BellaOnline Forums Relationships Bereavement Grieving for our precious dog

Lori, my heart is with you! It's hard for those who don't share their lives with animals to understand our pain. My family includes an eclectic mix of "mutts," each one loved and sorely missed.

I have photo albums just for them. When I'm missing one so badly, I look to those to remind me of the crazy, funny things and all the laughter they brought to our family. The smiles find their way through the tears and I am so grateful.

Most of our dogs have been rescues. I have to wonder who benefited the most. We simply provided a safe, loving home, but they provided much more. I know it's so very hard right now. Focusing on being thankful for the time shared and remembering all the silly things has been a great comfort to us.

The smiles will come and I hope they will bring you comfort as well.

Hi Lori:

I just responded to your post in the DOG forum and will try to figure out a way to load a picture of our 2 mutts.

I also asked if you felt comfortable, if you could post pictures of Bongo and any other pets you may have or had.

Awesome idea - way to go!!!

Talk later

Lori, I purchased a cremation necklace for my first kitty that died (I was particularly close to her). It was hard to open up her urn and actually fill the small, sterling silver paw, but I found (and still find) great comfort having part of her physically with me. It might be something to consider, if you cremated your pet. If not, you can also fill it with some dirt from a gravesite, some pet hair, or anything else that is meaningful to you.

This quote also gives me comfort:

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. " (Anatole France)

People who don't "get" loving an animal have NO IDEA what they're missing. There are far more pet lovers out there -- surround yourself with them.

Hugs,
Kim

Oh, Lori -

Your words are perfect! I've never seen an animal, let alone a family member, that was "just" an animal. No way! They harbor way too many emotions and if you look closely enough, like people, it's in their eyes. They're happy, sad, confused, excited, remorseful (if they've done something you're not approving of), they can be hurt, jealous, antagonistic, bored, hungry, tired.

Am I missing a human emotion?

The saving grace I can offer is that they go on...yes to a better place - away from pain and suffering, but they don't go so far away they don't make a Visit every now and then.

What's so cool and this is honest to God truth. I lost a kitten/cat I was particualrily close to that was close w/me. I had taken her in per request of my daughter. When she died - and the irony I can't even at this point go into how she passed, but she always slept under the cherry wood table on a specific chair. As she grew when she would jump off of it, you'd hear a scootch as the wooden legs reacted to her thrust.

After she passed I would hear that scootching. No one would be in the house and no other pets, due to the way she passed. I'm always testing my "senses" "abilities" "wierd happenings", I don't know like I'm open to my being crazy or imagination, whatever.

But anyway, one afternoon I was in the kitchen making dinner and I heard the scootching again. My back was to my husband and he said, "Did you hear that?"

I said, "Hear what?" He said, "It sounded like someone just got up from one of the chairs. Like they pushed it away from the table."

I never told him what I had been hearing. I wanted to know if anyone else heard it. My family friends also come to me in dreams and they are usually frolicking in nature or it's just a transparent freeze frame about the size of a movie theater in a dream. He is with you...through your Soul.

Hi Lori,

I am so sorry for your loss. I have been through it, too. I
think, if you are an animal person, by the time you reach my age you've lost quite a few pets, and I can tell you, it never gets any easier. But I like to think about them running and happy in heaven, especially if they were old and sick when they passed. Now they can do all the things they used to enjoy but couldn't do anymore.

I do have a suggestion. If you have any items that might still have some dog hair on them, collect the hair. Make a little cloth or leather bag, like a "medicine bag" and put the hair in it. You can wear it around your neck, hang it on the wall or put it next to a photo. My son's dog had to be put down last week, he and his wife were emotionally unable to do it so I volunteered. She spent most of her life in my home so she was at ease with me and she passed with her chest in my lap and her head in my arms. I brushed her right before I took her to the vet, then made a bag for my son and put the hair I brushed off her into the bag, he was very grateful to receive it.

When our last German Shepherd died, from a heart attack, in my arms, I brushed her right after she passed. Being the breed she was I got a LOT of hair. So I spun it into cord and made a braided "Heidi" bracelet for my husband, since she was more his dog. It was a comfort to him. I hope you find a way to ease your grief a little, my prayers are with you.

Thank you all for much for posting! It's so comforting to hear your stories. It's so nice to know that others really can love animals as much as they love people.

I love the idea of putting some of his hair in a locket or medicine bag. Phyllis is making a medicine bag for me now!

Thank you for your loving thoughts and prayers! They honestly do help!

And your medicine bag is almost done. Meanwhile, put the hair in a small vial or tube and wrap it in cotton, keep it close to you.

Yay! Thank you so much, Phyllis! I love you!

Love and hugs to you, Lori.

Dear Lori,

There is a thread in the Wicca forum that you might find some comfort in. It is at Familiar Reincarnation

It just touched my heart when I read the posts and I wanted to let you know about it.

Love and hugs!