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Dear Abby's Mommy,

Thank you for posting such a beautiful picture of your departed sweetheart.

I lost my beautiful Klaus on Wednesday sudddenly and without warning. I am devastated and the pain that I feel is too raw and fresh to think about getting another dog anytime soon. This is my first time in my life without a dog. I am almost 31 and these are the first few days in all of that time that I do not have a wet nose coming up to lick and kiss me or greeting me at the door with a smile. My life will never be the same without my Klausie. All of my other dogs were EXTREMELY EXTREMELY special and important to my life, but there was something about Klaus that just made him extra special, and thinking like that sometimes makes me feel guilty that I am desacrating the memories of all of my other dear departed furbabies. Thinking this way is something that I struggle with from time to time.

WIth regards to never owning another furbaby, I completely understand why you feel this way. I find myself thinking the same thing, but I know it is not realistic to think that I could go through the rest of my life without the unwavering love and companionship that a dog would bring to my life. I think about it from the perspective that Klaus would want me to have another furbaby to make me happy and would forgive me if I ever got another dog. Who knows if I will ever get another dog, but I do know that I will be getting a tattoo in his memory in the not too distant future. It will be my first and I always told myself that if I was to get one, it would have to mean something extremely important. I can think of no other thing more important to me than to always have my Klausie with me, whereever I go.

I feel tremendous guilt over many things regarding my baby, especially not telling him I loved him as I walk out the door each morning, on the very day that he died. It makes me wonder if he died with a broken heart. Since he died without warning, when we left him to get cremated and I was saying good-bye, all I could find myself thinking and saying was "I'm Sorry." I would give up everything I own and will ever own to go back and tell him one last time, while he was alive, that I love him.

Be gentle to yourself, love your family and cherish the memories of all of your dear sweet departed furbabies. In time, you might decide to get another one. If you do, realize that you will be gaining just as much love as you give to any new puppy that you decide to save from an animal shelter or a breeder. Odds are, you will be gaining much more love than you think, and you will be forever memorializing your departed babies by taking in another furbaby that needs your love and companionship.

Take your time, grieve as long as you want and know that when your time comes, you will have the company of your departed furbabies to join you as you all walk over the Rainbow Bridge, together, as a family, now and forever.

Brett

Brett, I'm so sorry about Klaus. My heart cries for you. Losing a special companion is so hard. I know exactly how you feel about not being able to really think about getting another dog. I used to wake up to Sonnie stealing covers and trying to take even more of the bed than he had! Rob and I aren't small people, but we would wake up to both being crowded on to one half of the bed. For a twenty pound dog, Sonnie sure took up a lot of room. We both miss that and would trade anything for Sonnie to be back home with us. We just want him like he was before the cancer and his amputation. It's not going to happen, and life does go on but with a difference now.

Abby's Mommy, I wondered if she was part rat terrier, something about her face. I see from her beautiful portrait all the terrier personality she had. You were very lucky. We all are because our babies loved us unconditionally and with all the abandon that only a pet can give. You have a lot to give another dog, but only you will know if or when that will ever happen.

I'm thinking U of I is very busy tonight because I left my name and number on their voicemail about an hour and a half ago. I hope call me tonight, but I have a feeling they won't have time. I'll keep you posted.

I am just so sorry for all the pain all of us have to endure. The portrait of your baby is just beautiful. What a doll and now you can have her looking down at you and can see her every night and every morning. I think someday that the portraits might be a wonderful comfort to you

Snookie has been gone for 2 weeks and Chili Bean for 8 weeks. There is still just so much pain it seems so hard to do the things that need to be done. I think of you and your baby girl often.
Love, Ann