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So sorry to hear about your lost. Yes, they are actually part of the family and their love is such a great gift!
Take care and remember the good times with her.

JohnBFisher wrote:

newhosehead wrote:I lost a dear friend today. ...

Jeanette, you have my sincerest and warmest empathy. A couple months back, I lost my dog. I still find myself crying at the thought of his passing. May you find peace, knowing your friend is in a better place, waiting. I also offer the following poem by John Galsworthy:

Memories

Not the least hard thing to bear when
they go from us, these quiet friends,
is that they carry away with them so
many years of our lives. Yet, if they
find warmth therein, who would
begrudge them those years that they
have so guarded?
And whatever they take,
be sure they have deserved.

First, let me say to all of you how much I have appreciated your posts here and the pms I have received. It means so much. I have appreciated the text and links to the Rainbow Bridge, which I read at Kellie's burial.
John, I have quoted your post above to thank you along with everyone else and because I love this poem. I had not read this before and am glad to have it now.
There are some in my life who think I am taking Kellie's passing too hard. The many responses I am reading here are giving me the assurance that I am not alone in the depth of my grief for my friend. Life is just not the same now, but I have lived long enough to know that the pain will ease with time.
Once again, thank you ALL so much.

Jeanette

newhosehead wrote:There are some in my life who think I am taking Kellie's passing too hard. The many responses I am reading here are giving me the assurance that I am not alone in the depth of my grief for my friend. Life is just not the same now, but I have lived long enough to know that the pain will ease with time.

I wouldn't worry about what those people think. They probably have never had a pet like Kellie so they simply cannot understand. When one of my pets died years ago (he was my baby and I still miss him to this day -- he died in 1991), I had to take a day off work I was so upset. A lot of people didn't get it then either.

Madalot wrote:I wouldn't worry about what those people think. They probably have never had a pet like Kellie so they simply cannot understand. When one of my pets died years ago (he was my baby and I still miss him to this day -- he died in 1991), I had to take a day off work I was so upset. A lot of people didn't get it then either.

Ditto, re: my cat from childhood, who died when I was 23. It was my first experience with a death so close to my heart, and it was overwhelming and devastating. Man, the looks I got when I returned to work and explained why I'd been out.

Those who don't "get it" have never experienced the truly unconditional love of an animal. (And they have my sympathy for that. )

Jeanette,
First of all, my sincere condolences on your loss. But this thread is not really "off topic". Our beloved pets contribute to our health and well being, perhaps more than any cpap machine ever could. The sadness that I felt on the loss of my wonderful 15 year old Samoyed several years ago most certainly affected my well being. All I can say, is that you get over the intense pain of the loss, but you never forget the love and beauty that your pet brought to you.
Best of luck in the healing process, and thank you for the opportunity to focus my thinking on my Samoyed, Beau.

Stephen

SRSDDS wrote:Jeanette,
First of all, my sincere condolences on your loss. But this thread is not really "off topic". Our beloved pets contribute to our health and well being, perhaps more than any cpap machine ever could. The sadness that I felt on the loss of my wonderful 15 year old Samoyed several years ago most certainly affected my well being. All I can say, is that you get over the intense pain of the loss, but you never forget the love and beauty that your pet brought to you.
Best of luck in the healing process, and thank you for the opportunity to focus my thinking on my Samoyed, Beau.

Stephen

Well said, Stephen. Yes, they do contribute to our health and well being and it makes me happy to hear you are thinking of your Beau. I believe, right now, that I have had my last pet. That may well be the loss talking, but I truly believe I am done. I have had many, many animals but only four who really connected with my heart. I think that I have been richly blessed by the three dogs and one fur person (cat pretender I have had this beautiful connection with. With Kellie, I always felt I could see her soul in her eyes. If I was sad, she made it a point to be near me. When I went swimming in the lake, she always went with me and put herself between me and the point where the water got much deeper. Always. And now she is gone.

Jeanette

Madalot wrote:

newhosehead wrote:There are some in my life who think I am taking Kellie's passing too hard. The many responses I am reading here are giving me the assurance that I am not alone in the depth of my grief for my friend. Life is just not the same now, but I have lived long enough to know that the pain will ease with time.

I wouldn't worry about what those people think. They probably have never had a pet like Kellie so they simply cannot understand. When one of my pets died years ago (he was my baby and I still miss him to this day -- he died in 1991), I had to take a day off work I was so upset. A lot of people didn't get it then either.

Kathy, I try not to worry about it. Some people lack something in this area and they will never know what they may have missed. I am off work for the summer, but I can guarantee you I would have had to take a day off if this was not the case. I know what you mean as well by missing a pet to this day, as with your pet. It just does not leave us.

Jeanette

Sorry newhosehead, I know it's hard to deal with. My little girl, a miniature dachshund, is 11 years old and gray in the face. I hate to think about it.

Jeanette,

I'm so sorry for your loss. The hurt runs deep.

Stephen is right - and there's scientific evidence to prove it - that our pets have a profound influence on our psychological and physical well-being, and us on theirs.

Ditto, re: my cat from childhood, who died when I was 23. It was my first experience with a death so close to my heart, and it was overwhelming and devastating. Man, the looks I got when I returned to work and explained why I'd been out.

I had the same experience as BleepingBeauty; he was 18 and was like my brother. It broke me.

Our lifetimes are not meant to match up in duration, rather they collide in brilliance and fade in time. We carry both the joy and the burden of witnessing the beginning and the end.

Our consolation is the gift of their life.

((Hugs))
Jess

I'm so sorry, Jeannette. Have been where you are several times. Sending you and all who loved your beautiful dog heart-healing zen and hugs.

Debbie

newhosehead wrote:I lost a dear friend today. The beautiful Golden Retriever that is in my avatar pic died at 14 + years of age. Those of you who have been through it know how I feel this night and how I will feel for some time to come.
This is a tribute to my dear girl, who loved unconditionally and was always there for me. To know the love of an animal is a gift. I will not forget you, sweet girl, and you were a gift in my life.

Jeanette

You have shed a ray of sunshine into the forum. Tanhks!

The first time I lost a pet, I was 13, She was Annie, a palomino filly that I hand raised,
as her mother was gored to death by a wild bull.
She got a front hoof tangled in a fence and tore the foot off.
My dad had to shoot her.
My mom and brother and I cried together all afternoon.

newhosehead wrote:I lost a dear friend today. The beautiful Golden Retriever that is in my avatar pic died at 14 + years of age. Those of you who have been through it know how I feel this night and how I will feel for some time to come.
This is a tribute to my dear girl, who loved unconditionally and was always there for me. To know the love of an animal is a gift. I will not forget you, sweet girl, and you were a gift in my life.

Jeanette

I know how you feel. I had to have my favorite dog put down - a Dalmatian at 16, he became senile and started to get lost and wouldn't recognize us when we found him (he even cowered, which made me wonder what recent experiences he had ).

I have had other pets, before and after. They are all good, but he was outstanding in my life.

On the positive side, when I want to meditate and get my breathing right, I have found thinking of times spent with him is the best way to get there quickly. While he was "just a dog", he had the greatest spirit and heart I've experienced!

We lost Suni the cat (who looked like Morris the cat) in 2006 at the ripe old age of 17. He saw us in the best and worst of times.
When I saw the van drive off to have him cremated a chunk of my heart went with him. 3 months later we adopted Sabu (mix dog).
I cried for weeks over Suni. Every once in a while I catch his aura in our home. Suni was our teen (lots of attitude) who never grew up and Sabu is our toddler who will never grow up, so full of life.

We know what the loss of a pet means, definitely. They become family who share every part of your life.

(((huggs))))

Starlette