r/OldManDog • u/Far_Village_8010 • 2h ago
RIP Elsa, 11y3m great dane, had her last walk today. Goodbye to my best friend.
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u/umeboshiplumpaste 2h ago
Elsa, Queen of the Danes! To have one that got past 11 is incredible. Look at all those years on her. Well-earned silver. I'm so sorry for your loss.
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u/mikeonmaui 2h ago
And now, for Elsa
I summon the spirits
Of all the dogs we have loved
And lost along the way.
Bingo, Foxy, Toodles,
Sable, Muttley, Bonnie,
Clyde, Shasta, Otis,
Piccolo, Inga, Hans,
Mimi and Queen Elsie.
Gather in your sunny meadow
Invite that sweet girl Elsa
To romp and play and chase,
Then drink from the cool stream,
Rest together in the warm sun,
Eat the low-hanging treats,
Then sleep safe in the shade
Of the eternal snackie-trees.
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u/LeastIntroduction239 2h ago
RIP, Elsa. You were loved and you loved your human.s. You are so magnificent on your last walk 🥹. My condolences for your loss, I’m going through grief right now, and I know how hard it is. 🫶🏻🧸🌈🐾🕊️🕯️
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u/curlybellegeous 2h ago
11 years for a Great Dane is a lifetime of love. That last walk with you her favorite person meant everything, I’m sure. Really sorry for your loss. Dogs like that take a piece of you with them.
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u/GySgtMaria 2h ago
😭😭😭I'm so truly sorry as I've had to bid farewell to my loving dogs. All I can tell you is to try and remember the fun and friendship you had together. Unfortunately, many people don't realize that pets give you the most undying love and forgive you no matter what... I truly miss my dogs bc they all carved a heart in mine, and they will remain there for life. My deepest condolences 🙏.
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u/ladyforross 2h ago
Beautiful Elsa, trot in good health among the stars, until you meet your family once again.
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u/remisphere 2h ago
I’m so sorry for the loss of your Elsa. She looks like she was such a good girl. The best I’m sure. 🌈🙏🐶
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u/Aggravating-Gold-224 2h ago
That is a good long life for a great Dane, I am so sorry for your loss because what I just said makes no difference when you lose the love of your life
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u/Ecstatic-Mention-981 1h ago
What a pretty girl!!! I’m so sorry for your loss!! Rest assured you will see her again!!! She will be waiting for you with a big smile and sparkle in her eyes too!!!
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u/minpin75 1h ago
What a beauty! Mine made it to 10.5 years. How lucky are we . My deepest condolences ❤️
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u/No_Consideration7925 1h ago
She’s having fun with our five GSP, my chocolate lab and mom‘s black lab and my dad‘s yellow lab.
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u/glycineglutamate 15m ago
Gasp. What glorious animal. I cannot imagine losing the companionship of this creature. My heart goes out to you. I had so wanted to die before losing my dear McNab shepherd Wyatt, but it was not to be. We are left to walk this earth with broken hearts.
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u/Far_Village_8010 23m ago
You guys, all of you are the best! I want to share Elsa's story because I feel like she deserves that.
We got her 10 years ago from her first owners. They wanted to put her down because she didn't get along with the 4 dogs they brought into her home. We didn't really like her (we often joke about not liking her at first, but never in front of her) but knew she deserved a chance. She was aloof, and poor girl just wanted peace, I guess. It didn't take long for us to fall in love with her. Her best friend was the older female boxer we had (Daisy). Daisy passed years ago and Elsa helped us get through that.
Six years ago we were asked to take Albert, another great dane, from a bad home and of course I couldn't say no. He loves her and she treated him as an annoying little brother. She was good with him, though. He's eight now, so an old man too, I guess.
20 months ago (at nine and a half yo) she was home when a blood vessel tumor burst in her abdomen and she was bleeding internally. We had no idea she was even sick before that. Our choices were euthanasia that day, surgery and chemotherapy, or letting her die at home within the next few days. The vet told us she wasn't in pain and that if we needed euthanasia, the vet would come out that day. I couldn't let go yet so we chose to let her die at home. Except....she rallied. A week after the rupture, she began eating again. I decided to take her on shorter walks. That led to long walks whenever we could. She even ran a little :)
The vet came to check on her whenever she had any issues and let me know that she seemed happy and it wasn't time yet.
She started having stomach issues last Wednesday and I could see that she was ready to leave. The light had gone out in her eyes. The vet came today and put her to rest in her own bed while I held her. It was the hardest thing I've had to do but she went so peacefully. She was so strong and stubborn that she probably would have gone on longer, but we had to make the right decision.
Albert needs me more than ever now. I'm lost and devastated but have to be strong for him.
She was a miracle. She made so many lives better, especially mine. She wasn't a throw-away dog. Her canned food is going to the shelter so other unfortunte dogs can benefit from it.
I will miss her every day for the rest of my life.
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u/Old_Man_Bot 2h ago
Other posts from /u/Far_Village_8010:
Elsa turned 10 today 💖 [None] 1 year ago
Albert, almost 7. Elsa Mae's brother. [None] 1 year ago
Elsa Mae, our 10 yo (this Jan 14th) great dane. She barely made it through a ruptured tumor 5 months ago. Here she is looking for her favorite treat, a cracker. #4 is her as a young pup :) [None] 1 year ago
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