Today is fifteen days since my little boy was taken from me, in such a stupid way.

First, I want to explain why my Valentino was so special.

Abou 3.5 years ago, my husband ran into the breeder who was complaining of a little girl that was giving her a lor of trouble, well, he just fall in love with her, a 10 months old, white with blue marking chihuahua, but the breeder didn´t want to sell her, so she offer us that we take care of her, let her have one liiter and the she would be all ours, at the moment that sounded great, she was going to be bred anyway, so we though, well better in a very loving house and just one time.
She stole our heart, but lets be honest she was a handful,and so smart it scare you, but we loved her to death, all her pregnancy was just perfect, but she was schedule for a C-Section, because she was so little and the puppies (2) were big for her, so all the test were done and she was fit for the surgery, well she died even before the surgey, later we learn that she had very mild case of hydrochephalus, there was nothing that could be done for her, she was brain dead.

We were so sad, but understand that it was no ones fault, just a bad joke form nature, the breeder was so ashamed that we have to go through this, that she give us the only puppy that survived, so we took him in as the last gift from Clementina to us, at first it was very hard, because he looke so much like his mom, but he sure help to fill in the void Clementina left in our hearts.

He was so special for us, our little Valentino (Tino we call him) there was nothing we wouldn't do for that tiny dog, so full of life, he enjoyed everything, he was our companion to almost everywhere we went, he loved to ride in the car, and the long bike rides he took with my husband, also, he wasn't like most chihuahuas, he was so friendly with people and with dogs, he loved to go to daycare, were everybody loved him.

Then about a 45 days ago, we rescue a dog that got hit by a car, he had a fracture in his hip, took care of the surgey, and we were watching him over so we can put him up for adoption, he was never to go near my dogs (we also have 2 chihuahua girls), he was terrier like, but the size of a labrador. He was always keep in a secure place, he could not open the door, to come inside the house, but 15 days ago, the guy who helped us around the house let the door open and he came in and attack my baby boy, it was only one bite in the head but that was enough for him, there was nothing that can be done for Tino, we have to put him to sleep, my husband says that Tino was gone the first minute he was bitten because he has no eye reflex, and show no response to painful stimulus, but still I have never felt so impotent, having him breathing in my arms and knowing he wasn't there anymore. Needless to said that we fire the guy immediatly and have the other dog put down, we can not live with the responsibility that he could attack another dog, and we couldn´t keep taking care of him.

The pain is still very vivid, I keep feeling the pain, physically feeling it, I really hope no one has to go through something like this ever, it really is to hard to bear, My Tino was taken away from me 19 days before his 2 year old birthday, I dread that day because on that day my Clementina pass away, but leave me my Tino, now I don't have any of those two babies, neither of them got to their 2 year old birthday. This year I had a party planned, now I only have the hole in my heart.

Tina and Tino's mom

My heart is crying with yours for the passing of both your beautiful babies. I'm at work now so I can only write a short message, but I wanted you to know someone is out here and cares. More later.

Gretta's mom

Hi, Tina's and Tino's Mom, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical losses of your beloved Clementina and Valentino. Losing a companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we are blessed with the privilege of their company. To lose one companion is heartbreaking. To lose two companions especially in a short period of time only intensifies the grief.

Tina's and Tino's Mom, this grief journey is filled with so many different emotions that usually overwhelm us all at one time and can make us literally feel like we are going insane. Please let me try to reassure you that what you are feeling is very normal deep grief - - very painful both emotionally and physically, yes - - still very normal. It is so very important that you allow yourself the opportunity to openly grieve for your two beloved companions. The tears that you cry are literally healing tears, for they cleanse your body of the toxins that build up due to the stress of grieving.

Although this may be very hard to understand right now, please know that your beloved Tina's and Tino's sweet Living Spirits continue to share your earthly journey as they always have and always will. The love bond you share with your beloved companions is eternal, - - it is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space. Your Tina and Tino are always and forever a part of you - - they are forever in your heart and your memories - - they are forever a heartbeat close to you.

I know there are no adequate words in any language that can soothe the seering pain of loss that is in your heart. I can only hope the words I share with you will offer you some measure of comfort, support, encouragement, and hope as you travel your grief adjustment journey. One of the many things you need to remember is that you are not alone in your grief journey. Each of us here do understand what you are going through, and we are here for you for as long and as often as you need us.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved Clementina and Valentino with us. Perhaps sometime you would like to share pictures of them with us - - but only when / if you want to. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Tina's and Tino's Mom, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you so much Gretta's Mom and Moon_bean, for your kind words.

