Woody Options

[Steve K.]

I was here ten years ago for my Beauregard. Now I am here for my Woody. Woody was a dog that nobody wanted so me and the wife took him in. He was a handful at first and he made us wonder if we made the right decision but he turned out to be a wonderful dog. He was a retriever mix and a beautiful red color.

Well, on Sunday 09/21/08, I went out for the day and the wife took the dogs (we have another shelter dog) for a walk. They were both on a leash but Woody pulled away from my wife and ran into the street. He was hit by a car and the wife got animal control to take him to the emergency clinic where the vet said it didn't look good. The wife made the decision to let Woody go and when I got home, my heart was broken. My poor wife had to watch him get hit by the car and then make the decision to let him go. We are both heartbroken. I can't sleep, I can't eat, and all I do is cry at the drop of a hat. Our other dog (Smokey Joe) is 9 years old but Woody was only four. I expected him to be around for many years. Why did God take our dog from us? I don't think that we are bad people. We took in both dogs and two stray cats. We love our animals like children. Why was he taken from us?

[moon_beam]

Hi, Steve, thank you so much for sharing your pictures of your fur family. When my Eli joined the angels almost two years ago (December 2006), I found it very comforting to hold something that belonged to him - like his collar. I even slept with his collar under my pillow. It helped me with adjusting to not having his precious little physical body with me. The grief journey is both physical and emotional. While you enjoyed Woody's physical presence with you there was a chemical bond that formed between you, and now that this bond no longer has the physical nurturing it is now physically painful to not have Woody's physical presence with you. Clinical studies have proven that when a spouse dies, the first year for the surviving spouse and other family members is very critical because the surviving spouse, and any other family members who were dependent upon the deceased, has an increased risk of dying also within that first year due to the physical adjustment of not having his / her spouse physically with them. The older the surviving spouse is as well as their medical health also increases their risk of dying within the first year. This is also true of elderly people who are totally dependent upon their companion animals for physical and emotional nurturing. So, if you can find some way to help bridge the physical absence of Woody you may find this to be comforting while you are adjusting to the loss of his sweet physical body with you. I know, Steve, this grief journey is the absolute pits - - particularly in the beginning and the several weeks and months that follow. But I promise you there willl come a time when you can remember Woody and smile, and when that happens, you will know that Woody has not left you. He is still with you as he always has been. Your relationship with him has just temporarily transformed to a different dimension. His sweet living Spirit is indelibly etched in your heart and your memories, and no one and nothing can ever take that away from you. You can still share your life and your heart with him as you always have, and he is listening to you as intently as ever. But for now, "knowing" this does little to comfort a broken heart. We share your pain and brokenness, Steve, and are thankful you are here among us so that we can reach out to you when you need us. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Steve, and please keep letting us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam