R.I.P. beloved bike guardian, euthanasia...

[Blueberry]

Miranda -

I think you'll know when the time is right to consider another furbaby. I would call the breeder when you feel able - she should know. It may help you to talk to her about other litters, but I wouldn't rush in. You'll know when the time is right. Fully done with grieving - no. I still cry sometimes. But I'm starting to remember the happy times more than the sad, and I'm starting to think of another baby. For me, it will be a different breed. I saw a pup in the mall in someone's lap last week who looked just like my Cricket, and just about broke down. Trust yourself, and don't rush into it. Your heart will tell you.

CA

[jesvetmed]

Miranda ... I am so sorry. It sounds like you made the right decision for her, and that you are at peace with it-- even though it is so extremely difficult.

Thanks for the beautiful posting... it still is bringing tears to my eyes. What an absolute beautiful photo of her swimming... my dog and I have a similar spot, and I've had the same thoughts about when she is gone... there is no where else I could think of more appropriate to spread her ashes than at the swimming hole. She lives for that trip up the trail.

I hope your sadness lessens and you have the happy memories of your good days together. Take Care.

[BlueVet11]

I am so sorry Miranda. You did the right thing, and time will heal. You will never replace her, and don't think just because you got another dog you are replacing her. That was my husbands fear when we got a new dog after we lost our Bernese mtn dog. He felt like he was replacing him. Our dogs have a new place in our hearts, but we will never forget our berner.

You will know when you are ready for another dog. What happened with me is my dogs found me. I was ready, my husband was not and I found a dog in bad shape and we ended up keeping her. Same thing with the next one.

The pictures you posted of your girl are beautiful as are things you said about her. I agree that it will be very fitting to bring her back to her favorite swimming spot.

[rij73]

Oh my... just read this post and am crying. You absolutely did the right thing, and I can tell that your sweetie was very well loved. Bless you for giving her a happy life and a peaceful death. It is what I wish for all the animals of the world.

Hang in there and know that there are lots of us who know the pain of losing a beloved companion. Hugs to you...

EDIT: Just read the more recent post about the conflict of whether to get another dog. I too think you will know when it is time. When you are ready, I highly recommend adopting a dog in need from a shelter or foster home. It eliminates the worry and second-guessing about genetics. You would give a loving home to a dog who is already in the world and has had a rough time. There is nothing in my life I have ever felt better about than giving a warm, loving home to my Hudson. He was a parasite-ridden, mangey, mutt, and now he lives like a prince. It's a great thing to do for another being in need, especially when you are in pain.

[hermitclub]

Miranda,

I'm so sorry for your loss but your baby is now at peace and can run and jump and swim with all those that have already crossed over the rainbow bridge. With regard to your post about when to get another dog, the decision is very personal. You are right about the 3 choices. As for #3, what's that saying - better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

When I lost my dog Rufus in December and then my cat Kitty Carlisle in February, I cried so many tears I didn't think I had any left. Too much loss and pain in less than two months. I said that I would never adopt another pet because I couldn't bear the pain of losing them. My position has changed. I still haven't adopted, but now I know that when the right dog comes along (and/or cat), they will choose me and I them.

My neighbor lost her yellow lab, grieved for a few weeks, then contacted her Willow's breeder and adopted Stella from Willow's Mom.
Like I said, the choice is very personal. Your heart will tell you what to do.

Sending good wishes and strength your way.

[sundial]

Wherever I went in the house, she was there. Now, she is no where. Her memories are thick. I know the grieving process will take time. I do still have the contact information of the breeder we got her from.

When I lost my beloved Ana, I contacted her breeder and chatted with her that very day. The breeder was so moved by my loss that she checked with another breeder friend to see if there was a female german shepherd available. We drove 13 hours in one day to get Kali. I was so nervous thinking about how I would react to a puppy. But as soon as we saw Kali, there was simply no comparison and she immediately lifted my spirits.

I know that getting another dog just days after we lost our first gsd was the right thing to do. It was hard seeing an empty bed, an empty bowl, and her medicine sitting on the counter. As I let the dogs out each morning, I kept waiting for the second one to come back in. We were already into a routine of caring for a feeble senior dog and getting into a puppy routine was a natural transition for us. So we added our funny little girl to the pack. She and I would go visit Ana's grave every day and I'd tell Ana what silly things the puppy did that day. As the days passed, our visits grew infrequent. By the third month, I rarely visited the site where the dogwood was planted over her grave. Kali simply mended a broken heart.

