that's ok". My life was much better when they were here, and I like to believe we will all meet again on the "Rainbow Bridge". I am sorry..

[JustAnotherUserName]

I did a video a year ago about my dog who ate a penny, required surgery, blood transfusions, etc...to the tune of $3,800. Despite our best efforts to rid the house of pennies (we have a strict no-penny rule), he found one and did it again last week. We paid again. But his kidneys were badly damaged this time and he won't survive it if he does it again. I'm sure it was a stupid financial choice, but he's Kaiba! My summer plans have changed due to the extra expense, but it was worth it....

I'm so sorry for your loss....they ARE like our children in many ways. They are CERTAINLY our best, loyal friends, and I'm sorry you lost yours.

[OmegaSquad]

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support.