When I got back from Iraq the first time I bought my Mom a German shepherd. She has always loved them. She loved that dog more than any other dog or cat she has ever had. She always called her "her war dog". I can't even tell you how much that dog was part of the family. Last year she got bit by a copperhead. Normally dogs will recover from copperhead bites. And she did get better, although it took quite a while. She was fine for a few weeks, and then her condition started to worsen. She took her to the vet but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She had a blood infection, but that wasn't the main reason she was in so bad of condition. My mom finally had to put her down, as she wouldn't even get out of her house to urinate or deficate. My brother took her out back and put her down. I would much rather one of us have done it, instead of some vet who never knew her. I know it sounds crazy, but that is how we all feel about it.
My brother made a little grave for her by the pecan tree in the back yard. He made a little wooden cross for it and put a yellow ribbon and a small American flag on it. That almost made me cry (almost, Marines don't cry! lol), thinking about her war dog grave. My mom didn't even go to work for a few days because she was so tore up over that dog.
My condolences on your loss. We have a german shepherd of our own now. I have never felt so attached to a dog before, and she is only 7 months old. (and 66 pounds!) We got a plan at PetSmart that includes Vet care for really cheap. I wish they had it at every PetSmart, as a lot more people would have better access to vet care for their animals.
