I sit here with tears in my eyes. Today is three months since my Gi-Gi left this earth to join her brothers, Joe, Biscuit, and Gizmo. I still have a hard time dealing with her death under such cir%%stances, as she had to go through. Some things are so hard to understand. Gi-Gi was such a good girl, so sweet and gentle, a true lady. I will always love her.

Our furchildren are such good examples of how we humans should be, kind, unconditional loving, forgiving, and accepting of life no matter what our status or income. Gi-Gi was all of this and more. I still miss her.

As some well meaning people have said, she was just a dog and not family.

Well, they will possibly never know or understand the significance of the relationship of other life and the gifts they can give. Those people often times do not have or understand respect or reverence for all life. The same creator who created me created everything else too. Everything has worth and enjoys life as much as anyone or I do.

I would gladly dance that dance again and accept the pain rather than miss the dance.

Peace,
Alan

Alan,

Some of those same people do not understand how a parent can raise a handicapped child or stay with a spouse after a horrible accident, etc. They aren't worth worrying about.

I was very lucky - when I lost my guys virtually everyone around me was supportive and understanding. Those who did NOT understand, backed off and were still supportive of ME, if not my reason for grieving. I feel a deep pity for those people who are unable to connect with another being in this fashion.

I am sorry for your loss - I can see that you already understand that the pain will fade, so I will save my usual speech for another day. I will, instead, say that Gi-Gi was lucky. Lucky that she had the good fortune to share her life with one such as you.

Just a dog? Just a cat? Just a bird, hamster, rabbit, snake or horse?

Aren't you glad you can see deeper than that?

I had to have my cat Kitt put to sleep in February because of cancer, and of course, I got, "Why are you mourning her, she was just a cat?" Someone suggested that when someone's loved person died to reply, "Why are you mourning, she was just your mother(father, etc.)?" but I couldn't go that far. People just don't realise that animals can leave just as big a hole in peoples lives as humans can. I have two other cats now, and they help fill the void, though they will, of course, never completely replace Kitt. Even though they are just an cat, dog, etc, that doesn't mean you don't love and miss them . They have a place in your life too.

I've been offline for a few weeks due to computer issues, but finally got everything back up and running, which is GREAT because I really needed to find this site again today ...

I don't know what happened, but I was overwhelmed with sadness today regarding Vernie. It was a month on the 11th that she passed away, and I guess it just hit me all over again that she is gone. I was laying in bed this morning with my other 3 kitties, and I actually had a split second where I thought "where's Vern... oh yea ...." I don't know, I guess that set things into motion again.

I just miss her little face and her unconditional love. Nobody who is not a pet lover will ever understand such a loss, and I think that is SO sad. They are truly missing out on "just a cat" or "just a dog" or whatever. How can someone be raised to treat animals like cattle? As if all those years of love didn't ever happen? I pity them.

So anyway, I wish I could say that things have gotten easier without Vernie, but they just haven't ....

Hi Alan:

I cannot believe it has been 3 months since your beloved Gi-Gi has gone to Rainbow's Bridge; nor can I believe it has
been over 2 months since Ernestine went to the Bridge.....

It is strange how fast time goes by when our wonderful furbabie's have passed on from this world to the next; it just
goes to show just how very, very much we loved them!!! And, we always will!!!!

Lucky for us Alan, and all the wonderful people on this site, that we don't think of our beloved babies as "just a dog, a cat, a horse, a "whatever"""

They're FAMILY....and they are OUR FAMILY..... Your Gi-Gi WILL ALWAYS BE A VERY SPECIAL PART OF YOU AND YOUR LIFE...... Don't you think that your Gi-Gi helped to make you who you are today???? A wonderful & caring & sensitive person????

I know that my Ernestine did that for me..... And, I love her for that...I ALWAYS WILL!!!

I know that your Gi-Gi DID NOT DESERVE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER..... BUT, YOU HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING.....

I am just so very glad that you & Gi-Gi had the time that you did to spend together... VERY, VERY HAPPY!!!!

The time we get to spend with loved ones will NEVER EVER BE ENOUGH!!!!!

But, I think I know that you are happy that it was YOU that Gi-Gi decided to spend her life on Earth with... And, you will
see your favorite girl again.....
Until then, she is quite happy with her brothers... They're all watching out for one another!!!!

She wants you Alan, to have a beautiful life here on Earth.....And, when God calls you home, YOUR BEST GIRL will be
there waiting for you (along with your 3 boys)...

God Bless,
Peace & Love,
Denise

Alan,

I have been very touched by your posts. I looked up your Gi-Gi's picture, and I was stunned by her beauty. Your loss must be nearly unbearable for you, considering the cir%%stances under which it occurred.

Like your Gi-Gi, my baby girl, Judy Garland, was killed by another dog. But in my case the other dog was her yardmate. It will be 7 months in just 2 days, and even after all this time, I am still devastated. I still cry everyday. I still feel guilty and angry. I wonder if it will ever get better. I don't know how anyone survives the loss of a child. I can't imagine anything hurting more than the loss of my Judy.

But like you said, I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance. Here's hoping that we both see brighter days in the future.

Carol Ann

Dear Alan,

Those well meaning people are idiots. Sorry, buy I mean really. They shouldn't say anything to you at all instead of saying something stupid and uncaring. Those people don't understand how much our furbabies become part of our family. My cats, Mittens who is gone and Spunky who we still have, are like our children. They graced our lives in November of 1990.




This is so very true. You are quite wise. We understand how you feel about your furbabies and how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Don't let those other people get you down. We care.

It is so devastating to lose a loved pet, the emptiness is almost too much to take sometimes. Just because they don' t talk to you by using actual words, they communicate in their own way. That unconditional love is so special. You don't get that from people.
Hugs to you .
Janice

Hi Janice:

Just wanted to let you know that I had edited your post so that it showed you were quoting Alan (FourBoyz).

I am very sorry for the loss of your Mittens. It is very hard to deal with. The grief is awful, and really, it does take
a long while before you start feeling better.

But, I like to think that my Ernestine and your Mittens, and all our our furbabies are up at Rainbow's Bridge, having
a wonderful time - running and playing in the fields........ And, one day, when it is our time to depart from this life,
we will then be reunited with our kids.

Thank you for coming "back on board" helping people with your kind and supportive words.

Peace & Love,
Denise (Muffins)

I don't know how you can react to these people. They won't "get it", and that is actually their loss! It means that they can't love something that isn't their own species, which means they don't understand the bond. I know it is tempting to make some remark back, but I choose to pity their narrowness. They will never know how great it feels to have a friend happy to see you and wagging her tail, or how nice it is to have a kitty purring on the foot of the bed. How very sad for them!

Dee Dee