Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
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Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Some of you remember my big, goofy, harlequin Great Dane, Ben, who I got in January 2010 as a 3-mo-old puppy. He was meant to be a show dog but he developed conformation issues as he grew that cut short his show career. I had never shown dogs in conformation before so it wasn't a big deal.
He became such an important, loved, and fantastic companion dog and he touched many people's lives. In 2012 or 2013, he became a certified therapy dog and brought a breath of fresh air to the lives of many, many hospitalized patients who were otherwise having a bad day. He was so tall that he could easily put his big, lovable mug right in their laps even when they were still in their hospital beds. He became a favorite visitor during his years there. He also brought some joy to a good friend's last few dying days when he was confined to hospital and missing the life he led with his agility dogs. Ben visited him two or three times before he died. He did the same for another friend who was in pain and nauseated and awaiting surgery for a badly broken shoulder ... and another neighbour who was dying of breast cancer. This photo shows him with a dialysis patient (he was written up in a story that ran in our local newspaper, and this was one of the photos from that story):
His most important role came in 2014 when I adopted my daughter, Kara, who was then just 7 yrs old and had been through three foster homes before landing with me. When she came to visit me with her foster family in the very early days (before she knew I was a potential adoptive mom), she met Ben and loved him as well as my other dogs & farm animals. But Ben really stuck out for her, to the point that on her way out the door at the end of the visit, she said to her foster dad, "I hope that I have a dog like Ben when I get adopted." It squeezed my heart so much that I almost burst into happy tears knowing that Ben WOULD be her dog (and she moved in with me and Ben two weeks after that visit). Ben became the dog that Kara snuggled with the most. They shared so many tender, close moments, words couldn't describe what they had together. He was her confidant, her rock, and one of the many factors that helped her find "home" when she moved in with me.
He was 35.5" at the shoulder, 155 lbs, and a heart of pure gold. Gentle as the day is long, wise beyond his years, and yet also a big, huge goofus with record-breaking loogies that I'd find stuck to the walls, and even to the ceiling.
In the last several months, he'd been steadily weakening in his hind end, and I knew it would eventually catch up with him. Yesterday, we let them out for a potty break before heading in to watch a movie, and he fell hard and couldn't get back up. I gave him time, a massage, put a sling on him and (with great difficulty due to his size) got him up, but he had NO control of his right hind, and his left hind was better but quite weak. He simply couldn't stand or get up on his own. We took him in to the emerg clinic because I wanted an objective opinion (I'm a lousy vet to my own animals), but she agreed with me. If he was smaller, I'd have considered a doggy wheelchair, but his size and his inability to get up at all made the decision clear.
We said a tearful farewell to him yesterday evening. The hole in our house, our lives, and our hearts is enormous. RIP, sweet Ben.
He became such an important, loved, and fantastic companion dog and he touched many people's lives. In 2012 or 2013, he became a certified therapy dog and brought a breath of fresh air to the lives of many, many hospitalized patients who were otherwise having a bad day. He was so tall that he could easily put his big, lovable mug right in their laps even when they were still in their hospital beds. He became a favorite visitor during his years there. He also brought some joy to a good friend's last few dying days when he was confined to hospital and missing the life he led with his agility dogs. Ben visited him two or three times before he died. He did the same for another friend who was in pain and nauseated and awaiting surgery for a badly broken shoulder ... and another neighbour who was dying of breast cancer. This photo shows him with a dialysis patient (he was written up in a story that ran in our local newspaper, and this was one of the photos from that story):
His most important role came in 2014 when I adopted my daughter, Kara, who was then just 7 yrs old and had been through three foster homes before landing with me. When she came to visit me with her foster family in the very early days (before she knew I was a potential adoptive mom), she met Ben and loved him as well as my other dogs & farm animals. But Ben really stuck out for her, to the point that on her way out the door at the end of the visit, she said to her foster dad, "I hope that I have a dog like Ben when I get adopted." It squeezed my heart so much that I almost burst into happy tears knowing that Ben WOULD be her dog (and she moved in with me and Ben two weeks after that visit). Ben became the dog that Kara snuggled with the most. They shared so many tender, close moments, words couldn't describe what they had together. He was her confidant, her rock, and one of the many factors that helped her find "home" when she moved in with me.
He was 35.5" at the shoulder, 155 lbs, and a heart of pure gold. Gentle as the day is long, wise beyond his years, and yet also a big, huge goofus with record-breaking loogies that I'd find stuck to the walls, and even to the ceiling.
In the last several months, he'd been steadily weakening in his hind end, and I knew it would eventually catch up with him. Yesterday, we let them out for a potty break before heading in to watch a movie, and he fell hard and couldn't get back up. I gave him time, a massage, put a sling on him and (with great difficulty due to his size) got him up, but he had NO control of his right hind, and his left hind was better but quite weak. He simply couldn't stand or get up on his own. We took him in to the emerg clinic because I wanted an objective opinion (I'm a lousy vet to my own animals), but she agreed with me. If he was smaller, I'd have considered a doggy wheelchair, but his size and his inability to get up at all made the decision clear.
We said a tearful farewell to him yesterday evening. The hole in our house, our lives, and our hearts is enormous. RIP, sweet Ben.
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Here are some photos showing the crazy/wild side of Ben.
Play-fighting as a pup with one of my border collies:
Leaping & cavorting during one of our countless walks:
Ears a-flappin'!
Play-fighting as a pup with one of my border collies:
Leaping & cavorting during one of our countless walks:
Ears a-flappin'!
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
He played hard, but he also slept hard!
