Hello again, all. Gracie, a corgi-dachshund mix, has been part of our family for ten or eleven years. She is in the process of checking out. She's been a real survivor... about seven years ago she had surgery to remove an infected spleen I think, and the past two years she's been on meds for congestive heart failure. Back then we didn't think she'd last this long, but the past few weeks she's been shutting down rapidly. The vet said today her kidneys are likely gone. We took her home with us but I think this is going to be her last night with us. The tail still wags but her eyes are sad. Thanks again for listening. The picture is of Gracie sunning herself in the backyard a couple weeks ago.

Dear Gracie,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family tonight. It is going to be a very special one for you.

I will tell Trevor that you are coming over the Rainbow Bridge to the Perfect World (Heaven) very soon. He's a C. Spaniel (buff) so you'll recognize him.

You are beautiful, Gracie.

Love,
XObobbieXO

Dear John P

Please take all my strength and love for both you and Gracie today. You are doing one of the most courageous and loving things we are called to do this side of heaven (Gracie's new home). Gracie will go home surrounded by your love and kindness. She will feel the arms that have shltered her her whole life. In a flash, she will change form - into a spirit - when she can still be at your side as always even though you can't see her. At the same time she will be back in the Perfect World from which she cam - eagerly awaiting your arrivial. What a day of rejoicing THAt will be!

John, thank you for your love and courage. As someone here told me when I most needed it "no matter where I (Gracie) was I elt it, your love for me was oh so strong.

We're here and we've all felt the searing pain in our hearts and souls. Lean on us.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and lovely Miss Gracie.

Gretta's mom

Hi, John, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the Anticipatory Grief journey you and your precious Gracie are now traveling. The hardest part of our earthly journey with our companions is having to make "the decision" to ease our companion's journey home to the angels - - even when we know in our hearts that it is the right decision. It is the most unselfish act of love we can give to them to release them from their failing, frail, painful physical bodies at great sacrifice to ourselves so that they can once again be restored to their former youthfulness in the company of angels.

Thank you so much for sharing your precious Gracie with us, John. She is adorable, and is very blessed to have you for her Forever Dad. Please know you and your precious Gracie are in my thoughts and prayers, John, and please do let us know how things go, and how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you.

Our other furkids gathered for a goodbye and Laura and I took her to the vet's. The Dr and the others there were very compassionate and we were fortunate to have a tech there, Lynn, when it happened, whom we have known ten years at least. We still have Suzy the chihuahua-jack russell, and two cats, J J and Kinte.

Gracie was very energetic in her prime and loved to run. She didn't mind the Chicago winters and loved to romp in the snow... Suzy's always hated the cold and advanced age has just made her more uncomfortable. Gracie looked odd, bouncing along on her short corgi legs but she was such a happy pup. The past two years, even with her heart trouble, she had a lot of spirit.

Hello John and family,

Please accept my deepest sympathy on Gracie's passing today. You and your wife were able to give Gracie the hardest gift of TRUE LOVE there is in our world. And I know she accepted everything with grace.......just like her name. Now she is in the Perfect World (Heaven) where she is completely restored to perfect health and is surrounded by all her "old" friends and hundreds of new ones. How happy she must be! And brag? I have no doubt that she is telling everybody all about you two and Suzy, J.J. and Kinte. And they are all excited and happy that Gracie had such a good life and family.

You have shown true courage and love for Gracie. Now, the hard journey starts for you - that grief journey we must all take if we are ever parents of an animal companion. We are all here for you and your wife, John, at any time, day or night. You know we are a 24-hour operation.

Thank you so much for loving Gracie for all those years and especially now.

Love and blessings..................
XObobbieXO

Hi, John, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Gracie. This grief adjustment journey is always a challenge - - it doesn't matter if it's our first experience or our thousandth. Each grief journey is unique because each relationship we have with our companions is unique. As Bobbie has already so compassionately shared with you please let me affirm her words of comfort: Your beloved Gracie is now restored to her former youthfulness and is eternally grateful for your personal sacrifice from the deepest most unselfish act of love on her behalf. You will always be her Forever Dad, John, and the love bond you and your beloved Gracie share is eternal.

Thank you so very much for sharing your beloved Gracie with us, John. Each of us are here for you for as long and as often as you need us. Please know you and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers, John, and that I look forward to knowing how you're doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Gracie.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

John, I am very sorry for the loss of your sweet Gracie. What a cute little dog! And she has such pretty markings around her eyes! I can just tell by looking at her how much joy she brought you and your family. I hope that the loving memories of Gracie will help sustain you during this difficult time.

Hugs,
DannsyMom

Hi, all. I'm still here, though in a bit of a haze... a little numb. I had myself on a mental schedule, giving Gracie medicine, three pills in the morning, two at night... been doing that for a couple of years. Now, there's this absence, not only of Gracie herself, but of the routine. There isn't the terrible pain that I felt when Buddy left us last month, just the knowledge that yet another family member is not here with us.

Hi, John, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. One of the many difficult things to adjust to during our grief journey is the challenge of establishing a "new normal" that no longer inculde the routines and rituals we physically shared with our companions during their earthly journey. This is a very difficult adjustment to make and it doesn't happen overnight, in a day, a week, a month - - even a year down the road we can find ourselves starting to do something that was a routine we shared with our companion and then realizing - - once again - - that this particular routine is no longer a regular part of our lives. However, I do believe we do this sometimes without realizing it because our beloved companions are letting us know they are still with us.

I hope today is treating you and your family kindly, John, and thank you so very much for sharing your beloved Gracie with us. Please know you and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers, John, and that I look forward to knowing how you're doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Gracie.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam