Im feeling a............

[col craddock]

bit morose tonight so a suitable post and my answer is forthcoming.
What is the most emotionally distressing thing youve ever had to do that didnt directly involve close family or friends.????
Allow me to tell you a story......... I once owned a dog, a miniature schnauzer called 'Kim'.he was about 20 months old at the time. My personal circumstances changed and I was no longer able to look after him so I arranged to give him to a friend who I knew would give him a good home. At the time my friend lived in Chicago and I was in Los Angeles.With all the arrangements made I found myself and Kim driving up Interstate 5 to LA Airport on a bright Sunday morning. I was to find the TWA cargo area where I then was told to find a suitably sized travel cage for Kim. Up to this point he was having a whale of a time running all over the place, but when I tried to put in the cage he started to whine and cry. I was told by the authorities that he would be well cared for, but I could not stay with him as the warehouse was a secured area. My lasting image of Kim was of him looking at me through the bars of the cage as I walked away and his pitiful crying echoing round that vast empty warehouse.
Some hours later I got a call from my friend to say that Kim had arrived safe and sound in Chicago but that, curiously the fur was matted and sticky on the back of his head and his back. Well, after quite an investgation it turned out that the cabin crew had taken Kim to their hearts and taken him into the galley for the flight. unfortunately one of the crew had accidently splilled orange juice over him and in the time frame of the flight had not had the time to clean him up A quick shower and shampoo and Kim was right as rain and he remained with my friend and his family for the next 14 years....god bless him

[PatriciaH]

AWWW I bet you missed him but you know he had a great life ...

[bigmamma]

The line of work I used to be in was very rewarding for the most part , little tiny sick babies eventually going home from the hospital. However , to this day I can feel the emotion you have to put on a shelf when you take parents into a small room and then present them with what must be the worst moment of their life as you place their dead child in their arms .

[col craddock]

Thankyou bigmamma A pet is not the same as a human but I try to empathise

[PatriciaH]

I have to say Mamma i couldnt do that part of the job , i would be in bits seing parents who have lost their child .. xx

[Theland1]

bigmamma - I have no words. You know what I mean.

[taliesin238]

I was forced to give up my little manchester terrier, Bridget about 3 years ago!! I went insane iteraly!! She was EVERYTHING to me!! I took her on when she had no home and during this time my ex and myself were trying for a baby. Ive got a heart defect and when i went to see my cardiologist and explained about me trying for a baby he told me that i cant have children. My heart couldnt take the strain of pregnancy!!! I was devistated, i became sooo depressed. I pulled through it saying to myself over and over again that i will be ok cos ive got bridget, she is my little girl. She did literaly become my little angel. When i think about her i just want to cry, i never want to go through that kind of heart ache again. I felt my life was over when she was taken away. It would be different when she died many years after because thats just a part of life and she would have given me and i given her so much. However for her to be taken away from me i cant help thinking that she would have forgotten me. I just hope that when i die and go to the other side she will remember me and come running up to me.

[raysparx1]

Hi col craddock,, whenever I visit the childrens hospice near where I live, I go a few times a year to make a donation or take some tins of sweets for the kids, I come out of that place and feel so humble, I always shed a few tears, those kids all know why they are there, but not one of them ever moans, they are always happy, and I suppose maybe I feel a bit ashamed of myself as well cos I moan if I get a headache, but I also feel so lucky to see those kids cos they such a great inspiration to anybody that is lucky enough to meet them.

[col craddock]

THanks for those thoughts Just once in awhile CB can show a caring side and not everything turned into a joke

[col craddock]

THanks for those thoughts Just once in awhile CB can show a caring side and not everything turned into a joke
Its late for me , Ill turn the forum over to the usual culprits, you know who you are....bless

[bigmamma]

Night col craddock , sleep well :-) xxx

[col craddock]

Night bigmamma thanx

[Ice.Maiden]

Those sort of tasks must be one of the worst that anyone can do, bigmamma, but thank goodness there are folk like you, with hearts of gold - xx
Night Col. Yours was a lovely story - x

[col craddock]

once again thankx ice maiden
The whole thing was nearly 25 years ago but it still do hurt

[*Princess*]

I had a tough day today. I had to spoon feed a fully grown man, weetabix. Then I had to change a 21 y/o girl, from what can only be described as a nappy. I know its all part of the training and I know it needs to be done. But the conditions they were on my placement today were awful, and I just felt, so...close to tears. I felt so sorry for them, then I felt bad for pitying them, then I felt a bit happy that I was able to do something to help them, but then I just feld sad again. These people are amazing, and I get to know them, so that when one 'mumbles' I know he's really asking for his cuppa tea, or radio to be turned on. But gah, I dunno, today was pretty horrendous, and just makes me doubt my whole job and career, maybe I'm not strong enough? Tearing up here right now :o(

That little dog though, how sweet craddock. He had a long happy life, so you shouldn't feel bad at all, but I know how you feel! I worry about my pet chickens!

[*Princess*]

Wow Big Mamma - thats an amazing thing you've done in your job, it takes one special person to do that.

[col craddock]

Princess, I dont feel bad ,I feel sad....

[*Princess*]

Sorry! I musta read it wrong! But you still shouldn't feel sad, he had a really good life, and you did the best thing for him, by giving him so someone who would give him everything he needed. If he could talk, he'd thank you :o)

[Ice.Maiden]

Col - I can see why it must've been very emotional to leave your little Kim, but at least he ended up with a good home.
Before we bought our last dog, I visited a rehoming centre. It was terrible, knowing that perhaps half of the dogs there'd never find new owners. There was a little cross Staffie bitch, shivering away in a corner. I was told not to try and stroke her through the bars, because she was known to bite, but I could see she was frightened to death. I crouched down, and spoke to her gently. Eventually, she came over to me, and let me tickle her side. I never bought her, but my lasting memory of her were two huge pleading eyes. I still get upset when I think back, and wish I'd rescued her. Sorry...that's upset me again now.

[bigmamma]

Awww , are you ok Ice honey ? xxx

[col craddock]

Princess youve helped me thanku. But the saga of a pet dog dont come anywhere compared to your administrations with humans...GFU GB