Dog Guards Owner for 6 weeks After Suicide

[Stoner]

I'm a huge dog lover so this story was pretty touching.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/US/08/12/loyal.dog.ap/art.baysinger.ap.jpg

GREELEY, Colorado (AP) -- A dog stood guard over her owner's body for up to six weeks after the man committed suicide on the remote northeastern Colorado plains, authorities said.

The body of 25-year-old Jake Baysinger of La Salle, Colorado, was found Sunday on the Pawnee National Grasslands about 75 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado. Cash, his German shepherd, was found beside him, thin and dehydrated but still alive. The dog had apparently survived by eating mice and rabbits, authorities said.

The Weld County coroner ruled Baysinger's death a suicide. The cause of death wasn't immediately determined but authorities found a gun nearby, the coroner's office said Tuesday.

"At least we know it's over now," said Baysinger's wife, Sara. "We'd been looking for my husband for six weeks, and this isn't how we wanted it to end. At least we can close this."

Baysinger was reported missing June 28. An extensive search failed to locate him, but Kip Konig, a rancher, saw the dog last weekend, went to investigate and discovered Baysinger's body and his pickup.

He said Cash kept running back to the pickup and jumping into the front seat.

"I got the sense she was trying to tell me where her master was," Konig said.

Cash was reunited Monday with Sara Baysinger and her 2-year-old son, Lane. She said her little boy is "very close to that dog" and happy to see her again.

Investigators said the dog probably kept coyotes away from the body.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/12/loyal.dog.ap/index.html

[Mia]

Good dog. I have goosebumps. We do everything for them because we know they'd do the same for us, even though we hope they never have to.

I am sorry for this family dealing with the loss.

[apdst]

It's fucked up that he offed himself and left his wife and little boy to make it in the world, alone.

[AlanC]

Wonderful story and beautiful animal. Too bad about the owner though. Seems everyone cared more than he did.

[Mia]

That's not fair. You don't know what he dealt with and what led to this.

[AlanC]

That's not fair. You don't know what he dealt with and what led to this.

True, I don't. But I do know what he left behind. Understanding what leads some people to this type of decision and approving of it are two different things.

[ScareCrow]

My mother is in intensive care right now because she attempted suicide last night. I'm lucky I have my wife here for me right now because I was blaming myself because I didn't have time to talk to my mom yesterday when she called wanting someone to talk to about her problems(I was on lunch and running late getting back to work). I'm beginning to feel that people that do this to their family are selfish. There isn't anything worth ending your own life and anyone who is ever thinking about it needs to think about the others they are hurting by doing so.

[Stoner]

My mother is in intensive care right now because she attempted suicide last night.

Extremely sorry to hear about your mother, Scarecrow. She's in my prayers, bro. Hope she pulls through all right.

Don't blame yourself. It's not like you knew she was depressed and avoided talking to her. You had no idea that's what she wanted to talk about.

Hang in there, bro. At least now you know and can help her. If you need anyone to talk or bitch to don't hesitate to shoot me an email.

[Mouth Full Of Teeth]

My mother is in intensive care right now because she attempted suicide last night.

That's terrible. I wish your mother a speedy recovery (and you, too).

[Mia]

ScareCrow, I am sorry for that happening. I am glad she made it, and hope she can get treatment for whatever led to this act.

Please don't come at her from the 'you're selfish' angle. She obviously already hates herself and/or feels worthless to have done this in the first place.

I've dealt with people contemplating suicide and one thing people may not understand is they don't see it as selfish at all - quite the opposite. They feel they are doing everyone a favor.

[ilikegw]

My mother is in intensive care right now because she attempted suicide last night. I'm lucky I have my wife here for me right now because I was blaming myself because I didn't have time to talk to my mom yesterday when she called wanting someone to talk to about her problems(I was on lunch and running late getting back to work). I'm beginning to feel that people that do this to their family are selfish. There isn't anything worth ending your own life and anyone who is ever thinking about it needs to think about the others they are hurting by doing so.

I'm so sorry. Please don't blame yourself. You can only be there for her to show her what she'd be missing if she leaves this life by her own hand. I hope your mother gets the help she so desperately needs.

Regarding the OP:

How sweet the dog in this story is. I hope she shows the same loyatly to the little boy and his mom. The little boy will need a companion now that his father is gone.

[potter]

That's not fair. You don't know what he dealt with and what led to this.


Yea...I can vouch for the hell that a wife and child can be.....:shock:

JK....sorta.....

but the dog....:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: man's best friend, dead or alive.....

[potter]

My mother is in intensive care right now because she attempted suicide last night. I'm lucky I have my wife here for me right now because I was blaming myself because I didn't have time to talk to my mom yesterday when she called wanting someone to talk to about her problems(I was on lunch and running late getting back to work). I'm beginning to feel that people that do this to their family are selfish. There isn't anything worth ending your own life and anyone who is ever thinking about it needs to think about the others they are hurting by doing so.


Wow Scarecrow, don't put yourself through that guilt. :shame:

I can understand desperation and feeling like there is no hope. But it's personal and nobody elses fault.

[sam]

Scarecrow, I am so sorry for what you are going through. My 84 year old father recently suffered a clinical depression after a stroke (which is common) but was
actually brought on by his GP who had him on 4 different blood pressure medications and 3 different antidepressents at the same time.

The will to survive is the greatest instinct we have. When hope is obliterated, and you no longer are able to think clearly, it does seem, as Mia mentioned, that you are
sparing your family.

My father is fine now, and has only a blured recollection of those weeks. A person in that type of depression is NOT rationale, in my fathers case, the drug interaction occurred because his GP is an asshole; he had no more control over his depression than he did his breathing.

I hope your mother gets the treatment she needs; If she is elderly, and on several medications, it could well be an interaction. And please dont blame yourself; regardless of the assurances you could have given her, I doubt in her state of mind they would have penetrated. My brothers were in countless times assuring my father he was not in financial ruin; taking him to his accountant and financial advisor, but my dad just was 'stuck' on this obsessive thought.

It happens.

Thanks Stoner, for posting that story. I love animals as well, and this was one extraordinary dog to risk starvation by his loyalty to his master.

Animals DO grieve. My collie mix has never been herself after I lost my 17 year old last August. Lately, its all I can do to get her to eat at all.

[ScareCrow]

Thank you all for your kind words, I wasn't even really thinking clearly when I typed that earlier today. Like I said earlier though, I have my wife who has kinda beat it into me that it isn't my fault and won't let me blame myself. I also have my dogs that I swear can tell when I'm feeling down. The one in my avatar hasn't left my side most of the day.

[ilikegw]

That dog is so cute!! He reminds me of Petey from The Little Rascals without the ring around is eye. When my mom died our cat was crying, looking for her even though she hadn't been home for a few weeks. He knew something bad happened to her and was extra cuddly to us for a few weeks afterwards. They can always sense when something changes in our lives.

Just be there for your mom and realize that no matter what you could have done for her, her mind was made up. the only thing you can do is help her and let her know that you don't want her to ever try that again.