Sad day for the Avinet household.

[avinet]

It is a sad day for us today, we had to have our Irish Setter euthanized this morning. Saffy was 12 years old and appeared in good health, apart form some arthritis in her legs, up until earlier this week when she got a bad limp in her left hind leg. That improved after a day and yesterday she went on her walk as usual and seemed pretty right.

However about 4 am this morning she woke us up (she slept in our bedroom) unable to stand up and crying with pain. I was able to calm her down and get some painkillers into her, and we got her into the vet by 8.00am - had to carry her to the car on a blanket.

An X-ray showed a fracture on her right femur and worse, showed that she had bone cancer which had badly weakened the bone, hence causing it to basically crumble. It would have been impossible to pin and have the bone mend, and an amputation was not a viable option either since her arthritis would have made life too painful, so we had to decide to euthanize on the spot. At least it was a clear cut decision and not one of those lingering slow declines with that will I or will I hope type of situations.

Saffy was the 5th Irish Setter we have owned, and we have had Setters around for 38 of the last 40 years - the house is going to seem very empty without a big Irish Setter underfoot all the time

in sadness,

Mike

[jusdeb]

Sorry for your loss . It is heartbreaking but I bet she had a fantastic life with the Avinet family .

[mango]

Sorry to hear Mike

[carlsandclan]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Mike. I know how important she was to you.

Carley

[flyingfox5]

very sorry for your loss

[madaussie]

Sorry for your loss .
jjj

[melly78]

I am very sorry for your loss Mike, My thoughts are with you and your family during this time.

[flossy]

Awww Mike......sending huge hugs to you and your family......thinking of you all. My deepest sympathies.......I'm sure Saffy knew how very much she was loved.....RIP baby girl xxxx

[tasha]

no matter what we say I know it won't lesson the sadness u & your family
are feeling !
But real love is letting her go were their is No pain just rest for her. knowing
she would have had a wonderful life with u !
Deepest sympathy..

[avinet]

Thanks everyone for your comments, every one who has pets knows what it is like to lose one of them, never easy when they have been a part of your life for so long.

Saffy was a lovely dog, not a trace of aggression in her, like all the Setters, both Irish and English, that we have owned, and all of them had a simple joy in life that is hard to beat. Our first two, Katy and Shane we obtained in 1972 when we lived in Canberra and I was working as a geologist mapping the geology of the northern Snowy Mountains initially and then the area between Canberra and the Coast around Moruya. They would come everywhere with me, in the most rugged of country, and loved it. If I walked 10 km in the day they would do 2 or 3 times as much! They even went caving with me!

Saffy didn't have that sort of life but she did have the beach, loved her walks, and was fantastic with the birds - if a baby learning to fly happened to land on her back she would just let it have a ride until it took off again.

Anyway a couple of photos of her, firstly as a 12 months old in the garden, and then at 11 years in her favourite chair.

thanks for listening,

Mike

[melly78]

such a gorgeous looking doggy Mike.

[flossy]

OMG! She was gorgeous Mike....I've always loved Red??? Setters....I always thought that's what they were called....they have been my dream dog since I was a little girl. You never see many around these days. Bless you for giving her such a gorgeous life.......it's not easy - but take comfort in knowing she had an unreal life with you guys.....sending big hugs....xxxx

[loxo]

Ahhh, sorry for your loss Mike.

[meandem]

Our heartfelt wishes go out to you Mike, and also to the family. A sad day indeed, but what a celebration of life.

[greyeagle1]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. You feel just as bad when a beloved pet dies as you do when a human passes. And euthanization is the hardest thing. You made the right decision.
Looks like one happy dog in the picture!

[blinkybill]

Our thoughts and greatest sympathies are with you Mike. So sorry to hear about your loss She was a gorgeous dog.

[anzac]

Oh Mike I am so sorry I missed the original post as you are always there for us She sounded like a wonderful dog and they become such a huge part of our lives. Hugs to you and all the family

[silvercloud]

Mike I'm so sorry to hear of your sad news. It's an awful decision to have to make but you made the right one. Setters are fabulous dogs and she looked like one very happy and spoilt girl.

[barkingowl]

so sorry to read about your lovely girl, hugs to all the family

[avinet]

Thanks for all the condolances everyone, it is very much appreciated.

Everyone here who has lost a loved pet, whether it be dog, cat, bird or even a favourite fish knows what it is like to lose that friend

We still miss Saffy so much but have taken the first steps to continue our association with Setters, and have let the local dog rescue groups know to keep us in mind if a Setter appears on their lists. We don't think we can handle a puppy any more - getting a bit old for that - but a mature dog would be great. We both were brought up with dogs, my mother bred and showed Cocker Spaniels in England, and as a boy I used to always have one on my bed overnight, and if it was cold under the sheets with me as well

We arrived in Australia at the very end of 1969 and by 1972, as soon as we had a house of our own, had the first two Irish Setters, and since then there has never been more than 3 or 4 months when we have not had a Setter or two or three in the house. The house seems empty without one - if you can believe a house that still has 3 cats and 25 birds can seem empty ;D

thanks for listening to my ramblings,

cheers,

Mike