With all apologies to our remaining members and with lengthy consideration I have decided to memorialize the Lightning-Strike Forum as of January 1, 2020.

Why?

• Traffic (for sign-ups) has dwindled to a couple or less per month since I launched this site in October 1996 (21 years ago!), which is way beyond the typical lifetime of forums like this which tend to start decaying after 5-8 years. And the very few that do get approved to use the forum don't even post.
• Trump this up to the rapid proliferation of media-rich social platforms as well.
• It takes time and effort to run a forum, from checking new registrations daily to weekly data backups to fixing hacker damage and more. Unfortunately my time is becoming more limited nowadays and I forecast time will become more "needy" over the next year or two.

So what does this mean?

• For now the main website and this forum will keep running as-is during the 2 year sunset process, during which time new people can still register and our current members can continue to post as usual.
• Once the final days near, the website and forum will memorialized in-place. Meaning there will no longer be updates, new sign-ups or the ability to post.
• This forum contains volumes of useful information and support vehicles for pet loss...85K+ posts created by more than 5K guests...so its original purpose will continue to serve people who have loved and lost their pets and other animals.
• The L-S facebook page will continue to operate as it does today. Though i realize it could never replace this forum, we are close to having 10K members, so there are plenty of people out there who will find even the restricted forum to have benefit https://www.facebook.com/pet.loss.grief.support/

The members here helped make what L-S is today. For that, I thank you all! I would also like to take a moment to give kudos to the few forum moderators who helped keep the forum under a watchful eye over the years. I'll admit that I sort of burned out on my personal pet loss support efforts about 10 years ago... so everyone's help is also greatly apprecicated!

Two years is still far away, so please continue to use the resources provided by this website and forum. There's plenty of time

MD Cohn

Hi, Marc, I just noticed your post, and am saddened that this wonderful forum will no longer be available 2 years from now. However, your decision is not entirely a surprise to me, as I perfectly understand your reasons. You really don't need the burden of continuing a service that is no longer being utilized. If I read your information correctly this website will still be available for information purposes, so that's good news. I'm not knowledgeable about Facebook, - - if I read correctly people who belong to Facebook will be able to post on the L S page as they do here on the forum? This may sound like a stupid question, but please bear in mind I am not technology intelligent - - can your Facebook page be accessed using a regular computer?

It has been an honor and a privilege to be here on the L S website and participate in the Forum, as well as to serve as a Moderator. Thank you, Marc, for your dedicated efforts in offering this wonderful website that brings comfort, support, and encouragement to people who are adjusting to the physical loss of their beloved companion.

I hope life is treating you and all your family kindly, Marc, that your holidays will be filled with much happiness, and that the coming year will be a prosperous one for you. Thank you again, Marc, for letting us know your decision about the Forum.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

It takes one single person in time of need to truly lift ones faith in the passing of a beautiful life
as Lighting strikes gives us that opportunity to reconnect with a special friend;...
Click to view attachment
What LS means to me....

I would have passed a friends life and truly have missed the special moments if not in thought and able
to fully express myself...

LS has given me the chance to follow my best; friends Paw prints as I can smile now; as I write a friends life poem
for all to see as the pain is....I find beautiful people as iam not alone..


Click to view attachment
As LS has given me a Forever moment to walk with my friend one last time;)….



Click to view attachment
I thank you for helping me find my best friend...Again...

Hi, Marc, greetings to you and all your family on this first New Year Day of 2019. I hope this finds each of you doing well and in good spirits. I want to thank you for your dedication in offering this forum to those who need a place to come to share what is in their hearts as they adjust to the physical loss of their beloved companion. I know it has been frustrating keeping the forum running, particularly over the past 3 or 4 years contending with the hacks, but I want you to know your efforts are sincerely appreciated, and know you are doing your best to keep the forum running smoothly up to September.

Marc, please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers that this year will be filled with much happiness, good health, and prosperity for you and all your family in all your endeavors at all times and in all circumstances.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thanks, trying my best to keep things going. My mom passed on Xmas morning so am going through some rough stuff at the moment that will remain my focus for the next few weeks. If the site has issues feel free to use the sites contact form to let me know.

Hi, Marc, please accept my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your mom. Losing a loved one - - whoever the life form - - is difficult under any circumstances and whatever the time of year is. But losing a loved one during the holidays intensifies the grief, and will always have an effect on future holidays - - hopefully eventually being able to focus on the many treasured memories. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

💖

Wow, I totally understand the reason you need to wind it down Mark, so sorry the site isn't as vibrant as it once was. I have encouraged so many fur mom and dads here, I thought it would a!ways be here. It was here for me when I and many others needed it. So glad it can be accessed, so others can know they're not alone when this happens. When I joined, I had 3 cats, Bue-Bue made 4. I lost Pudding in 2012, Zena in 2013, and Nibbles was 16 he died in 2016 on the 16th of April. This place is home to me and it always will be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having this incredible place, with like minded individuals who love animals.

❤

L-S Members,

Due to yet another DoS hacker attack on the forum early this morning, I have turned off new registrations permanently as a first step to the sunsetting process scheduled in September. The posting function will continue to work, but only for currently registered members.

MD

Hi, Marc, thank you so much for the update. Do you have a specific date scheduled in September for the sunsetting? Once again, it has been a privilege to be a part of your wonderful service to those whose hearts are healing from the physical loss of a beloved companion - - as well as to celebrate with those who embrace a new precious soul into their hearts and home. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers that you will always have many abundant blessings at all times and in all circumstances.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thanks moon_beam, I am going to push the date to December 31, 2019 since Tribble passed that night in 1996. Doing this as a milestone for me and him mostly. i have updated the original post above and will post again in December as a reminder.

Hi, Marc, changing the date to coincide with your beloved Tribble's angel-versary is indeed a fine tribute. I hope life is treating you and your family kindly, Marc, and thank you once again for all your efforts in maintaining this wonderful forum.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Just a quick reminder that this forum will revert to read-only some time on January 1st 2020. The private messaging system will also be disabled since this feature can be hijacked by hackers.

Two years went by so quickly, 24 years went by just as quick. Thank you to the many members who made this forum great, and to those who stuck by it all these years as it lost its luster. Thank you to our only remaining moderator moon_beam for her help with the mourners who have stopped by over the years.

We're still here to help anyone who happens by, there are so many wonderfully happy and sad stories here to tell.

I bid you goodbye for now, until we meet again on the Bridge.

MD Cohn 💖