christmas had always been my favorite holiday.. up until now.. around 6:30pm i heard my dog collasped while i was making dinner. my husband and i ran to her. she couldnt get up.. we took her temperature it registered 105.4 seeing it was xmas we were praying for a closer vet., the only opened nearby was 20 miles away.. we got there in 15 minutes we broke a few speeding laws without being caught. after a few tests the vet said she had a tumor and it has erupted and 90 percent it may be cancerous. surgery was next step to comfirm otherwise they would have to put her down. it would costs us over $1000. the charge was a blur to me. i was in denial more than my husband, i asked for the surgical procedure praying that the vet was wrong...unfortunately i was wrong.. around 11:50pm they called and said the cancer went to her liver also. my husband got the call and after seeing his face, i ran outside and cried out loudly that it wasnt supposed to happen to my heidi.. this is the first time that i've ever grevied this hard for a pet. she was the first dog that i ever saw who can smile.. i miss that. this is the worst xmas i've ever had. a couple of days later my husband had to return to the vet to pick up her collar, to this day i still put fresh white carnations around it... i cant believe she's not here... 2 days later my favorite bird parrotlet "emmy" passed away... please let this be the last passing.. 3rd time is not a charm...

Hello Loreen,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pup. It's so hard to experience loss, especially during the holidays. Christmas has always been a time where an emphasis is placed on family and cherishing the ones you love. No doubt, this becomes acutely evident when the holidays are accompanied by loss of a loved one. Christmas was a very difficult time for me also (I lost my little guy a month before). I think everyone is reminded of loss during Christmas because it's a time where people traditionally enjoy and appreciate what the special people and pets within their lives. Your loss was so unexpected. How can it be that a loved one is here and the next second gone???
Sometimes life feels so unfair and unbearable. I hope you have good friends and family that are able to support you.
Hugs,
Shauna

Loreen, I am so sorry about your Heidi. The loss does make the holidays so hard. My heart goes out to you; this list is very helpful. Dobermans are such wonderful, smart dogs. My parents' doberman Hobo died last year, at 8 1/2, after having bone cancer for a year. I have not lived with them for many years, and have my own dogs, but I loved Hobo as much as if he was mine. I think he was always an angel - a giant, and so loving and gentle to everyone, and so stoic during his illness - and now I believe he is my guardian angel. (There is a 3 year old Dobie mix for adoption at my local shelter right now, and I am sorely tempted!)
Take care, Gina

Loreen,
My 14 year old Doberman; Sheba died almost 5 months ago on Aug. 21st and I have cried everyday since. I miss her soooo bad.
I wish I could say something to ease your pain. I wish someone could ease mine. Hopefully you will, as I do, find some solace in the fact that someone else at least shares your pain.
Maybe Heidi and Sheba have made friends and are looking down on us.
I have to believe that we'll be together again because heaven without She She would be...hell.

Brad

for loreen
i am going thru same thing started christmas day my babys story is on the site tells about his heart failure and in end vomiting blood got call after he was gon about some of his tests results coming in tumor behind stomach
20 yrs ago lost 5 yr old female dobie to liver cancer stillmourn
10 yrs ago lost 10 yr old male rottie to lymphoma which had infarted his spleen still mourn now my 8 yr old mastif why dont they live longer like us other animals do people live long compared and i know very few who deserve to as much as our babys do not fair one thing i was told in a reply might help is remember they do not want us to suffer any more than we want them to and they are still with us and watching over us from rainbow bridge we will all be together again soonuntil then remember what they have taught us about love we are here to learn they already know
do no harm

thank you all for the replies. it helps a lot hearing from you. i pray every day and night asking for comfort and understanding why our dogs have to leave us so young in age.. dobermans never show pain which is why i'm surprised of how she left me... we have a 7 yr old black lab, clint, who is on seizure medication and i'm sure knows heidi isnt coming back.. a few days ago i fell asleep on the couch and woke up smelling the scent of heidi and it startled me.. have you ever gone thru something like that?? i know heidi is with my mom (she passed away 3 yrs ago breast cancer) now and reminded her not to overfeed heidi with doggie treats when she's in heaven with her. i know it wouldnt matter anyway in heaven but it's a personal joke to make them both smile.

loreen
yes same thing my buddys scent is here i made sure to finnd and save it on his blanket its under my pillow
just remember heidi doesnt want you to suffer or have pain just likeyou dont for her and my baby doesnt want me to feelpain either we must hang on and be ok for them even now they are still watching over us were the students they know
think of her often let her play knowing were all right shes probably already met my baby
do no harm

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY ANGRY., THIS YEAR SO FAR HASNT BEEN GRACIOUS.. I'VE LOST 3 PETS WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS... MY DOG, HEIDI, MY BIRD PARROTLET EMMY, AND MY 16 YR OLD CAT TABBY MOLLY... I SOMEHOW FEEL JINXED.. MY EMPLOYER AT WORK, PET LOVER, ADVISED THAT EVERYONE GOES THRU THAT... I TOLD HER THAT I NEEDED THIS FRIDAY OFF BECAUSE MY DOG, CLINT A BLACK LAB, HAS TO GO IN TO GET HIS TUMOR REMOVED.. IT IS A SIZE OF A FIST., WE'RE PRAYING THAT IT IS JUST A FATTY TISSUE..HE IS ON SEIZURE MEDICATION.. PLEASE PRAY FOR US THAT IT ISNT CANCER.. OUR FEATHERED AND FURRY BABIES DONT DESERVE IT....

It never seems fair to lose someone we truly love. I cling to knowing that they are in a far better place and try to tell myself that it is I who am being selfish by being angry that they are gone. At least the guilt of "putting her down" is now lessened by someone else sharing their story about their dog having the same symptoms as mine. Without this site, I'm not sure I would have made it.

Please know that there are many people on this site who are going through similar losses and are there for you.

My family also is having a difficult new year. My father was diagnosed with diabetes and broke his foot in 4 places (no weight on it for 4 months). My newborn was airlifted to a hospital with a respiratory virus and was in the pediatric ICU for almost a week, and now we lost our wonderful dog Emily to a stroke.

We were all looking forward to a better new year, now we are already cursing 2006. But in true cliche fashion, remember, time heals all and this too shall pass.

I am extremely sorry for your losses I will pray for you and your family. I know it's like you are being hit from all directions I know that feeling that is why I will say an extra prayer for you to help you through this.

Hi Loreen your employer is right anger is part of the grieving process i think its because we are left feeling so helpless.

Try to release the anger safely screem into a pillow of thump the pillow not in front of Molly or Clint thought, our furbabies are so sensative to our emotions.

Love Sue

we adopted a new female dobie puppy., same color as my heidi, i was hoping a red female dobie, but she was the last of the bunch., i dont regret her at all... she fills my days and nights more than you can handle., getting another puppy helped a lot., my worst thought is that she would be like my heidi but it's not true.. dont be afraid to adopt a puppy., good therapy!!!