I have had several pets, that I really loved,and felt so sad when they died, but ALL of my others dogs left me when they were really old, never sick, just old age, so the way Tino left and he being so young makes it even harder to accept.

As painful as this is right now what has helped me is that my little Tino was always so happy, and that he was never sad or felt neglected, and I like to think that he knew he was deeply loved.

And instead of rembering the way he left, I try to remember him happy, and silly, and I'm just starting to feel bleessed for the time I got with him.

My husband is also toying with the idea of getting a puppy, he says that our house has so much love that it will be a waste not having another dog, I agree with him, but right now I'm not so sure if the time is right, I know he is saying that because he wants to distract me. Once of the things that is really holding me back is that right now I don't feel like adopting, not with our last experience. We would have to buy a puppy, and I have always prefered to give a chance to homeless dogs, but right now I can't do that.

As soon as I'm able to look at his pictures without crying I'd love to share them with you, and again thank you sooo much for you words, they are really helpful.

Dear Tina and TIno's mom
What an amazing person you are! Being able to treasure little Tino's constant happiness with you, knowing that HE knew - really knew - that he was loved, loved, loved. And your heart is so good that you want (someday) to adopt a dog rather than buy one. Oh how I admire your heart, Tand T's mom.

I understand what your husband means when he says your home is so full of love that there just has to be someone to shower it on. That's the way I felt last year when my Gretta (the kindest chocolate lab who ever lived) went home to the Perfect World. My arms felt SO empty with no one to hold. Gretta is a rescue and, like you, I knew if I got another dog it would have to be a rescue. One caution - do it (or not) when the time feels right for both of you. Tina and Tino will select a dog for you, another soul-mate, and put him or her into your path. You will know it when it happens, just as you did with Tino and Tina. Meanwhile, take care of your heart and remember that Tina and Tino are NOT gone - they have just changed form - into a form that we can't see or hear or touch .... but that doesn't make it any less real. Someday we WILL join them in the Perfect World.

Have a gentle night, my friend.

Gretta's mom

Good morning Tina and Tino's mom

Just stopping by to see how you are this morning. Keep the faith and know that someone(s) above are sending love-rays to you.

Gretta's mom

Dear Valentino's mom: Please accept my sincere sympathies on the loss of your precious little boy. I am so sorry that he was taken from you in such a tragic way. You did the right thing by having the dog who did it put down and firing the guy who left the gate open. I am at a loss as to what to say. First, you lost Clementina, and now Valentino. It is too much to bear, and you are probably wondering how to go on and the unfairness of it all. It is so difficult to make sense of such tragic accidents, and you probably find yourself wishing you could turn back the clock. "If only" you must be asking yourself, and even that does not help. I hope you can find a measure of comfort in the precious memories of your sweet little boy.

Thank you so much Gretta's and Danny's moms your kind words they really helps me to get through, it's nice to know that someone out there understands what i'm feeling, and I'm so sorry that you too lost your little babies.

I couldn't answer to you sooner because this weekend in particular was very hard, this monday was my boy 2 year old birthday and we had a little doggie party planned for the weekend (this was gong to be the first puppy party in the family), so instead we decided to make a small trip with our two other girls, the house is filled with so many memories. I just have to get away.

I can't wait for the day that I remember the little foolish games of my boy and smile, but right now those memories are too painful.

I'm so glad that I have my other two chihuahua girls, Kika and Felicia, they keep me going in the hardest days, and for my husband who I know is grieving for my boy, but in a very different way.

Clemen & Tino, my babies, watch out for the family you left behind, and patiently wait for the day that we all can be together, we will always remember you and be sure that one day we will be a very large and happy family, meanwhile look for Bella she is the sweetest Irish woolfhound, she has been there a long time, but I'm sure that you could get along pretty well and wait for me together.

Hello Clemen and Tino's mom

You are still so early in the rollder-coster-from-hades ride that is the grief path. At first it feels like constantly being shot in the heart with a high-powered rifle. And, as Bobbie, our good LS friend, says, we're bleeding to death from the heart. After a while, when your body can stand the shock, you go into a time when all it feels like is that your heart is carrying around a huge concrete block. My Gretta went home 15 months ago and my heart is still carrying the concrete block. OH, it's lessened a little, but no nearly as much as I though it would. And that's OK.

