What was your favorite thing to do together?
My angel was Tico, a mixed breed husky...cream colored with grey markings.
We loved going anywhere in the car. He refused to be way in the back of the stationwagon and always snuck up to the front seat.
We also loved walking together-anywhere, anytime, any season.

May we all have peace and healing during this season.
hugs
Cathi

Cathi,

Tico sounds beautiful!

My 'best friend' Toty used to love climbing! He used to climb up this stack of metal storage 'baskets' that I have in the hall, and I put my hand under him to steady him. When he got to the third basket or so, he'd climb into it, and nuzzle around for a treat which I used to hide there.

I'm recovering from difficulties going out and being in social situations, so he filled that space in my life for friendship (which might sound strange to dog and cat lovers cos he's much smaller than these pets, but he had a real personality, and gave me so much unconditional love and acceptance etc).

I've started going out occasionally, and I used to always look forward to coming home to see his cute wee face again (see photo below, I dunno why it's so huge!)

I hope that your pain is starting to get a bit more manageable, and that it's starting to be replaced with all the special memories that you can cherish - of the precious moments you shared with your Tico.

Love n prayers to you for now,

Marlene (Toty's mum)

This is a beautiful and positive thread! My little girl Bailey, a Sheltie who I am missing so much right now, was a registered therapy dog and loved going to work at the nursing home every Friday. She also loved to bark when anyone sneezed and absolutely hated motorcycles! If she were with us today, she would be romping in the snow outside of our window. Instead she is at the Rainbow Bridge with St. Francis watching over her until we meet again. Take care, and love to all who are remembering their best friends at this time.

I Remember

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "Good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

Author unknown

(Love Toty's mum)

My baby's name was Xian.... and it's so hard, this is the first holiday where he wasn't helping me decorate......

I am smiling and almost crying at the same time as I read about these beautiful souls- both the Pet "mom and dads" and the souls of our fur babies who are so interesting and have given us all so much love.
And the poem is so beautiful. Their presence was so powerful when they were here in the flesh. Surely that energy lives on with us.
Love to you....

Dear Stich,

I found this poem for you…. also please take a look at this site, it’s helping me loads at the moment:
http://www.pet-loss.net/euthanasia.html

Xian must’ve been really tuned in to your ‘love language’, because animals are much more perceptive and aware than we are. She definitely knew how much pain you were going thru, and that it was your love that released her from her suffering. She’ll be so grateful that you did this to help her! Please don’t beat yourself up with guilt because what you did was an act of sacrificial love – you put her welfare before your own and opted to end her suffering, at the expense of what you’re going thru now. Your courage is an example to us all.

Love and prayers,

Marlene

If it should be....

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.


Thank you Cathi,

That’s so perceptive – it’s true, the presence of our darlings that we now carry with us everywhere, will continue to enrich our lives as long as we live.

It’s SO hard to get up at the moment, cos I used to get up for Toty (and my daily schedule centred around his needs, cos I work from home at the moment). I feel like there’s such a huge gap in my life, now that Toty’s gone – I need God to do a miracle and give me loads of strength to start living again, to start a new chapter of my life – with my baby now living on the inside of me (there go these tears once more).

Much love and prayers,

Marlene

Marlene,
That poem brought a flood of tears, but made me feel a sense of comfort that I am not the only one who has had to deal with such a traumatic decision.
Thanks,
Kim

Well....I had to skip over those poems after the first few lines. I have "If it should be" printed out and framed already and knew I couldn't withstand reading it right now. I am in the process of reading a book called "Marley and Me" about a labrador retriever that reminds me of my Parker. So I am all at once sad and reflective, happy and nostalgic. Great book by the way for anyone considering. Parker and I's favorite things to do together was swimming definitely!!! He was the greatest athlete and could swim until he couldn't even use his back legs. Some of Parkers favorite past times.....not necessarily including me consisted of rooting through the trash, lifting the toilet lid up with his nose to get a drink, stealing food off of my 3 year olds plate,drinking from the bathtub faucet, catching snowballs in his mouth, eating kleenex by the dozen, chasing his tennis balls and then selfishly hiding them under his paws, and last but not least.....snuggling up in our bed at night. We joked that mixed breeds should have their own papers and if he had his (he was a lab mix) his breed would be a snuggler because he was the champion of snuggling all day if you wanted him to. Sorry to go on and on, I just miss that baby so much. I am sure he is swimming and snuggling all day, everyday now......hopefully he is sneaking in a few of his other antics as well. Go easy on him up there......he means no harm and provides for great laughs!!!

