Lost my best friend

[Reaper]

Sorry to hear about your loss. The entire situation sounds incredibly traumatic. You have my sympathies.

[Royle9]

Damn Onions
Truly tragic, very sorry to hear.

[Top Shelf]

Sorry to hear man, but glad you and your brother got out okay. This story could have had a way worse ending.

[macker]

Sorry to hear about your loss and obviously things could have been a lot worse. There is a lot of shock involved with a situation like this so keep talking about it and let friends and family support you during this time. Hopefully you can take from this thread in the same way that many of us are by being reminded how suddenly things can change and how unexpected life can be. It is likely the least of your concerns at this time but the truck should be covered by your employers insurance as this would be considered a collision with water and is typically something that is covered. As you mention those things don't really matter and take time to remember your dog and be thankful that you were able to get out in time along with your brother!

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by linecook

I know, funny thing is he said that I saved his by getting the door open. If not we'd be swimming out the window. I do not feel like a hero like he says, but the opposite. I feel like a coward. I did not look to see how he was and how my dog in the back seat was. I just wish I could have changed things, it's eating me up.

Sad story.

You'll have to live with the decisions that got you to that point but your reactions from there were instinctual self-preservation and not malicious.

Take the time you need to mourn and lament - a great resource to have your wife as a pyschologist - but eventually you have to move on as its ancient history and there's nothing more to be done about it now.

I do a lot of Fall, Winter and Spring walking with my two Golden Retrievers and keep them off river ice at all times, no matter how cold its been, and usuall only go on lake ice in the deadest of winter. I'm even wary of Chain Lake right now, usually a favourite walk in the winter.

In spite of those precautions, one of my previous Golden's went through ice not once but twice, once in a slough and the other time in Spring on the edge of a lake. The first instance was serious, over her head although close to shore, but fortunately I'd left a long leash on her to trail and it had wrapped around her bum, allowing me to lever her out of her hole. She was hanging on to the edge by her paws.

I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. Good luck with it but move on eventually.

Cowperson

[First Lady]

I keep coming to this thread....reading.... hoping the right words will come to me, but they don't.

I've lost several pets over the years (one just 2 months ago); yet there is no way I can imagine what you are going through. Such a tragic and terrible twist of events.

Take care of yourself and your family.

[freedogger]

Thanks for sharing this story. That took some courage to post.

It will definately make me think twice about driving on ice in the future. I won't consider driving on ice with children in the vehicle. If I hadn't read this story, I may have shrugged off the risk if it I thought it was cold enough.

Know that posting it really might make a difference in a lot of lives at some future date.

[Rerun]

Just don't know what to say... sad... so sad.

[linecook]

Thanks again everyone. I've spoken with someone with a tow company and they are going to go take a look at the truck to see what they'll need to do to get it out. Hopefully it will be today and I will be there when they do it.

One thing I did not mention was that on Sunday morning I got a call from someone at the Strathmore fire department. I won't say who it was to protect his identity but the same thing happened to him on Saturday and some five other vehicles at the Badger Lake fishing derby. I also heard some ATV's went under at Little Bow. I've driven on many lakes before even on some with only a foot and a half of ice. The ice was 2 feet thick where we were at, I just never knew what a pressure ridge was. Sometimes we learn the hardest way.

The person from the fire department wants me to come with him for once last ice fish before the end of the season. I will probably go.

[Godard Fan]

I'm glad you and your brother are safe. Sorry about the loss of your best friend. He sounds like a loyal, loving dog. He may be gone but your memories with him will always last.

[burnin_vernon]

Man, my heart goes out to you. I lost my Golden last May when he fell of a cliff. He wasn't on a leash and if he were, he'd still be here with me. You can't keep that guilt. I had a good support group that helped me overcome that.

I hope they can get him out because that will be helpful in recovery. I madly and blindly scrambled through thick brush and was bleeding all over but I got to my Hudson. I sat alone with him for a half hour and just pet him. It was the worst day of my life but it would have been worse had I been unable to get him out.

For me, each day got a tiny bit better until about the 4 month mark when good memories fully replaced the hurt. There are still triggers, though, like your story, that make me break down once every few months. For now, just bawl your eyes out as much as you can. I tried to fight that but when I gave in to it, I felt a bit better.

[Traditional_Ale]

Just think if you had gone in after him and died, you'd be meeting up at the pearly gates and he'd say to you (in the voice of Rodney Dangerfield) "what the hell are YOU doing here!? Don't you know all dogs go to heaven!?"

On a serious note, that is some awful awful stuff to go through and I wish you all the best during this terrible time. If you believe in the after-life then you will see him again and he will tell you it was not your fault and he understands.

[Phanuthier]

very sorry to hear

[manwiches]

I'm terribly sorry for your loss...
That was extremely difficult to read.
Don't be too hard on yourself though. I think your dog would be happy knowing that you and your brother got out safe.
He'll always be alive and remain in your heart.

[linecook]

Heading out tomorrow to pull the truck out. I'll take some pics and post them.

[linecook]

Hi everyone, got the dog and the truck out. That feels good. I did take lots of pics and vids but will upload them later.

Many of you helped me get through this difficult time. It's amazing what a strangers post can do and reconfirms that Flames fans are awesome!

[ranchlandsselling]

Glad you got your truck and friend out of the ice/water.

Good luck with the next step.

I don't know, after reading the thread I'm not sure I really need to see pictures of a dogs tomb. That said, I'm sometimes out on the ice myself and had heard about these ridges before. A few deaths on Gull lake from similar things. Seeing what you encountered would be interesting. Toss up I guess. Actually I don't really want to see...

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Glad you got your truck and friend out of the ice/water.

Good luck with the next step.

I don't know, after reading the thread I'm not sure I really need to see pictures of a dogs tomb.

I agree.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

+1. I honestly could do without seeing that scene.

[schteve_d]

Awful story and I'm sorry for your loss.

Really made me think as I routinely drive across the ice with the dogs in the back. Never really worried too much about it.