If I haven't mentioned a new book I saw reviewed called UNSAID - it's written by the husband of a vet. He writes about the homegoing of their own dog and how he wanted to spare his wife yeat another heartbreaking experience. So he pushed the syringe plunger himself. and at that moment he says, "Something deep inside my heart and soul shifted." I think that describes perfectly what we experience when a beloved baby goes home. And that explains why the concrete block never goes away. There's an old folk/gospel song called "Love Lifted Me." In soul-mate loss, it's more like "Love Shifted Me."

Rest assured that Gretta has found Clemen and Tino and now they are part of heaven's largest pack! What a trio! Two tiny dogs with a big brown "mom" and lots of C-spaniel cousins and hundreds of LS cousins. Our LS pack includes all thoese animals who have no one (but us) to mourn for them and all those animals that had to sacrifice their lives in the name of scientific experimentation. Love is big enough to include them all - and many more.

Have the best day possible with your family - human and animal. My heart is with you.

Gretta's mom

Hi, Tina's and Tino's Mom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. Sometimes a change of scenery is very helpful when our hearts are breaking with deep grief. I can so imagine how heartbreaking it was for you to get through the weekend knowing that is had been planned to be one of celebration. I am so glad your husband is offering you comfort, and that you have the comfort of your precious girls Kika and Felicia for love and comfort as well.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved Clementina and Valentino with us. I hope today is treating you, your husband, and your precious girls kindly, and that each of you will have a very peaceful evening. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Tina's and Tino's Mom, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

My heart goes out to your for both your losses at such young ages.

I lost my cat Chewy on January 2nd.....the day before he was viciously attacked by what the vet thinks was a dog because of the marks but to this day we still do not know and he was only 3 and a half and devastation is not the word to explain how I felt and still feel. He did not deserve it and not did either of your two.......but the loved you showed to them both will be enough for them to know that they had the best family in the world.

I'm glad you have your other two to keep you occupied as this of course helps take your mind off things sometimes but take time to grieve when you need. This place is great for advice.

I hope you being treated kindly today.

xxForeverxx

My baby boy, today I finally gather the strenght to look at your pictures, at first it was so hard, and couldn't make anything else but cry, but I kept looking, and at the end I finally smiled, I remembered so many things that we shared, and remembered what a happy dog you are. I know I had said this before, but today I make the commitment to you and myself that your memory is going to be a happy one, I don't promise that I won't cry, because I stll miss you so much, but from now on, I'll try to only remember you in a happy positive way, I know you'll like that.

And I want to ask you a favor, your Dad has been very sad too, he doesn't tell, but he hasn't use his bike, and I know how much he likes it, but you and I know that he likes to ride because you always went with him, and I guess he doesn't want to be lonely while riding, so even when I don't feel ready for another baby, you may want to send us another companion, specially for your Dad. I promise no one is going to take your place, you will always be in our hearts, you are my special boy, and you know pretty well that right now I don´t want another baby, but if you send us one, I'll accept him, specially because it will help your Dad. He is starting to look, he even is talkin in going to the dog show this weekend, to get in touch with some friends, Do you remember the time he show you in the ring, and you lost the point because he was so happy celebrating that you won he didn't listen to the judge calling you two? That was so funny, and you enjoyed that so much, played with so many dogs. Maybe this will be a nice oportunity for you to send us another baby, only if you feel it will be right for our family.

To everybody else, here are a couple pictures of Tino, one when we were getting ready to go for a bike ride, and the other with a little conure he used to played, so you all can see what a good natured puppy he was, he never tried to bite or attack the conure, even when the litle parrot was a little bit of a bully, hope you like the photos, if you like them I may post some more, I love to brag about my babies!!!

Dear xxForeverxx, I'm so sorry for what happend to Chewy, sadly I know how upsetting is to lose a perfectly healthy baby to another animal, I wish that someday soon you find peace in your heart, send you all my love to you and to Chewy

Hi, Tina's and Tino's Mom, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and the wonderful pictures of your beloved Valentino. There is no doubt in my mind that your beloved boy is guiding a new companion in your direction and guiding your paths to the moment when you will meet - - and you will know it is "right." It is always a challenge adopting a new companion when another family member is ready, or needs another companion, and another family member who still needs more time to grieve. How very special you are to put your husband's needs before you feel truly "ready". Your Tina and Tino are very, very proud of you.

