Thoughts on saying goodbye to pets

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Serendipity..our cat just died suddenly 2 hours ago. I was getting ready to go out (to get him food). I was in the kitchen, heard a thud. Thought it was Nugget throwing himself against the window to scare the squirrels and birds. I went to see him - he wasn't where I thought he was. I found him on his side at the bottom of our stairs, I patted him while thinking what to do - he coughed twice then died.

Nugget and my daughter adored each other..She was at a soccer game with DH when it happened. We are devastated as we had to put our Golden down 1 1/2 years ago. The kids wanted cremation and we still scatter his ashes in places he loved. We will let DD decide what to do with Nugget. For now, we're just hugging each other and crying...

Oh, I'm so sorry!- how awful. Was he old? Hugs and sympathy to you and your family in this sad time. What a terrible shock that must have been.

[OakLeaf]

Oh ((((((spindizzy)))))) I'm so sorry.

[PamNY]

Oh dear, that must have been an awful shock. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

Pam

[Blueberry]

((((Lisa and Kitty))))

((((Spindizzy))))

It's strange - a friend of ours had a kitty suddenly pass away last night. Apparently she cried, and he tried to rush her to the vet - she passed away on the way

It's always so hard

[Selkie]

So sorry to hear about Nugget. It sounds as it Nugget passed quickly and thank goodness, you didn't have to be the one to make "the decision." We've had to do that twice and it's incredibly difficult.

For Agnes and Maud, we got them each an 'angel" (yard ornaments) for the front yard. Their ashes are next to our bed, along with their collars and a photo of them. On the living room mantel, we have pictures of them and a memorial candle.

When I die, my DH is going to mix my ashes w/Agnes' and toss us into the ocean together (Caribbean - in my will, he's instructed to take a vacation there to take care of this).

[sundial]

(((((Lisa))))))

(((((Spindizzy)))))

When I gently led Ana and Jodi Bell to the Bridge, I wrapped them in a soft blanket and buried them near the wild honesuckle and blackberry bushes. I planted a dogwood and every spring when it blooms, it gives me hope and a sense of renewal. I've always enjoyed nature's living tributes to our little family members. When Jodi was buried, a mockingbird rested on her grave for 3 days. I will always cherish that memory.

[ZenSojourner]

I've kind of been avoiding this thread because it hits too close to home, I guess.

I have an elderly dog who is probably not going to last out the year. According to the vet, she can't walk (she does) but she's definitely getting to the place where she can't walk anymore. She was run over as a puppy and her hindquarters are a mess, it's a long story that involves multiple incompetent vets over a 10 or 12 year period, but I've seen the x-rays and she SHOULDN'T be able to walk. I expect to lose her soon. She's 17.

Not exactly a pet, but my elderly father lives with me and the last year and a half has been a struggle with his health, and it looks like we're about to lose that struggle to a 3rd bout of lung cancer. I expect to lose him before the year is out as well. He's 89. It's been a bad year for him.

I feel for all of you who are about to or have already lost pets. You have my sympathy.