queenwinniesmom

The pictures of Hailey with her family are heartbreakingly beautiful, and have left me in tears. It's clear that she was very loved, and she was so generous with the love and joy that she returned. Thank-you for sharing some of Hailey's magic with us through the pictures and your incredible tribute. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Hailey.

I'm so sorry you lost your precious Dreamy.

I sure loved all of Kimba's pictures! From your beautiful tribute, and the contented look on her face, it's clear that she was very loved. I'm so sorry you lost your precious lady.

Oh, Donna. I've been thinking about Ripley, and hoping that everything is going (or went) well. You and Dave and your sweet boy are in my prayers.

So much of your lovely tribute really resonated with me. My heart cat, Daphne, died in my arms too. She was a dilute tortie and about 6 months old when I adopted her. And she was perfect. I can imagine how much you will miss your sweet Rita, and what a huge empty space the little lady will leave. I'm so sorry you lost your precious kitty.

Please know how much everyone loved your wonderful boy. Not only was he gorgeous and extremely photogenic, he had the best adventures, was a perfect, patient model, a gentle soul, and was so very loved. There was something special about him, and his ability to effortlessly make so many people smile. It was clear that he had a great life---he just exuded happiness. It seems as if the world---and certainly Greytalk---is a little less bright today. I can't imagine how much you will miss him. If you can, could you post some pictures? I think a lot of us just want to see him. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Hot Rod.

We are all heartbroken to hear this horrible news. As Chris said, there is lots of good info and support in the osteo thread. We will keep the precious boy in our prayers.

What a terrible shock. I can't imagine how heartbroken you must be. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Astro.

Your lovely tribute shows clearly how very much you and Bella meant to each other. To have a heart dog like that in our lives is a joy and privilege that few of us are blessed with. I'm so glad that you and Bella found each other, and so sorry that she left you, especially so quickly, and so young.

64 foster dogs, 9 adopted dogs, all have been crated initially. I don't think I could foster without a crate, for many of the reasons already mentioned---housebreaking, safety of my cats, to prevent any altercations when I can't supervise, chewing, getting into garbage or counter surfing, and for the dog's feeling of security. I just feel like, in a home with 4 or 5 dogs and multiple cats, isn't it better to be safe? We'd start out crating a new foster any time they couldn't be supervised---meal time, at night, when we were at work. Each dog was gradually transitioned away from the crate. The time frame depended on the dog. Some of them were very shy and wanted to be there all the time, and we'd have to close them out of the crate for gradually increasing periods. Some wanted to be with us all the time. All of them were usually sleeping in the bedroom within a few days, and then only crated when we were at work. To me, if it's a choice between getting into trouble for any of the above reasons or being safe in a crate, I choose the crate. You can tell if a dog is comfortable there or not. If the dog hates the crate and is fine without it, then I don't see a need. If the dog is relaxed and eager to spend time in the crate, it can be a safe place. We still would crate during a long work day. I think my dogs associate crates with treats, and really don't seem to mind them. It's not like they're doing workout videos or playing cards, or letting themselves out to pee (a doggie door is not an option for us in a city neighborhood and with a downstairs tenant)---wouldn't they just be laying on the couch or their bed? Now that I'm retired, they are fine for the amount of time I might be away from home, and are seldom crated.

I think my favorite tributes are the "smiling through tears" ones. They paint such a vivid, personal picture of a dog who was indulged, understood so well, and loved unconditionally. And that was your tribute to Doc, a smiling through tears kinda guy, I think. Even when you are missing him so much, he'd be happy to know that he could still make you smile. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Doc.

Your tribute was beautiful---so filled with love, understanding, mutual respect and admiration. It's clear that he has left a huge empty space, and I'm so very sorry for your loss.

What a lovely little lady she was. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Sammie/

Such a sad New Year's....I'm so sorry you lost your precious Champ.

Oh, Shelley, I'm so sorry you lost your precious Dave, doubly heartbreaking to happen so suddenly.

Oh, Joanne, you know it breaks my heart that he left you so soon. Knowing the bond he had with you and Christian, it's clear that he was exactly where he was meant to be. He couldn't have had a more loving, perfect home. I always kinda hoped that I'd have a chance to see him again, though he didn't seem to realize how smitten I was, when I met him soon after he decided to stay with you. There are some dogs who are different and special for some reason, so stunningly beautiful, and he was one of them. I'm so sorry that you lost your precious Cooper.

Oh, Diane, I'm so sorry you lost your precious Isaac. What a lovely, kind and gentle face he had.

How you loved her! That love shines through in every word of your beautiful tribute, and my heart is breaking for you. It's easy to understand why you will miss her so much--what a wonderful, unique lady she was. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Penny.

What a dear little guy. I'm so sorry he left so suddenly.

Oh, Janet, you took such good care of him, and he fought so hard. Even though it hurt so much to let him go, you have always done what was best for him. What a huge empty space this special boy will leave. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Jake.

How devastating to lose him so suddenly, especially on Christmas. I too have lost several without much warning, and it adds an extra layer to your grief. In retrospect, though it's so much harder for us, knowing that they were safe and loved and pain free until the last possible moment, in time, will bring some comfort. You will have your memories of a life lived to the fullest and filled with unconditional love. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Rex. And yes, there is a lot of comfort here. Sometimes it helps just to know that others understand.

She is indeed beautiful---sweet and strong and gentle. What a terrible shock to lose your precious Emmy so suddenly. I'm so sorry.

You and your husband were truly blessed to have found such a wonderful dog. It's clear that he thought you were pretty wonderful too. I'm so sorry you lost your precious Joe.

How devastating to lose your precious girl so suddenly. Your shock and sadness must be overwhelming. I'm so, so sorry.

There will never, ever be another Jilly Bean. What a force to be reckoned with she was, so loved and cherished by her family, and the many friends who knew her only on the pages of Greytalk. Judy, Mike and Kevin, thank-you for sharing her with us, we share your sadness and immense loss as well.