Show us your pets!

[sundial]

Paisley is so very cute!! She looks like a total sweetheart.

[carpaltunnel]

I'm trying to post a picture of Tuffy, who died two weeks ago. I miss her terribly.
The photo's too large, message tells me I have to manually resize it...

I held her in my arms and talked to her while the vet helped her to stop suffering. I know it had to be done and she wasn't afraid. I think she knew it was time. Oh, I miss her.

[wackyjacky1]

I held her in my arms and talked to her while the vet helped her to stop suffering. I know it had to be done and she wasn't afraid. I think she knew it was time. Oh, I miss her.

I held my kitty and looked into her eyes as the vet put her to sleep. I wanted the last thing she saw to be the person who loved her. That was four years ago, and I still grieve when I let myself think about it.

The heartache will get better, but you will always miss her. Hang on to the memories of the fun and love she brought you, and not on her passing.

Sometimes I wonder if having a pet is worth the pain of their inevitable passing...but then I look at the two crazy cats I have now, and I wouldn't trade 'em for anything! (But don't tell them that, they already think they rule the world.)

[Zen]

{{{{{{{InvisibleWoman, CarpalTunnel, and Jacky}}}}}}}

I know this pain well. It is excruciating.

Sometimes I wonder if having a pet is worth the pain of their inevitable passing...

Yes, but I wonder wouldn't that be selfish to deprive that animal of a loving home just to spare yourself the heartbreak?
And they bring us so much joy, it's worth it.

[salsabike]

I know some of you have seen me post this before. I first saw it in a card our vet sent us years ago after we lost a beloved cat much too young. It still says it all for me, so I hope it will help some of you as well.


“We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our own
live within a fragile circle, easily breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan...”

The Once Again Prince, from Separate Life Times, by Irving Townsend

[emily_in_nc]

I know some of you have seen me post this before. I first saw it in a card our vet sent us years ago after we lost a beloved cat much too young. It still says it all for me, so I hope it will help some of you as well.

“We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our own
live within a fragile circle, easily breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan...”

The Once Again Prince, from Separate Life Times, by Irving Townsend

That is so beautiful, SB, thanks for sharing.

I feel for everyone who has lost a pet recently. It is so excruciating. It took us over a year to feel ready to start over again with another dog (Paisley), and sometimes when I look at her, I see Pepper, since she's the same breed. Having a new puppy has brought some of my grief over losing Pepper back to the forefront, so many of her mannerisms are the same, but it has also brought much joy and hope back into our hearts.

Wishing peace to everyone who is grieving right now. I love what zen said:

"Yes, but I wonder wouldn't that be selfish to deprive that animal of a loving home just to spare yourself the heartbreak? And they bring us so much joy, it's worth it."

Indeed.

~Emily

[Brandi]

I am crying reading all this right now. It brings back memories of furry friends I have lost. I have to say though if some of them were still here the one's who have come into our lives after they were gone would not be here. And I can not bear to think of where they might have ended up. My one kitty who came to us after our favorite boy was killed by dogs was abused and could barely walk at 4 months old. He had an operation to fix he's abused leg. Now as I write this he is laying against my leg happy as any kitty could be. But if our other boy Niko was still here Bo would not. And I believe he would not be as happy or even alive if he wasn't with us. We took a chance with an injured kitty we didn't even know. But when we saw him at the shelter and he meowed so loud for us to come see him we could not resist he's sweet eye's. And now he is the most grateful cat I have ever known. So yes it is worth the short time we spend with them. They make me smile and feel true unconditional love!

[carpaltunnel]

She was such a smart little girl...the best of a lifetime of cats. We had my MOL's cat living with us and he was so naughty I decided he needed a job. So I bought him a roll-a-treat ball and spent hours teaching him that he could push it and food would fall out. Then one day I heard the ball rolling and there was Tuff, rolling it around and eating. She had watched him do it figured it out. A girlfriend said, "Isn't that the way it always goes...the men get to go for training, and the women have to figure it out for themselves.

[farrellcollie]

Here is my young not quite a collie rescue and his kitten. My 13 yr old rescue real collie is in my avatar.

[Wahine]

Emily - I'm surprised you could get Paisley to stay still long enough for a photo in focus.

(((((((Everyone))))))))) It's so hard to lose a pet. But the joy is worth it. I'm still on the lookout for another dog. My last one has been gone for more than 2 years now but it still hurts.