I know everyone is like, WHAT?! Lyndsey killed her dog? Inadvertantly, yes we think we did. I met Joe Feb 2001 and it was beyond love at first sight. We had absolutely nothing in common, but he looked cute in those jeans....anyway! I've always been an animal lover and I came into the relationship with Pluto, my cat and he had Dalton, his rottweiler. I wasn't enthused about dating a guy with a rottweiler, they're such big dogs and I was ignorant to the breed. I learned quickly that rottweilers are very loving dogs and willing to do anything for you. Three years ago, we bred Dalton to Harley and produced the ultimate rottweiler, Ozzy. Ozzy would do anything for Joe or myself, that is as long as I'm not around Joe (he comes first for Ozzy). Dalton spent his entire life chained under an oak tree, and Joe and I have been trying for four years to get him off the tree but dog pens are expensive. Last November, my granddad gave me his female rottweiler, Bear because he was unable to care for her anymore. In January, Bear and Ozzy bred, and produced five (ten actually, three born dead, two died within 24 hours) beautiful puppies. Finally, the money to build a nice dog pen. So, end of May-beginning of June, the pen was complete and Dalton was ready to move into his new home. By this time, Dalton is 8-9 years old, but his biggest problem is arthritus. One shot in the booty and that was taken care of. Everything was fine, Dalton was able to enjoy his favorite hobby of howling with the train and barking at thunder. He looked happy. Then June 21, my sis-n-law calls me at work and says come home. I rush home to find my dog breathing, but pretty much unresponsive. He has heat stroke (we think, hubby wouldn't let me get a necropsy). We do everything we know how, cool him down, try and get a little water in him, and call every vet in a twenty mile radius. No vet would respond to my calls, my regular vet was unreachable, and the emergency clinic is over an hour away--and not including about the time I need a vet, it's rush hour on the interstate. Within two and a half hours Dalton is dead. If we'd never moved him, if we had left him under the tree, he would probably still be here today. His tree was completely shade, a huge oak tree, where in his dog pen there was his house and a contraption Joe built (I don't even know how to describe it) for shade with plenty of cool dirt to dig in (and he did, almost to China! He always loved to dig) and a plastic kiddy pool. So this is a warning, it's hot, protect your outside animals. Provide too much shade, plenty of water and with older dogs think about putting them in the house during the day. Even after living outside his whole life, Dalton couldn't handle it and because we didn't think, we killed our dog and everytime I hear the train I can hear him outside, howling his heart out and I break down and cry. I miss him, and Joe is finally getting used to the fact that he's gone, but I still can't say Dalton without him getting misty. Thanks for listening.

Lyndsey

So sorry for your loss..

Sorry for your loss.

So sorry ...

So sorry to hear of your lose. Don't be too hard on yourself, you did give him shade and you were trying to make his life better. I lost a dog to heat stroke several years ago. He had shade and water but got tangled up around a pole with his chain, ( I was working on the fence to keep him in. He could jump the 4 ft one)I was gone for the day and when I got home, I let him loose to get to the water, I cooled him down with water and did everything I could but he died also. Hind sight is twenty twenty and I learned a hard lesson.
Pepsi

so sorry for your lost

It is never easy to lose a pet, but it's even worse if you believe your the reason for it.

My heart goes out to you, Lindsey. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

What in the world is going on ?? Seems like every pet is passing over ! I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I know that Dalton was a great companion and a loving friend to you and your hubby. Don't beat yourself up for it though -- you had the best intentions in the world and he knows it. He's in a better place now looking over you and guarding you

Warm thoughts sending your way,

Lauren

Thank you so much for taking the time to write Dalton's story. I am so sorry that happened.
Love,
Sara

*Hugs* It's oh so very hard to lose a pet. Sorry for your loss.

My heart goes out to you

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I don't think you need to beat yourself up. You were doing the best you could for Dalton and he knows that. I'm really sorry for your loss. Rotties are really sweet dogs. Lots of hugs,

I can't say anymore than whats been said...Sure sorry to hear about your loss. He know's you loved him. And he loved you...and he wouldn't want you to beat yourself up over this.

Big hugs being sent your way....

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it leaves a terrible hole in your heart.

It's a little late to tell you this, but water won't cool heat stroke. The only thing that will is rubbing alcohol. You spray it on the neck, shoulders and chest and most of the time it cools fast enough to save an animal (if caught in time, even if they are down).

I wish everyone knew that.

I know you miss Dalton and nothing will ever take his place. I pray God will ease your pain.

Weeza

So sorry for your loss. We were also responsible for our boxers death.It was a pup from our litter. We ended up having to move the dad to or house because my parents dog was not getting along with him. The son (our pup) and dad did not get along at feeding time so we chained chewie up and JP was not on a chain Hubby had to go to work early and I thought he had unchained chewie I went to work hubby got home and chewie had gotten tangled up and pretty much hung himself. We will not ever chain a dog again unless it is on a ground stake and there is nothing for them to get tangled in.

So sorry for your loss. Please don't blame yourself! Everything happens for a reason and you just have to have faith and believe you did everything the way you knew was right. My cat is missing and it's going on 3 weeks and if I blamed myself I would be in bed and never get up. But I don't blame myself and I have faith that everything is going to okay.

Sending warm hugs your way!

Lyndsey,
I'm sorry about your loss of Dalton. You did try to provide shade. Please forgive yourself for any mistake you may have made. Dalton would not want you blaming yourself for this. I know that if he could get through to you right now he'd tell you this.
((((HUGS)))))
tikileahsmom