Thank you so very much for sharing your beautiful love letter to your beloved Valentino with us. I hope today is treating you, your husband, and your precious girls kindly, and that each of you will have a very peaceful evening. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Tina's and Tino's Mom, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

My baby boy, let me tell you something, you have a very strange sense of humor!!!!

Tomorrow will be a month since you left us, (don't you think I didn't notice the coincidence in the dates, thats how I know it is a gift from you), and still miss you so much!!!! and I know I asked you to send a baby for your Dad, but boy, you should have think a little in your mom too.... I had no expectations at who you would send, but I was hoping for an adult girl, and there, you send us a male puppy, and white ,

This morning Claudia, and old friend of your Dad, called and tell us she just heard what happen to you and that she was very sorry, and offer us a this puppy, a son of Magic, your Dad got very excited, he always liked Magic. At first I felt like I was betraying you and didn't want to hear about it, but your Dad was so thrilled, that I accept to meet the puppy, so Claudia came to the house (I think she alredy know we were going to say yes, because she got here in no time!!) and when I saw him I was so dissapointed, he is male, 2 months old and white, when I heard he was son of Magic I imagine he will be black.

When your Dad ask me to hold him, the first thing the puppy did is put his paw in my chin, like you used to do, it was so sad, and I couldn't help it, and started crying, your Dad was very dissapointed, he tought I was going to say no, but when I realize the coincidence of the date, the little gesture, and the happiness of your Dad, I just knew the puppy must have been who you choose for us.

I think I feel OK, you know no one is going to take your place, you were my first boy, and that will always be the special bond that you and I will share forever, I don't feel ready to deal with a puppy right now, my energy level hasn't been the same since you left, I guess is the sadness in my heart, but I see this new puppy as a gift from you, so I promise you that I will do my best, even when I still feel so sad, and miss holding your little body close to me, and your howling when I was in the shower, and your happines when you saw that we where going out, there are so many things that we shared....

BTW Kika and Felicia, not happy with the new member of the family, is this another way of teassing them? If it is, I'm sure you must be laughing so hard right now, and I bet Clemen must be grinning too, remember you have to be kind to the girls, no matter where you are!!!!

Love you my baby boy, and keep watching over us,

Awwww. I wish you the best of wishes for you and the new addition to your family!

Tino today has been a very sad day, is a month since you left, I really don't know what to write, just that I miss you so much, hope you are doing fine, Keep watching over me

Miss you my baby boy

Thinking of you my baby boy, of how much I love you.

Today another a dog leave this world, he was a very sick baby, he couldn't walk anymore, and the shelter people decided it was better to help him to cross over, I stayed with him until he went to sleep forever. Someone found him crawling by the road in very bad shape, he doesn't have a name and as far as I know, never knew the love of a Mom, so I tried to be a good company for him in his last moments, please welcome him and be kind to him, he is one of those special cases.

Today I returned to help with the dogs of the shelter, they need a lot of love and affectionn but I don't think I will bring another homeless dog to the house, we paid a very high price, if only I could go back in time.....

My baby boy, tonight I want to hold you so badly, love you my Tino

Dear Valentino my boy,

I am so sorry for your loss. It must be hard to have some of those difficult memories. Tino was much loved.
I read your post today about the work you do at the shelter and that you stayed with a dying dog. You have a kind heart and soul. It is wonderful that you could share yourself even in such grief. Tino would be proud of you. Take care.

Hello Tino

Yesterday I realize how many people you touch in your short time with us. You remember S? The friend of your uncle D, well he approched your Dad to give his condolences, he said that he was very sorry for us, that it wasn't fair that such a high spirited boy like you have to left so soon. He also said to your Dad that he didn't told me anything because he didn't want to ruin the moment for me, that he knew that I'll get very sad. And you know, he was right, when your Dad told me, I did get very sad, and at the same time happy, that almost all the people who know you liked you and knew how much you are loved.

Well I have to stop writing now, my eyes are filling with tears right now, and if I dn't stop I may not be able to stop crying all day. You know I love you my boy, but I have to stop the bad days when I can

i miss you so much my baby boy