--> Forum Now Read Only

With all apologies to everyone who has visited over the past 24 years, and with lengthy consideration and much hand-wringing, the Lightning-Strike Forum has been closed to new registrations, and is now read-only (as of January 1, 2020).

Why?

• Traffic (for sign-ups) has dwindled to a couple or less per month since I launched this site in October 1996, which is way beyond the typical lifetime of forums like this which tend to start decaying after 5-8 years. And the very few that do get approved to use the forum don't even post.

• Trump this up to the rapid proliferation of media-rich social platforms as well.

• It takes time and effort to run a forum, from checking new registrations daily to weekly data backups to fixing hacker damage and more. Unfortunately my time is becoming more limited nowadays as I head into my golden years.

So what does this mean?

• The website and forum will memorialized in-place. Meaning there will no longer be updates, new sign-ups or the ability to post and/or reply.

• This forum contains volumes of useful information and support vehicles for pet loss...85K+ posts created by more than 5K guests...so its original purpose will continue to serve people who have loved and lost their pets and other companion animals.

• The L-S facebook page will continue to operate as it does today. Though i realize it could never replace this forum, we are close to having 10K members, so there are plenty of people out there who will find even the restricted forum to have benefit https://www.facebook.com/pet.loss.grief.support/

The members here helped make what L-S is today. For that, I thank you all! I would also like to take a moment to give kudos to the few forum moderators who helped keep the forum under a watchful eye over the years. I'll admit that I sort of burned out on my personal pet loss support efforts about 10 years ago... so everyone's help is also greatly appreciated!

So please continue to use the resources provided by this website and forum. There's plenty of love to share

MD Cohn

24 Years Have Gone By, Still The Memories Remain

~~~24 Years Have Gone By, Still The Memories Remain~~~

As of new years day 2020, it has been 24 years since Tribble's abrupt passing... and the beginnings of development for Pet Loss Grief Support - Lightning-Strike.com.

Many things have happened in my life since then, both good and not so good, but i am happy to be alive. The original site in 1996, which was a total mess because i had to code everything by hand, is long gone but the memory of Tribble is not forgotten. On January 1st, i will open up his can of cremains for a friendly hello and to refresh his food and catnip. right now he is probably basking in his twilight years, living once again in a warm house with a fireplace and loving every minute of it.

To everyone who is here right now during the holidays, realize one thing: it does get better with time. the memories now sad, cold and tear-filled will warm to those of fondness and memories of happier times. Give yourselves one of the many gifts, aside from unconditional love, that your furbabies have left behind for you... time.

R.I.P. TribbyDog
5.31.83 - 1.1.96



What do you do when
a good friend dies?

What do you do when a good friend dies?
Do you lash out in anger and curse at the sky.
Or grasp hard denial, the means of the weak,
In an effort to kindle the comfort you seek.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
Once life's breath, so precious, gives the chest final rise.
In haste you take blame, no other at fault,
You kneel upturned earth and deem all happiness to halt.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
When with him the times, both good and bad, lie.
Do you cast aside the past,
for memories hurt much too much,
Or struggle and fight for that last lingering touch.

What do you do when a good friend dies?
When all of the tears have all but been cried.
No matter how much, no matter how hard you try.
The only thing to do is say farewell.
Goodbye.

i still you tribby dog, please come back home one day!

Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours

Massive Site Hacking

I am sad to report the site is under attack and the hackers keep bringing the site down. Not sure how much
Longer we can endure this. If we wind up disappearing altogether, my apologies to the remaining members but I tried.

Important! This Forum Will Sunset In 2020

With all apologies to our remaining members and with lengthy consideration I have decided to memorialize the Lightning-Strike Forum as of January 1, 2020.

Why?

• Traffic (for sign-ups) has dwindled to a couple or less per month since I launched this site in October 1996 (21 years ago!), which is way beyond the typical lifetime of forums like this which tend to start decaying after 5-8 years. And the very few that do get approved to use the forum don't even post.
• Trump this up to the rapid proliferation of media-rich social platforms as well.
• It takes time and effort to run a forum, from checking new registrations daily to weekly data backups to fixing hacker damage and more. Unfortunately my time is becoming more limited nowadays and I forecast time will become more "needy" over the next year or two.

So what does this mean?

• For now the main website and this forum will keep running as-is during the 2 year sunset process, during which time new people can still register and our current members can continue to post as usual.
• Once the final days near, the website and forum will memorialized in-place. Meaning there will no longer be updates, new sign-ups or the ability to post.
• This forum contains volumes of useful information and support vehicles for pet loss...85K+ posts created by more than 5K guests...so its original purpose will continue to serve people who have loved and lost their pets and other animals.
• The L-S facebook page will continue to operate as it does today. Though i realize it could never replace this forum, we are close to having 10K members, so there are plenty of people out there who will find even the restricted forum to have benefit https://www.facebook.com/pet.loss.grief.support/

The members here helped make what L-S is today. For that, I thank you all! I would also like to take a moment to give kudos to the few forum moderators who helped keep the forum under a watchful eye over the years. I'll admit that I sort of burned out on my personal pet loss support efforts about 10 years ago... so everyone's help is also greatly apprecicated!

Two years is still far away, so please continue to use the resources provided by this website and forum. There's plenty of time

MD Cohn