Hello,

My dearest friend Jake had to be put to sleep yesterday. He was 14 years old and I know that is old for a Yellow Lab but he was just running and playing thursday. He seemed to be doing so well. He fell thursday and he was limping very bad when we got him up, and then on friday when we woke him up he had trouble walking. When my sister tried to take him to the groomers he laid down and refused to go, but he got back up and "ran" (a relative term at 14) back to the house when she gave up. She left the house and when she came back 2 hours later he wouldnt get up. He wouldn't respond to his name, he would barely look at us. When we picked him up when just stayed limp instead of standing. My anut and Uncle came over to help my dad take him to the vet but, we knew he wouldn't come back so we all said goodbye.

Its hurts so bad knowing I'll never see my Jake again. He was such a good dog but its been so Long since he was active, I know he was ready. But it is so hard. I can't stop crying. I just want my pup back. Why did he have to go like that...I have been praying that he would get to go in sleep in his bed. But it didnt happen that way and its so hard.

When Dad took him I went to pray that God would take him quick and that it wouldn't hurt. Dad gave him extra pain pills for the drive so I think he was comfortable. My boyfriend Says he is in Heaven now rolling in the grass and waiting for me. I just hope the loneliness isn't is bad for him as it is for me. It's not right I mean it's Heaven. So he has to be happy.

I just don't know what to do. Christmas is tomorrow and people are coming over and I dont want them to. I don't know how to deal with them and keep myself together. Tonight I have to go to my grandma's and they are gonna say they are sorry and then I'll cry again.

I miss him so much. He was such a handsome dog. This is a bad picture, but you can still see you handsome he was. He was so good.

Cherise

Hi,I'm so sorry for your Loss.I had to put my Dashchund joey to sleep on Dec 12th at 11:15.He Had Cancer.I know what your going through.This will be my first Christmas without my Joey.
My heart breaks for you.Your Dog is playing with my joey,and there no longer in pain.There not suffering.May God Mend your broken heart.....Take Care...Try and stay strong....Best wishes.......Roxanne OF IL

I am truly sorry you had to suffer this loss. Being that this is the Christmas season, your heart has to be breaking all the more. Try to remember that Jake made his decision to go quickly, sparing you the pain of trying to do what was best for him in the end. We would like to keep our furbabies forever, but, as you know, they sometimes have other plans. I know that in your grief right now, it is difficult to believe that you will ever fill that hole in your heart. Try, as hard as it may be, to remember all of the fourteen years of good and happy times. Jake is at the Rainbow Bridge right now, frolicking, happy and healthy with my baby girl Bailey. Give yourself some time to grieve, surround yourself with positive people, take care of yourself, and when you feel better, come back and share with us some of the things that made Jake such a beautiful and wonderful friend. Remember, you are not alone in your grief.

You must feel really lonely missing your Jake right now. I'm very sorry for your great loss. Jake was so important to you and a big part of your daily life. Thank you for posting the picture of him. Since you searched for help online and found this site you are probably overwhelmed with grief and looking for confirmation that your Jake is happy. That's what finally lead me to this site 3 months after I lost my little Toffee. I knew I had to find some relief from my grief and crying but I didn't know how, I didn't think it would ever be possible, and I'm not sure I wanted to! Yesterday I went out to sit in the car twice and brokes down in sobs feeling so helpless. Today was a little better. I feel quite a bit of relief for some reason - I'm not sure why. I only cried a couple of times at work today. I've decided to order one of those lockets I saw online with an inscription and put Toffee's picture in it . Just thinking I would do that made me feel better. Take care of yourself. I am sure Jake is near trying to comfort you.

Thank all so much for your kind words. Today was not as horrible as I feared. Thankfully my anut and uncle told everyone what happened and so no one asked us where he was. My sister found a beautiful christmas ortiment of a yellow lab with wings that she had inscribed so he was looking down on us all day from the tree. We also put out some pictures of Jake...some looking handsome and some where he was coated in mud! I have tried to remind myself he is up there in heaven having lots of fun, but it is hard.

I think he probably is spending alot of time swimming because he loved it but it has been along time since he could go out to the beach...the sand was to hard to walk on.

One time we went to the park and he jumped in the pond and started swimming after the ducks...(he was like 10 then) it was so embarsing everyone was looking at me like i was a monster for letting my dog chase the ducks but I couldnt stop him he was in the middle of a pond and I can't swim.

Jake being gone is so hard for me, but its harder for my other dog I think. He seems so depressed we dont know what to do. My Uncle brought his dog and him and Ferris played alot but now that griff has gone home Ferris seems so sad. I know Jake wouldn't want this he loved Ferris very much. I feel even sader about Jake being gone when I see Ferris's sad eyes.

The hardest time for me is bedtime. Jake slept with me everynight untill he was around 12 then he could not go up the stairs anymore. Even though its been such a long time it seems like he should still be there next to me. I will always love him and I know he loves me. I think that all the good thoughts I had about him today were his way of making the day easier for me.

Thanks again for the kind words...it really helps to know that I'm not the only one that feels this kind of loss so deeply.