Seventeen years old, Carey Sue has been with me since I was literally a babe in swaddling. Ever ready with an endless supply of love and affection, she has been my companion over many tumultuous years, bearing many of my own heart aches and trials with her beautiful hazel eyes. She was an Australian Shepherd, the kindest creature I've yet to see under heaven. Yesterday we had to put her down due to severe neurological distress and anemia brought on by old age and the feasting of countless fleas. I cannot deny that I feel more than partially responsible for the pure torment that was her last few hours on this earth, but I know it was simply her time. Guilt serves nothing but to further my own anguish. I am lost, though, and desperate. Every time I blink, I can't help but see that familiar black-and-gray shadow in the corner of my eye - even though it's no longer there. Every time I sigh, I can't help but hear the prancing of her paws on our hardwood floors - even though it's no longer there. It seems the world has lost all color, all hope... and I just don't know what to do now, how to carry on. Such a big piece of my life, and she's gone.

The last few months have been very hectic, and really the only two things that have kept me going have been the love of this amazing animal, and the love of my mother. Now that love is halved, and I feel confused and helpless. What should I do? Should I simply clutch impotently at her brown leash and ponder all the walks she and I will never go on again? Should I get a new pet to ease the loss of my unconditional lover? The idea seems strange, and I feel guilty for even considering it, but there is a huge void in my life now, and it needs to be filled if I am to meet the day and continue moving forward. Please help me.

I am sorry for the loss of your Carey Sue and the pain she suffered. I am sorry she had fleas and her health was affected by it. I always use Front Line Plus on all my babies but you have to use it monthly for it to continue to work. She lived a very long life and must have felt so loved. Only you can answer the question of should you get a new dog or should you wait. In no way would you be able to replace Carey Sue, but if you feel you are able to love another for his or herself than go for it.
Ann

I am so sorry for your loss ~ my heart goes out to you in your grief ~ so many of the things you have said I too feel at the loss of my Angel Amber after nearly 20 years of constant sharing of our lives together ~ it is truly a feeling of emptiness and of bereft disillusionment at all that was good in the world ~ it seems so unfair that we have to lose them so soon ~ I too grasp impotently at her pillow and stare blankly at places where she would have been sleeping ~ it is so hard ~ and I am again so sorry for your sweet babe and you ~ Over the past month I have been on a roller coaster of emotions ~ someone wise has advised me that grief is " A Time Out of Time" and that we need to be so kind and caring to ourselves as we continue to participate in the leaving of our sweet babes and ferry them across to their new spiritual dwelling larger than before and when we will allow ourselves to know it ~ more loving and powerful within us than before ~ like a golden nest we have a place in our hearts to keep them ~ and like a silver thread our spirits are forever woven together with them ~ making our own entity and being more loving ~ more compassionate ~ in a world that is sorely in need of both ~

Today on my way to work, it struck me that the loss of my dear sweet Ambie, (and the others I have lost as well) is like the loss of a child - we get them when they are babies and they leave us before our lives are completed ~ as with the loss of a child ~ so innocent ~ and not normal somehow to have them pass away while we are still going on ~ as we were so part of each other and bonded and comitted ~ the pledge was I will keep you safe forever ~ when that inevitably doesn't happen we are so lost and disconnected ~ because other than Communities like this there is no way to process what has taken place ~

Again I am SO SAD for you and sorry for your loss ~ you had a wonderful life together and loved each other ~ this is something that is priceless and precious ~ and makes the universe a better place ~

I have been burning a candle each night for my Ambie and all the brave babes who have passed ~ the warriors that leave us bravely and filled with a cloud of our love ~ I will remember your Carrie Sue also ~ Be kind to yourself and remember the LOVE ~ Peace Be With You ~ Sincerely, Kathryn

I'm so sorry for your loss of Carrie Sue. Having a furbaby for 17 years is a very special gift, but I know the void you feel after their passing is immense, as they've been with you for a large part of your life.

You've come to a great place to help with your grief.

Take care,
Kathleen

I know it is hard, but give yourself some time. Your dog was very lucky, he had a long life filled with the companionship of someone he loved.

When your grief is more manageable, you should think about going to the local shelter and getting another dog. It helps a lot to have another animal in the house, and you have the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference and helping a creature in need. You obviously have a lot to give, and there are so many animals out there who are not as lucky as your dog, they have never known a loving home.

i'm honoring your pain and loss, and blessing your life with carey sue. Please know that the love is not gone- that's just an illusion- although a very powerful one.
ALL the love is inside of you, and will be reawakened.

I am sorry for your loss. You are correct that guilt prolongs the anguish. Right now, the last day is ripe in your mind, and it is tough to see all of the wonderful days of love that came before. In time, you will remember Carey Sue in all of the stages of her life - all which are as real as that last, poignant day. The pain is very tough - it feels like our heart has been ripped out.

Please accept my condolences.

Dee Dee

Thank you, all of you, for your care and concern. It helps ease the pain of her passing, even as recent as it is. It is a huge comfort knowing that my pain is being shared by others - it isn't lessened by this knowledge, but knowing that it is a communal agony makes it... somehow more bearable. Again, thank you for your words of kindness and compassion. Please say a prayer for my little Carey Sue-Sue that she makes it safely to the Ivory Gates and the endless love beyond them.

Hi all. Bad day today. I've called out from work for the past three days - ever since we put our baby Carey Sue down - and today I attempted to regain some composure and go in to accomplish *something*. It well hellish, all of it. I spent the whole day nodding off into strange day dreams in which I'd invision my sweet honey girl drifting away on a pair of white-feathered wings, never to return. I could do nothing at all but stare mutely and try my damnedest not to cry. (And it almost worked.)My mood was evident to all of my coworkers, though; they wouldn't leave me alone.

Toward the end of the night, I felt I'd waded through the worst - at least for the moment; I felt I could start to resume some semblance of normal life. And then I got home, unlocked the door into my dark house. It was empty, cold, quiet. I felt almost afraid to enter. And then I saw her leash and collar clumped up where I'd left them this morning and completely broke down. I'm still crying.

This is so hard. Just to wake up, roll over and get out of bed. My eye always falls immediately on her favorite sleeping spot right next to the bed. And no matter where I am in the house, her dishes are always *right there*. I don't know what to do. I'm going crazy with this - can someone help me?

Hi, this is such a difficult time for you. You need to be kind to yourself and let yourself grieve. Don't try to stop the tears and feel you must put on a brave face. 17 years was a long time of love and fun. One day the sad thoughts will get less and be replaced by happy ones that will bring a smile to your face and fill your broken heart with peace again.
We lost our 2 girls within 6 1/2 months of each other. Fluff last October and Cleo on Friday past - she's not even been gone for 2 days. My worst moment was coming home yesterday and seeing the empty space where her litter box stood and then wandering through the house and knowing she wasn't there. I loved them so much, i can't believe how much a person can cry.
Take care and remember to look out for the rainbows.

I'm so sorry for your loss. How lucky you were to have had so many years with Carey Sue. I know how hard it is to get back to everyday things when your mind is consumed with the thoughts of your furbaby. I'd suggest putting her things away for a while so the sight of them doesn't bring you any added pain. Of course, the empty spots might hurt too.....

I do think you should get another pet but you might want to wait a little bit. Just until you feel like you can handle it. You can't replace Carey Sue but you can find someone new

Don't worry about Carey Sue making it to heaven. She's at a place called Rainbow Bridge playing with all of our furbabies and waiting for you.

Hugs,
Dawn