Forevermybabies

It's just never long enough, is it? I prayed that my dogs would make it one more day than they did. 15 would have been great. But it would not have been enough. I know how much you miss her.

Your story about talking to Freddie to help him get over his fears, and his response to you literally changed my life. I took that story to heart, and when Festus was confused, and sad, and stuck in his crate for weeks after he first came home, I thought of you and Freddie, and I talked to Festus. Like Freddie, he understood me when I said he was home forever and never would be scared or without a family. He was my best friend til the day he died. When I brought home Gypsy for good (she's lying here on the couch with me), she was scared to death. Skittish and terrified of every sound and movement. I thought of Freddie and I talked to her. Told her how happy I was that she was finally home, and that we would be her family forever. She sleeps with me, follows me around, and trusts me implicitly. (Today I cut her hair with the clippers. She LET me. We all thought it would send her completely round the pipe.) Freddie made a difference. He changed the world for some scared dogs. I always think of Freddie when I encounter people who have scared or skittish dogs. I tell them his story, and say, "Talk to your dog. Tell him how much you love him, and that you will always be there for him." And they either do, or they don't. I don't usually know, as it's a personal thing to have that conversation with your dog. But I like to think that he continues to change lives. And save lives. Edited for spelling

She has joined so many of our beloved hounds. Now she's out of pain, she's somewhere bossing around lots of other dogs, and being free to run. I really believe that. I know that some people don't believe that there's something else, but my experiences have taught me that there's a whole 'nother place to be besides here. Don't beat yourself up about giving her the freedom from pain, suffering, and sadness. You loved her enough to let her go. I will always remember my visit and having Loca on the bed with Sunscreen Man. She was a beautiful girl and you gave her the most wonderful years of her life. Be proud of that.

Godspeed sweet Raven. I'm so sorry for your loss DeVon.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry Kari...She was lucky to have you. And I'm glad that you guys shared a peaceful end. That, in and of itself, is a true blessing.

Oh geez. Crying now...I'm so sorry for your loss...

Just reading this now...you have been through the mill. I wish I had some words of wisdom. I miss my bridge babies every day, so I understand. I'm so sorry..

I'm so sorry for your loss. Flash was a familiar name on GT for a long time.

Lordy...how can four years have passed so quickly?

Oh, how awful! I'm so sorry...

I'm so sorry. Quiet Man has been such a staple around GT.

Some days are worse than others. This was a tough day. I miss my babies. Festus: Jan 1997 - Jan 2009, Angel: Jan 1998 - March 2009. and Meer: 1989 - Aug 2008 Festus and Meer Festus and Angel with my son Me and Festie Festus and Sunscreen Man My beautiful girl, Angel Angel and Sunscreen Man I love you my sweet babies. I miss you forever.

Just thinking about you guys tonight, and remembering Loca and Sunscreen Man snuggling on the bed together when we were visiting. Sigh...

I have a lot of those moments, too. I don't know how to make it better. I still mourn the loss of my first greyhound, Joe, and he died in 2001. Just today I was driving and having a little fantasy moment - thinking about how Festus used to lay his head on my leg while I drove. Just pretending that he wasn't really gone.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Those are both very sweet stories. It's so hard to lose one, and then to lose two. (I lost two this winter as well...so I completely understand.) Hugs!

It was two years after Joe died before I could say his name without crying. Grief is what it is. i'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry. What a lovely kitty.

Sounds like you're doing your best to cope, and that's great. A puppy? lol Good luck! You certainly won't have time to brood. (So to speak.) Big hugs.

What a sweet face. I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you. That was such a sweet thing to do. Peace. Tami

The rituals of death are important to us as humans (and I've heard to some animals as well), and one of those rituals is having a place to visit, be it a grave, or cremains. I can imagine that not having that is making dealing with your grief even harder. I truly do understand. There isn't anything you can do about that, but sometimes just identifying a place to visit, to make sacred, will help. My grandfather died when I was a kid, and while I visit his grave sometimes, the place that I truly feel his presence the most, and feel closest to him, is not at the cemetary. It's where I had the happiest memories with him. Maybe finding a place like this would help you. Identify the place where you and Suenos were happiest, and go there to remember her and feel close to her. Somehow I feel that my grandfather would rather have me visit his spirit in a place of joy than in a place of sorrow. To remember him as he was when alive, and not what remained when he died. I have my animals ashes, but it is when I go to the dog park or where we walked, that I feel most connected to their memories. That is where they are most alive for me. But above all know that what is loved remains in the heart. When I die, I want to be cremated, but they can scatter my ashes or whatever. I plan to be somewhere far more interesting than in an urn. HUGS! Tami

I understand how you feel. Unfortunately, I've had a lot of animals over the years, and Mike is right when he says that they just react differently. Some go very fast, and some don't. Festus did not go gently into that good night either, but the vet said that's pretty common. Sometimes there's nothing else you can do. Festus would have died slowly and painfully if we didn't let him go. I know that in my heart, but my head watched him gasp for breath, and even though the vet said it was muscle reflex, you feel terrible. Angel went really quickly. Just seconds. You never know. You have to know that you did the only thing you could do. You can't wait until they are so far gone that there's nothing left but that last breath. It's not fair to them. I suppose then you'd know truly and surely that there was not one more moment, but is that really what we want for them? When Angel died, the vet said something to the effect that he admired that we didn't wait. I don't remember the exact words. But the idea is that when there's no hope for recovery, you have to make a decision that will keep them from the pain of death, and let peace come before they are tortured and scared. I think that's the decision you made, and it was the right one. It was hard with Joe when his heart beat on and on...But the decision was not made lightly. And it was the right one. You have to just go back to the moment you decided. When you knew it was the right thing to do. And know that you would have to make that same decision again. Hugs.