You will know when the time is right. For some, it may be a week, a month or even years. For others, the pain of losing one so special is too great that they choose to never be hurt again by another pet. I have felt that there is only one really bad day, and it is outweighed by the many wonderful moments spent with my little friend.

Perhaps as a tribute you can plant a dogwood or a beautiful rose bush in the garden. Every spring it will serve as a reminder of rebirth and renewal and the promise of hope.

[grey]

(((hugs))) I'm totally bawling just reading this. Comfort and calm thoughts to you.

[carpaltunnel]

Miranda, hugs to you and your family. You did the right thing, and your beloved dog knows it. When my little Tuffy died I prayed: "Thank You for the beautiful life I was blessed to share." I believe a loving God sends us our pets to give us a glimpse of unconditional love, and would not deny us being retunited with them when we die.

[Miranda]

Thank you so much for those post that followed my last one. Your words, and stories are very helpful and sweet.

Today I laid my furbaby girl to rest. DD and I only have a very small amount of remains left from her cremation that we may put with some keepsakes and pics. I really thought about posting a pic of how she was returned to me from the service. I decided not to as I thought it might upset some ladies who had lost their beloveds.

I personally have never had any experience with cremation. I was not sure if the idea of having her remains would be gross is some way. How she was cared for was not. It was beautiful.

She was contained in three layers. A pretty glossy decorative box with paw prints, a beautiful velvet bag that made me sob... it read in gold stitched letters "Until we meet again at rainbow bridge"... thanks for sharing the poem with me beforehand btw, it was a happy sob... and then a sealed package with her ashes. Which were not gross at all. DS immediately exclaimed, "Mommy! She looks like the beach". It did. Very befitting for my water doggie. Plus, she made a paw print. Still had her lab snow storm fur marking it. That made me smile... her fur was EVERYWHERE! (labs shed a ton)

One of the owners does the pet cremations. And for some reason I started to worry if they would get the right dog, or how long she had to stay alone at the vet. The service knows the vet personally, and the lady went after her body before they closed. I told her I did not realize until after the fact that I could have viewed placement of her for cremation. Then it was too late. She commented that she was such a pretty dog by her fur etc. I felt assured then that they indeed did have it correct. I have no reason to believe otherwise. I guess I just felt like I needed to see her through first hand. But now, it's ok.

I told the lady that I would have like to burried her at home whole, and DS was especially uspet about this (DH said too many digging obstacles with wires, septic, sprinkler, etc.). She told me something that really worked out well. We could burry the ashes themselves in the yard, and some people do a living memorial... plant a tree, etc. (besides her watering hole fun place to free the ashes).

The children got their own form of closure by choosing their favorite play spot to put her. Of course I took her to her swimming spot as originally inteneded (that was very hard, but somewhat freeing). I found a rose bush to plant to rest her under. I wanted yellow for her coat. But season end selection is limited. I think the pic of this flower worked out even better. The yellow center caught my eye, but it's multicolor... like a rainbow. The color is called "Mardi Gras". I think it fits to celebrate her life.

Thanks for letting me share on the final proceedings. Now time towards healing.
Miranda

[LBTC]

Miranda, that's beautiful! The rose, the placement of her ashes, the fact that you are comforted by the way she was treated. You're a wonderful fur-mom!

Sending you healing, releasing butterflies to stay with you through the rest of your grief and be beside you as you move on with healing. Please post again anytime you feel the desire to. And visualize those butterflies. They are with you and with your fur baby, gently arcing gracefully around you and all over the rainbow bridge, too.

Hugs,
~T~

[ClockworkOrange]

Miranda, I have had to wait a while, until the tears stopped running down my face.

You write so beautifully, by the end of it all, I almost felt I knew your beloved labrador.

Please accept a very big hug from clock.

I am so very sad for you but as they say "time is a great healer" but I am pleased you were able to share your sadness with us.

Wish I could say something more poignant.


Clock