Sacked out as a pup:
Taking up the entire 3-seater couch!
Any position would do ... he'd fall asleep no matter what!
Sacked out as a pup:
Taking up the entire 3-seater couch!
Any position would do ... he'd fall asleep no matter what!
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Most people equate Danes with adjectives like "noble" or "regal". Ben didn't always pull that off ...
He'd find this comfortable:
This was classic Ben:
And so was this ... sitting on a hillock of grass like it was a chair!
He'd find this comfortable:
This was classic Ben:
And so was this ... sitting on a hillock of grass like it was a chair!
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Ah geeze DJR, I'm so sorry. Tears here for you and your daughter.
Hits close to home as well. We have an aging dog (will be 13 in Jan) who is large as well (90 lbs) he too is showing weakness in his hind legs at times. He also has a very bad left elbow from DJD and a previous fracture. At some point we will have to make that hard decision too. So hard to lose a member of the family.
Hits close to home as well. We have an aging dog (will be 13 in Jan) who is large as well (90 lbs) he too is showing weakness in his hind legs at times. He also has a very bad left elbow from DJD and a previous fracture. At some point we will have to make that hard decision too. So hard to lose a member of the family.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
But what we'll remember most are the tender moments with Ben.
Ben snuggled up with the cat, Bazinga:
Ben putting his trust in me as we did some target & therapy-ball work when he was around 3 yrs old. He loved doing this!
And, once again, Ben with his kid, Kara.
Ben snuggled up with the cat, Bazinga:
Ben putting his trust in me as we did some target & therapy-ball work when he was around 3 yrs old. He loved doing this!
And, once again, Ben with his kid, Kara.
Last edited by DJR on Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Rest in peace and run free, beautiful Ben.
(done)
(done)
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
{{{{{Deanna and Kara}}}}}
What a character. I totally understand the huge hole that he left.
Take care of yourself and your daughter.
Susan
What a character. I totally understand the huge hole that he left.
Take care of yourself and your daughter.
Susan
from susamorg on the UDBB
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
My condolences to you and Kara on the loss of your beautiful Ben. I have been owned by several wonderful Great Danes; they give so much in life and leave such big holes when they are gone.
Last edited by Canyon on Mon Sep 04, 2017 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Beautiful Ben. Godspeed.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Hugs to you and your daughter for loosing your gentle giant. RIP Ben.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Hugs to you and Kara, and thank you both for giving him a loving family and home. He knew he was loved... sniff.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I am sorry to hear of your loss, much too soon , it looks like his heart was as big as he was
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
What a beautiful dog, I'm so sorry for your loss.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
So very sorry for your loss. Hugs to you.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Oh, so sad, Deanna! He was a beautiful boy. Hugs to you and to Kara.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I'm so sorry, he sounds like such a wonderful boy who had a wonderful life.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Godspeed Ben. You were one of the special ones. Peace to your family, especially your girl. How my heart breaks thinking about how she must be feeling these days...
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
So sorry Deanna and Kara, he was definitely one of the good ones. Hugs to both of you.
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful pictures of him and his life.
Oh, btw, I and my dh are both small animal vets and we both suck when it's one of our own--particularly son's dog Nigel. Last year I was almost 2 weeks and 500 miles away at Washington State Vet Hospital getting Nigel diagnosed and fixed up because neither of us had the strength to do the workup in our own hospital. Turns out we needed their expert hands and machinery anyways, as well as jingles from this board. It's ok to be a basket case about your own 4-legged friends.
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful pictures of him and his life.
Oh, btw, I and my dh are both small animal vets and we both suck when it's one of our own--particularly son's dog Nigel. Last year I was almost 2 weeks and 500 miles away at Washington State Vet Hospital getting Nigel diagnosed and fixed up because neither of us had the strength to do the workup in our own hospital. Turns out we needed their expert hands and machinery anyways, as well as jingles from this board. It's ok to be a basket case about your own 4-legged friends.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Godspeed Ben! He was such a beauty.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I am so sorry for your loss, they are so much a part of us.
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
It'll be a week tomorrow and the hole is still huge that Ben left behind. Thank you for the lovely condolences. I miss him especially at bedtime and in the morning when he and I would have a little snuggle. And at feeding time. And ... all the time.
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
A giant body, and an even bigger soul: rest well, Ben. You are and shall ever be loved by many, especially your very own Deanna and Kara. {{{hugs}}} to you both. It just, plain, hurts.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I am late to this after being out of the country, but I'm so sorry. What a noble face. And spirit, it sounds like!
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Thanks, everyone. We still miss him so much. I used to cuddle with him and fondle his big, soft ears. I was playing with my border collie's ears the other day and it made me miss Ben because ... well ... Ben ears were so much bigger, floppy & softer.
formerly known as "Deanna" on UDBB -- and prior to that, as "DJD".
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Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Deanna, what a beautiful dog. Im so sorry.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I remember you posting about Ben. He was so wonderfully huge. I think one could just stop at, "He was so wonderful." Thank you for sharing this with us. {{{Deanna and Kara}}}
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
I'm so sorry. What a lovely tribute.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
Hugs to you. Been there done that and it I get the whole knowledge doesn't necessarily make it better but maybe it does kind of "stuff'....I'm sure you know what I mean. The pictures show just how relaxed, happy and enamored he was with his life. Kudos to you and that's from another lousy vet to her own animals. Godspeed Ben.
Re: Another sad farewell to our gentle giant, Ben.
He looked like a big, sweet goofball. I am so sorry for your loss.
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