RIP Jessie

[silentC]

And you know what? It was bloody hard and full of rocks. At least we had plenty for the headstone

[Grunt]

As I had some control over the timing of Bree's death, I dug her grave before she was put down. I was about a good a day as you get in Melbourne in June, the sun was shining, I brought Bree and her bed out into the garden where laying in the sun, she watched me dig her grave. It was a little tragic but funny as well. It's lucky that dogs don't understand the concept of death.

The ground was bloody hard too, no rocks at least.

[silentC]

I think it's good to have a bit of a laugh and see the lighter side of things.

While my brother in law and I were digging the hole, he was telling me about how you never seem to make the hole big enough. His dog Clive died in Canberra while he was visiting his parents but he brought him back home to bury him. He dug the hole and brought Clive down to it but because it had been more than 24 hours by then, he couldn't rearrange his legs and he wouldn't fit! The ground was so hard that he couldn't be bothered digging it bigger all the way around, so he just dug out a couple of notches on one side for his legs. So Clive was buried in a dog shaped hole

When we'd put Jess in, he remarked that the hole was spot on. I told him that over the years I'd seen her lazing around on her backside enough that I had a good idea of how much room she took up. She always was a lazy one

[DavidG]

[Iain]

About 8 years ago my daughter got the first decent pony she had, this was Gabby the Australian Pony.
Gabby took my daughter from a novice rider to a State Rpresentative in showjumping, cross country and the Prince Philip Games.
February this year Gabby contracted cancer and was dead within a fortnight.
The vet gave her the final green dream.
Gabby was the paddock Matriarch and was the one in charge of the 6 horses.
She now lies under her favourite cypress overlooking the paddocks and the other horses.
She is sorely missed and was incredibly fit for her 26 years.
Even the vet had a tear in his eye when he administered the final injection, and I didn't cope too well at all.
Even the contractor with the excavator was considerate asking my daughter to hold Gabby'shead while he lowered her into her grave 'so he wouldn't hurt her head'.
He got a bottle of scotch for his consideration.

[HappyHammer]

Darren, Sorry to hear about your loss, can't think of the right words so I borrowed some from the big man from Gracelands....

When I was a lad
And old shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we’d stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way

I remember the time at the old swimmin’ hold
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out

As the years fast did roll
Old shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him jim

With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at shep’s faithful head
I just couldn’t do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead

He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see

Old shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There’s one thing I know
Old shep has a wonderful home

[Grunt]

A very sick Bree and her siblings. Bree is the red one, Kane is the one with the tongue and Anya is the other one.