Cookie 1998-2007

[Phil/Edee]

I know you've been through hell this past year but this is the post that brought tears to my eyes!! God Bless... get another dog QUICK! it's the only way to survive... you don't forget the one you lost but it helps to love the new one...

Phil & Edee

[TBRich]

We are sorry for you loss of your Cookie...take comfort in the good memories you have and the good times you shared, and the knowledge that she had a good life with you...

TB

[Foiled Again]

Many of us have followed your story since the reckless driver smashed you up, but this last thing just has me totally in tears.

It's hard to lose that unconditional love and loyalty your girl gave you. I'm so sorry. At least she didn't suffer - sounds trite - but I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that she didn't linger with a painful disease or suffer for a long time, but just went to sleep right where she wanted to be, guarding to the two of you.

I think everyone who has come to know you is sitting quietly holding hands with you across the miles, and holding you two in their hearts tonight. We are here. Lean on us and we'll all get through this together.

Paula

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

but just went to sleep right where she wanted to be, guarding to the two of you.

Paula

She died on the floor directly between our beds. I don't think I could tell with a tape measure whose bed she was closest to. We're still castigating ourselves with the "if onlys". If only she had gotten sick during the day, if only I had slept less soundly that night, if only...
Everything is for a reason, I just wish I knew what this one was...

[guy99]

Terry,

I just saw this, I am SOO sorry. I can't type just now.

[guy99]

Originally Posted by overlander63

.... We're still castigating ourselves with the "if onlys". If only she had gotten sick during the day, if only I had slept less soundly that night, if only...
Everything is for a reason, I just wish I knew what this one was...

Terry,
Having regained my composure, I wanted to chime in as`another who knows and shares the loss of a beloved "pack mate". We lost our boy Jacques earlier this year. If you are like me, you also feel some anger which you have are not sure where to direct. In my case it was toward my self and the vet.

Rudyard Kipling wrote:

"The price of a good dog is a broken heart at the end."

He was right. But 'this too shall pass'.

For us, recovery was started when we were joined by a new "pack mate":

[Foiled Again]

My business partner and I are both cat people, and we had Miss Kitty for 10 years. She wandered into our office on my birthday - a half-grown, half-starved tuxedo kitten.

She plopped down and smiled... I swear she smiled... and just became a part of our office. We appointed her as Stress Management Counselor. Within a week she had won over every employee, even our receptionist who had disliked cats her whole life. Miss Kitty gracefully welcomed every employee, every applicant and every visitor to our office. Many of us were favored by being escorted in from the parking lot personally. She wasn't a lap cat, but loved to sit on a desk or chair and have her fur combed. The children at the neighboring music store also got warm personal greetings from her as they came and went from their lessons.

We noticed that she was becoming a bit of an old lady around her ninth birthday. Her jumps got a little less athletic and a little less freqent but the vet said she was still in robust health. One day near her tenth anniversary she went out and never came back. We searched for her for weeks but there was never any sign.

We briefly tried to adopt a calico kitten, but she wasn't comfortable in a big office, so she was placed with a nice senior citizen who wouldn't overstress her with too much stimuli.

We decided to just wait a while. Then I went on a trip during the week of my partner Bob's birthday... and a half-grown, half-starved tuxedo cat wandered into the office and plopped herself down in the lobby... She looked up and smiled... and her copper eyes said "Miss Kitty sent me".

We are both convinced that K.C. (kitty clone) was sent to us by Miss Kitty; who knew how to pick the perfect cat for us better than we did. We'll never forget Miss Kitty, but K.C. has endeared herself to us and we are so glad she wants to stay indoors all of the time. Thank you for your last gift.

Paula

[overlander63]

This is a photo of where we have placed Cookie. We'll get a memory stone for her when finances allow.
It's too quiet around here...

[Chuck]

That sucks. totally.

So sorry for your loss.

peace, brother.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by guy99

If you are like me, you also feel some anger which you have are not sure where to direct. In my case it was toward my self and the vet.

Me being a "the buck stops here" kind of person, the anger I am feeling is directed at one person only--myself. I feel that my dog trusted me with her life and well-being, and when she needed me, I was asleep on the job. I may have been able to do nothing for her, but, as when our cat died, at least she would have had my warm lap to curl up on, instead of a cold floor.
Obviously, I am venting at myself, thanks for bearing with me.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I've spent the last 20min hug'n our critter after reading this thread..

We all have been there and can feel your heartbreak.

Time heals.. but the memories will never fade.

Feel confident, the powers that be will send you another. You'll Know when

the time is right.

All our best...Bob, Sandra and "Fado"

[azflycaster]

The last time we had a pet pass away was 16 years ago. Aspen was our only dog at the time and the house became too quiet after that. Every time we entered the house you knew something was missing. We had a hard time getting over the loss of Aspen, she was 16 years old at the time. My wife still regrets that she was not with her when the end came. She was at the vets recovering from a stroke when the end came.

The time was right for us to get another dog 6 months later. Bandit has helped us to move on, but we will never forget Aspen.

[sd90mac]

Thank you to all of our streaming family. I'm sorry I was not on line sooner to respond, but I am absolutely heartbroken. I keep looking to see if Cookie ate, to see if she needs water, etc. I know time will help, but she was our fur girl, and I sorely miss her. I told Terry I never want to go through this again, but when we are ready, the right one will choose us to live with and we will love and care for that one too.

As I am typing this, I am starting to cry again. Our family and friends are having a hard time with this, especially the ones who spent the most time with her. How one 8pd ball of fur can have such an inpact on a family is amazing.