Parker's Mom,
Kerry

Kerry,
I just wanted to say that I cried reading your post. Your Parker sounds like such a wonderful soul...so carefree and loving life to the fullest. I could visualize him doing those things as I read them, and I smiled through the tears...what a clown! At least you must know that he has no regrets, except of course the grief it caused you when he left. Feel very good about the love you gave to him. My favorite pick-me-up thought is when I think of how different Sasha's life could've been if we had not found each other. Your Parker could have been one of those tortured souls chained to a doghouse wondering when his next meal will come. Instead he had so many people that loved him so dearly, and that he loved even more in return. I'm sure he is eternally greatful for all you gave to him, and there is no doubt in my mind he guided you to Norman (adorable name) to help you through your grief. Let your grief run its course, but never forget that Parker was as lucky to have you as you were to have him!
Your friend in grief,
Kim

Kim,
Thanks so much for your reply. I always look at the picture you have of Sasha and think how beautiful and regal she looks. I am a sucker for a baby with an aged face from a great life. Thanks for the kind words......I am trying to remain positive and only remember the good times.......there were so many!! One thing struck me in your reply, you are right, he probably has no regrets. How wonderful that must be......he stole every piece of food he could, ripped up countless shoes, even ate a $20 bill once when I was in college.....lord knows I needed that!! I got mad often during those trying times, but I came to appreciate his willful disobedience and now is something I treasure and believe it or not look for in a dog. No one was going to tell Parker he was a dog that was for sure. He wasn't my dog, he was my best friend and child.

Parker's Mom,
Kerry

Thank you for saying those sweet things about my girl. She was just as you describe..regal. My family used to joke that the wise old golden retreiver on 'homeward bound' reminded them of how she would be if she could talk!

best friend and child ....words so true in my heart as well . I also relate to what you were saying about how things they did in life would drive us crazy, but are now deeply missed. For some reason, Sasha hated to get her nose wet when she would drink (she was such a diva ), so she would prop it up on the outside rim of the back of the water bowl(she had elevated food/water bowls, I hope you can picture that). When she did this, all the extra skin she had under her neck would touch the water. Then she would walk over for us to give her some lovin' and we would get soaked! We would yell "look out, here comes 'drippy neck'!! It was such a mess to me then...not such a big deal now, looking back. Or how badly she would shed and I would complain about the constant need for dusting and vacuuming, no matter how often she was brushed! What I would give to have my whole house buried in her hair right now . As much as I regret it now, I would even let myself get annoyed sometimes at how she always had to take every step I took. I went to the bathroom....there she was. I went to put some laundry on...there she was. I went to get a drink from the kitchen...there she was. I would say "Sasha, go lay down, mommy's not going anywhere!". I would sometimes even shut the bathroom door because she would just stand there and stare at me...I didn't need an audience....but I should have been more appreciative of the love she was showing me...I regret that now, and wonder if it hurt her feelings....I shouldn't have done that. I guess I just never thought about a day that she wouldn't be here with me.

My parents have a golden retriever that is 14 and I think he is a little senile. When he follows my mom around the house (which, unlike Sasha who had done that from pupppyhood, is a habit he just started) and she says to him "Rusty, go lay down! I say 'the day is coming when you will be willing to give your right arm to have him following you around...take my advice...deal with it now so you don't regret it later." I wish I would have had someone to remind me of that in Sasha's golden years . I hope she knows how much I love her, and did so even in my moments of 'human ignorance'. There are just so many emotions that come over me when I think of her, and I wish I could somehow release them onto this computer screen, but no matter how much I type, I always feel like I'm leaving out so much...does that make sense?

Your friend in grief,
Kim

p.s. If you have a picture of your Parker, and even one of your Norman, I know I speak for everyone when I say we would love to see them!

Kim,

Just reading your very tender description of Sasha and her 'drippy neck' etc, leaves me in absolutely no doubt whatsoever that then, and now - she'll have been aware of nothing but the deep, strong love that you have in your heart for her , AT ALL TIMES (that’s why she acted like your shadow sometimes, or maybe quite often).

On the occcasions when you said things to her that you regret cos you think they came across as cold or rejecting, your love for her was a constant. These few words of annoyance that you spoke occasionally couldn't change this! Your feelings for her were and are rock solid, and animals are 'wired' to read our hearts; not the few words of frustration that we offload onto them from time to time. I hope what I'm trying to write makes some kind of sense, cos I know the point I'm trying to convey (and I also know Sasha will be in total agreement here)

I think that it’s BECAUSE she felt SO secure in your love, and basked in it, that she was able to ‘blossom’ into the beautiful girl that she is.

Please, take your time and take as long as you need, to tell us as many stories as you like about her lovely personality and how it shone thru so much, in all these wacky ways of hers.

I know she just wants you to be at peace with yourself and to look after yourself, and is so, so thankful that you adore her so much.

Be really gentle with yourself

I miss Toty

Ps It was lovely to get your emails, apologies for being still a bit over preoccupied with my wee guy and his story at the moment :-)

[COLOR=red][FONT=Geneva][SIZE=7]We just lost our sweet Ruby this past Christmas Eve. She was the most affectionate dog imaginable. She went against all the typical sterotypes of a Chihuahua. She was affectionte, loyal and she loved our 4 year old dauther Noelle like no other.

She loved her little toy bunny called "Bad Bunny". We would say, "Where's bad bunny and she'd go bring it to us" She was just learning how to fetch when she died. She was only 9 months old.
Ruby went with us everywhere and we loved her so very very much.

Blessings to you my sweet Ruby and to all the other pets who were so loved by their families.

I love you Ruby....