We picked up Brutus' ashes.

[Longhorn]

Oh, my, were we surprised! Inside the dark green "gift bag," with the Rainbow Bridge poem printed on the outside, was a maroon velvet bag embroidered with a line from the Rainbow Bridge. Inside the bag was a lovely redwood box and inside the box was a plastic bag with the ashes with a sticker with Brutus' name and date of date. There was also a brass padlock and key for the box.

Also included was a certificate of cremation (suitable for framing!), a letter from the crematory with suggestions of what to do with the remains (store in the box, bury, or scatter) and four inspirational essays printed on decorative paper, including the Rainbow Bridge, none of which I could read or I would have started crying. There was also a magnet frame in which we can insert a photo of Brutus and stick on the frig.

From the titles, I gathered that the essays had some religious content and I made a comment to my husband, since we are atheists. He said, "Well, maybe Brutus was religious." :)

We haven't decided what to do but the box is just too nice to bury! We could bury just the ashes, I guess. Our daughters picked them up and there was no discussion at the time about the bill. I guess that will come in the mail later. We got a sympathy card from the vet office last week signed by all in the office.

Three weeks before he died, we took Brutus to the vet because we had noticed his decline. We were billed $135 and told that there was nothing wrong with him, that he wasn't lethargic in their office, and we should cut back on his food. My husband called and argued with the vet that there was clearly something wrong and we had made no changes in his diet, so how did he gain 20 PERCENT of his weight in two weeks? I'm so glad we didn't cut back on Brutus' food in his last days! Brutus LOVED to eat and he only got a cup a day of senior food (he normally weighed about 18 pounds.) The vet said he had one more test he could run but we hadn't taken Brutus back because he seemed to be getting better. Oh, well, I don't blame anyone. Hindsight is 20/20.

[wildeyed]

1. You know Longhorn, I have some issues with my vet over Ruby's death, too.

We have know for years that she had chronic renal failure. We fed her a special food. For about a year, we gave her an IV of saline solution every two or three days. But we were having such a hard time getting the needle in properly, and she didn't seem to be improving. So my husband went into the practice and talked to someone, he thought a vet but we found out later a RECEPTIONIST, about discontinuing the IV treatments. The receptionist said fine, do that. So we did. And didn't figure out the miscommunication until Ruby completely hit the wall two weeks before she died. If we had been doing the IV treatments, she would have lived much longer.

So a combination of our own disorganization, we had two babies in diapers at the time, and the vet's chronic disorganization resulted in the premature death of my dog. For what it's worth, I mostly blame myself. I didn't understand Ruby's treatment at all until right before the end. If I had been better educated, I would have know that discontinuing the IV's was wrong.

[Longhorn]

3. I hope the vet knows what happened so that the receptionist

can be counseled not to be giving out advice!

Blaming ourselves just seems to come with the territory. The fact is, we don't actually know how things might have been different but we're so sad at the loss, it's hard not to feel like we could have prevented it. The "what ifs" can drive us crazy so we might as well not go there. I've learned from my experience and will certainly do things differently in the future. Thanks for sharing your story with me. :hug:

[roguevalley]

2. aw. what nice people to do all this for you. My vet cremated my

baby, Tippy (see pics below) and gave him to me in a pretty green tin that has flowers on it. Very Tippy. Then there was a small plaster imprint of his paw. I nearly fell apart over that but its so wonderful.
I have a basket on the top of my bureau that has Tippy in it. I knitted a white blanket and wrapped him in that. I put his tows, his collar and his dog bowl into the basket. I can see it when I need to. He's not out in the ground in the cold. (He hated the cold) and I feel better. I am so glad they comforted you.

I am sorry for the other puppy, wildeyed. Renal failure is tough. Hugs to you, too, honey. Hugs to us all, who love our babies.

[Longhorn]

4. What a nice resting place for your Tippy!

Brutus hated the cold, too. Even on warm days, he loved to lie in the sun streaming through the skylights.

[wildeyed]

5. I got Ruby's ashes today.

It really seems final now. She is not coming back.

I think I will scatter them in the backyard. She was so happy there, chasing her frisbee and playing with the kids. And that way it will seem like her spirit is always close.

[Branjor]

6. RIP Brutus, Tippy and Ruby.....

n/t