I just had to have our dog Swifty put down.
Swifty and I had a good day today. We ate and listened to the ball game. He lounged on his doggy bed. At about nine tonight I put him up on the bed with me and we went to sleep. I awoke a little over an hour later to him having a grand mal seizure.
I called the emergency veterinarian and rushed him out there. It was a twenty minute drive and then I had to wait for the doctor to get there five minutes later. Swifty never recovered consciousness.
This hurts me, but it hurts my wife immeasurably more. She is on vacation and I had to call her with the news. With his love and loyalty, Swifty helped my wife get through some hard times before she met me. She is devastated.
I think Swifty might have been the most loved dog on the planet. He was definitely the most loved dog in our town. A lot of people knew Swifty from the no-kill shelter where my wife adopted him. He was memorable particularly because he was missing a leg and also for his love of people. We made a lot of appearances at the shelter with Swifty.
I cried tonight for the first time in years.
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I know it's hard, but you sure did the very best thing you could for Swifty. How tough that Jen is on vacation and unable to say goodbye...
Take care of yourself, and her, OK?
If you have a chance, please check this very thoughtful reflection on the passing of our furry friends.
http://www.lifebuzz.com/dogs-never-die/
It's really sad to lose a furry family member. RIP, Swifty.
and sorrow to say goodbye to a loved pet. It's no consolation now, but do remember that you gave Swifty a full and happy life...
my heart goes out to you and Jen. Swifty had a heck of a good life with you guys. 
No strings attached.
I am so sorry.
My heart goes out to you and Jen.
My Swifty was a black lab.
Your Swifty was obviously loved by so many, including you.
I am so, so sorry, Tobin.
Please tell Jen she's in my thoughts! 
I remember that you wrote about Swifty and I was glad that Jen came with a dog after you said you might get a dog as a trucking companion.
A similar thing happened to my husband and me years ago. We left our two dogs together in a nice kennel for a few days while I accompanied hubby to Portland with a van of stuff he was installing there. The trip took a bit longer than projected, and when I called the kennel to make sure our dogs could stay another night, the owner told me our old dog Brindle had a seizure and they had to take him to the vet. When we got home I went to the vet's office and she said Brindle wasn't responding to phenobarbital, and had more seizures, so the only thing to do was let the doctor put him to sleep.
I'm glad you and Swifty had a good day before this happened, and most of all that he and you and Jen experienced being together as a family.
It sounds as if Swifty had the best of homes and that he knew he was very loved! What more could a doggie want. You did all you could for him.
I do know what you're going through. Your hearts are breaking. Please, please know that you did all you could, so have peace of mind that you were there for Swifty all of the way.
He will have a special place in your and your wife's hearts forever.
One of the toughest things in the world to accept is that our best friends cannot last forever.
to you and another for your wife when she gets home.
We went through a similar thing with Cotton, a scrawny, stray terrier mix we took in off the street about 20 years ago.
My heart goes out to you. 
That's a lousy thing to go through, but don't fret about crying. They may happen again and it helps in the grieving.
Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you...
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you.
by Isla Paschal Richardson
Swifty was a well loved pooch.
my condolences.
aA
kesha
to you and your wife.
I hate losing beloved pets. When it happens I swear I am never getting another one. That never quite works out.
It's one of the hardest things to do...we've had to put down
two kitties and one dog in the last 6 years. They all had long lives, though,
and I still think of every one of them every day.
Swifty will be in your heart forever. Hugs to you and Jen.
There is another "Swifty" out there that needs you now, when you feel ready.
They take a little piece of us with them. It leaves an empty space in your heart. I think they wait for us on the otherside.So sorry for the loss of your family's dog.
It is so difficult to lose any creature, human or animal, that we love. Swifty sounds like a wonderful dog, who was lucky to have you and your wife and you were lucky to have him.
May the wonderful memories you shared bring your wife and you peace.
My sympathies to you and Jen.
And,
for Jen when she gets home.
seriously in more than 20 years. I am pretty sure he loved her more than he loved me.
I am so sorry for your pain. They are part of our family and it hurts like hell when we lose them.
You and your wife gave Swifty a wonderful life filled with love. And you did right by him at the end. Some day, you'll be left with just the happy memories.
godspeed Swifty