Again, thank you for caring and being there for us.

Marie

[Foiled Again]

I've been thinking of you and the sad loss of Cookie. I believe that she actually lived an extra year - to be nine - so that she could be with you through this last year. She was granted that extra time in robust health so that she could see you two through your serious troubles and only left when she knew you were safe and well.

I woke up at about 2:00 am this morning chuckling with an idea that seemed to come with wagging tail on it. When the right puppy shows up for you, you should consider calling her "Crumb." A logical and humorous tribute to "Cookie".

Paula

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

I've been thinking of you and the sad loss of Cookie. I believe that she actually lived an extra year - to be nine - so that she could be with you through this last year. She was granted that extra time in robust health so that she could see you two through your serious troubles and only left when she knew you were safe and well.

I woke up at about 2:00 am this morning chuckling with an idea that seemed to come with wagging tail on it. When the right puppy shows up for you, you should consider calling her "Crumb." A logical and humorous tribute to "Cookie".

Paula

I have learned that animals respond better to two syllable names. Maybe "Crumble"... "Cookie"... "Crumble"...
Sigh... Looks like my sense of humor is still off-line....
I am beginning to feel like the guy that can't get a date, and all his friends are trying to fix him up with someone. I've gotten 5 calls from friends that know of a dog or cat that needs a home. I have to gently let them know that now is not a good time for us to adopt another pet, thank them, hang up, and then feel like crap all over again.
Interestingly, just before I started working where I am now, one of my co workers lost a dog in an almost identical way. The dog was fine, then coughed a few times over the course of several hours. The co worker decided to take the dog to the vet the next morning, but the dog suddenly (in maybe an hour) worsened, and died.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by overlander63

I have learned that animals respond better to two syllable names. Maybe "Crumble"... "Cookie"... "Crumble"...
Sigh... Looks like my sense of humor is still off-line....
I am beginning to feel like the guy that can't get a date, and all his friends are trying to fix him up with someone. I've gotten 5 calls from friends that know of a dog or cat that needs a home. I have to gently let them know that now is not a good time for us to adopt another pet, thank them, hang up, and then feel like crap all over again.
Interestingly, just before I started working where I am now, one of my co workers lost a dog in an almost identical way. The dog was fine, then coughed a few times over the course of several hours. The co worker decided to take the dog to the vet the next morning, but the dog suddenly (in maybe an hour) worsened, and died.

Animals become a huge part of any animal lovers family.

Their loss, hurts as much as losing a partner, a relative, loved ones, and just good friends.

There is a book out, written by Mitch Albom, and now a movie, that has the same title.

If you read the book or see the movie, your eyes will water.

The title should remind all of us, everyday, the kind of relationship we should always have, with everyone and everything.

Life is precious, even for animals.

Don't let another day go by, for you may not ever again, have the opportunity to be, just yourself, with others, to express your love for them.

The book and movie are titled.

For One More Day.

Andy

[maxandgeorgia]

I don't let a day pass that I don't give a big rub and bear hug to our old arthritic lumpy Weimaraner, Wally, look him right in his rheumy golden eyes, and tell him once again what a great dog he is, what a good and faithful friend. ~G Moose, our young GSP, is usually getting pushed away during this love fest with Wally since he is jealousy personified, and is frantically yelping and leaping around, asking "When is my turn? Am I a great dog too???" Which, of course, he is and so I tell him so. Terry and Marie, you'll know. A new friend will need you just like Cookie did, and you'll love it well because of your love for you lost friend. ~G

[safari57]

Terry and Marie

It's been 13 months since what we called our miracle kitten, Cricket, passed. She was coming up to 21 years old. Unlike in the past when one of our little buddies passed I just could not go out and bring another one home right away. Too big a hole in our hearts.

That said we still had Smoky Bear, 12 at the time, and we talked about the fact that he's always been the second cat in the house relative to Cricket, so we decided to make his time with us special. He's taken to this in a way we'd not expected. His character changed very quickly from one of being a bit aloof to being very needful of attention, and has gotten far more expressive than he was in the past. It is interesting to see that he still goes to the special place Cricket used to love, sniffs around it, and at times will sit and stare at that chair she really luxuriated in. He won't lay there himself, but he'll sit and watch it like she's still there, or he's expecting her to show up. They were not close at all, he was too temperamental so we never thought there would be this level of remembrance. But it also raises a question about why he goes to watch, and particularly on days when the weather is such that she'd for sure be there rather than another spot in the house.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that waiting is not a bad thing or good, it just is what you need to get through the emotions of having had such a wonderful little friend in your life. You may find in your hearts the willingness to give an incredible home to another little friend who is in need of one at some time in the future and for that little critter it will be heaven sent. Until that time, don't feel rushed. Friends are only trying to help ease your pain, and they also know that so many pets end up in difficult situations so any time they can find a home like you'd provide it is a wonderful thing.

It's hard to maintain the spirit of Christmas when this stuff happens, but for us it was the fond memories of Christmas' past and honoring those memories that made last Christmas so special. We celebrated it with the knowledge that for 20+ years we were lucky enough to have this wonderful little friend in our lives - and that is a gift beyond compare.

Barry

[greywolf]

I am saddend to read of your lost. Our pets are our little buddies.

[overlander63]

Thank you for your thoughts, everyone. As I noted in the first post, Cookie would have been 9 years old today. Our plans for Christmas did include dinner with our newlywed children, and our grandcats, which Cookie loved. The dinner, and the cats. Today is going to be really tough.