Quote Originally Posted by salsabike View Post
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