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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

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    • DougNgD
      DougNg
      Joined:

      A week and a half ago we had to let go of Hex.

      We found a bump on his head a month ago, immediately took him to the vet. Vet said it was most likely a knock on his head, and gave us some steroids to treat it, but less than a week later, it was bigger.

      I'll fast forward through all the ensuing vet visits. Turned out to be an incredibly rare and insanely aggressive cancer. Hex was getting CT scans multiple times a week and if you flipped through them fast enough you could see the tumor growing daily. From the time we first saw the bump to it being inoperable without risking brain damage was less than 14 days. The tumor had literally eaten 25% of his skull.

      We made the decision to let him go on a good day before he started having seizures. My wife and I took a week off to do bucket list things with him and have all the people who have loved him see him one last time. I think more people came by to say goodbye than showed up at my wedding. The vet came to our house and we euthanized him in our living room, with Jody and I telling how much we loved him as his heart stopped.

      Things are finally getting back to normal around here. His sister is starting to eat again. She's been kind of lost. Jody doesn't cry every day anymore. But I haven't had a good night of sleep in four weeks.

      When we got the death sentence from the vet, I immediately put down a deposit for a new pup with our favorite breeder. Jody has been wanting a pup from a particular sire for a few years, and he's retiring in Jan. I just knew that I wouldn't be in any mood to look for a second dog anytime soon after Hex passed, so I front loaded that. It was a good move, it's really weird only having one dog. We've been putting together a list of things that we did right with Hex that we would do again and things we will be sure to never do again.

      Also: everyone should have veterinary insurance. We blew through 5k in three days. We were looking at another 15k if we had another week to treat. We only paid 10% of our bills thanks to insurance.

      Thanks for listening.

      I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        sabergirl
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        Oh man, I’m so sorry. It’s never easy to say goodbye, but so sudden is the hardest. My heart is with you.

        We had to put down Nico a little over a month ago. He was very old, though, and had been struggling with heart/lung issues for quite some time.

        Hex was obviously very lucky to have you.

        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          I'm so sorry Doug.  On a positive note, I was one of the few at your wedding 😃 😃 😃 😃

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mclaincauseyM
            mclaincausey
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            Damn. Sorry to hear that. Godspeed, Hex!

            Think it, be it.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JDelageJ
              JDelage
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              I'm very sorry for your loss. I had to have a cat put down due to bone cancer several years ago and I'm still missing him. I'm sure you gave your dog a very happy life, and that's the best we can do as pet owners…

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • steelworkerS
                  steelworker
                  見習いボス
                  Joined:

                  I'm sorry about Hex, Doug.

                  Those are my principles, and if you don't like them…
                  Well, I have others.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • steelworkerS
                    steelworker
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    Django, AKA the village idiot.

                    Those are my principles, and if you don't like them…
                    Well, I have others.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • mclaincauseyM
                      mclaincausey
                      見習いボス
                      Joined:

                      Tandem poops….

                      Think it, be it.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • gaseousclayG
                        gaseousclay
                        Joined:

                        That’s what I call droppin’ a deuce

                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                        WTB:
                        IHSH-129 size L (blue)
                        IHSH-19

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • mclaincauseyM
                          mclaincausey
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          :D:D:D  Dangit that's good.

                          Think it, be it.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • DougNgD
                            DougNg
                            Joined:

                            We got his pawprint before he passed.

                            In loving memory

                            I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • SeulS
                              Seul
                              Joined:

                              RIP. Me mate also had his Rottie put to sleep just two days ago.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • ChapC
                                Chap
                                見習いボス
                                Joined:

                                Matching 😂

                                God has blessed you richly, so get down on your knees and thank him. Don’t forget the less fortunate or God will personally kick your ass. I’d love to do it for him, but I can’t be everywhere. Willie Nelson

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Filthy2123ozjunkieF
                                  Filthy2123ozjunkie
                                  見習いボスー
                                  Joined:



                                  I had comic artist David Golding paint a picture of my cat Pickles. The likeness is incredible. I think he's hurting for money at the moment because he's selling these for 30 euros shipped anywhere in the world. Maybe check out his work. He does amazing bird paintings too.

                                  Here's a link if you're interested:
                                  https://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-ANIMAL-BIRD-PET-CAT-DOG-WATERCOLOUR-ART-COMMISSION-BY-DAVID-GOLDING-/323923399066

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • gaseousclayG
                                    gaseousclay
                                    Joined:

                                    Or maybe it’s a side hustle for him

                                    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                    WTB:
                                    IHSH-129 size L (blue)
                                    IHSH-19

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • Filthy2123ozjunkieF
                                      Filthy2123ozjunkie
                                      見習いボスー
                                      Joined:

                                      Yeah I guess. I just meant he could be charging a lot more.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • gaseousclayG
                                        gaseousclay
                                        Joined:

                                        @Filthy:

                                        Yeah I guess. I just meant he could be charging a lot more.

                                        True. I’m just speculating of course. Could be that he’s really fast at drawing and can crank out animal portraits like nobody’s business. He could charge more for his art but maybe he figures he could cast a wider net by charging less. I honestly don’t know. I’m half tempted to get him to do a portrait of an old dog of mine that passed away yrs back. I wonder if he does people portraits or just animals?

                                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                        WTB:
                                        IHSH-129 size L (blue)
                                        IHSH-19

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • mclaincauseyM
                                          mclaincausey
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          Whoah!!

                                          Hiked the Colorado Trail at Kenosha Pass to see the Aspen turn with the rest of humanity.

                                          Think it, be it.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • gaseousclayG
                                            gaseousclay
                                            Joined:

                                            Mclaaaaain, where are you? [emoji23] kidding of course. That 107 blends perfectly with the foliage around you. Awesome looking dogs too

                                            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                            WTB:
                                            IHSH-129 size L (blue)
                                            IHSH-19

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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