In Memoriam -- Kelsey

[nds]

Losing a pet is every bit as hard as losing a family member. We had a half collie/german shepard that we had to put down years ago, at the age of 17, due to cancer. That dog had been with us since I was 14. I'm 51 now, and I look back and feel as though I lost a young sister. Dutchess was the smartest dog we had ever owned. You just wish they could last forever.

[Big Dee]

Kelsey was way too young. Losing a dog that is young is the hardest to take. Very sorry.

Bob, your poem brought a tear to my eyes. I'll have to save that one.

[Silvertwinkie]

Ditto! Penny is getting near that time....I'm gonna be a total wreck!

Eric

[bredlo]

Eric,

I think I will be too! In the 90 seconds or so that I squatted down and petted her, she was about the sweetest, mildest dog I've ever seen.
Brad

[Silvertwinkie]

Thanks....she is a sweetheart. When she was about 1 when I adopted her from the shelter, within about a year, she figured out how to escape from her cage....when I placed a twist tie on the door, she still figured it out....then I placed about 6 twist ties around the door as well as the door latch, she still figured it out, but as a gesture left all 6 twist ties by the front door for me to see when I got home. So I placed a padlock on the door and that time she didn't get out, but I would have been impressed had she done it...from about 2 she has never been back in a cage. Now she just rules over the roost!

Seeing the pictures and reading Yukionna words as well as all the kind words folks have posted...as a dog owner it just tugs at your heart........

[Diana Langley]

I'm sorry for all of your losses. It's really impossible to understand the deep grief that comes from owning such special and loving creatures unless you had to go through the terrible experience.

I had to put my sweet girl Grace to sleep less than three weeks ago. I got her when she was 5 weeks old and about as big as a guinea pig. She was diagnosed with liver cancer when she as 10. Through good care and alternative treatments, we stretched a 6 month prognosis to 2 1/2 years of good quality time.

Dec. 27 we both woke up and she told me it was time. I was with her to the end, holding her and telling her what a good girl she was.

She has left a large and empty hole in my life. It's almost a physical pain at times.

[Silvertwinkie]

Sorry to hear about that Diana. You know the more I read these, the more it just is hard to see the cute faces knowing they aren't around. I guess I kind of internalize it by remembering what the house is like when she's over at my parents house (who my pooch knows as grandma and grandpa---seriously!). The house is empty and one day when I was having some pizza, I was gonna throw her some of the crust...but she wasn't there.....and it got me thinking....especially now that old Penny is almost 13.

[WolfSong]

With tears in my eyes from reading this thread and as someone who has lost a beloved pet.....

I post this poem and invite each of you to pick a star and name it after your beloved pet. That way when you go out at night you can locate your star and say hello!



Inspired by an Eskimo legend
"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

Sheila

[davidz71]

I lost a labrador to heart failure when he was only 1.5 yrs. old. Kids in the neighborhood were playing ball with him when he suddenly collapsed. I held all 90 lbs. of him in my arms while I cried. I sure hope I'll see him in heaven. They do have dogs there, don't they?

[Edie]

How can it be called Heaven if our dogs aren't there waiting for us? It's been almost 2 years since we lost our 7-1/2 year old Great Dane to bone cancer. We still choke up when we talk about him. We will never be the same without him.

It helps to know there are many others out there that understand the shock, pain and grief we all go through when we lose a furry family member.

Bob's poem nailed it on the head. Thanks for sharing it.

[wahoonc]

Here is the one I like http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

We have many pets over the years both feline and canine and a few others too. All have held a place in our lives and will never be forgotten.

Aaron

[fabofabo]

I choked up and cried in private reading this thread.

So he has muddied my bed, clothes, and all of my personal items in the closet.
But how can I get angry when I know it was me who left him behind for a day!



Will go home and hug my Oslo (Great Dane)

[05ModPod]

yukionna

Oh how we are all connected in some way...and on that very day we were connected by tears of the same breed and of the same sorrow. We hope that you have been consoled with yet another Golden Soul since your endearing loss of Kelsey.

I write with an added tear for the memory of our Aby who made her way to Rainbow Bridge - with Kelsey (It is comforting to know that they made the journey together- that very sad day) and I'm afraid to say from the same horrible - fate - cancer.

Aby was 8yrs old and our second unbearable heart break. For it was not 8 years earlier almost to the day we lost our first Golden Sasha - who is so much like Kelsey - she was also 8yrs and was taken by cancer too.

Now we have Taz and Haily our new Golden from the same Grandparents as Aby's line on the Sires side. They are the best of Pals and are really looking forward to our new adventures in our A/S

One of our main reasons for entering the TT society was so that we could extend our water vacations with our girls to Land Vacations - thus they will always be with us where ever we go!

Our hearts go out to all who have lost a Furbaby - as we know the heart never mends - the broken portion is simply held together with the infinite memories of those we have lost. It is only with time that the heart grows larger to accept a new Furbaby who we are so lucky to have in our lives.

SPK

[Sneakinup]

While he wasn't my cat, I have known him for over a year. He has been living with me for the last month and became my best buddy. He was staying with me until he could return to England after his imposed 6 month quarantine in the U.S.

Today he passed on from a complication resulting from a hypothyroid problem. Quite sudden and unexpected.

His name was Sparky, a 13 year old Siamese. Sweetest guy you ever wanted to meet. Always had a warm look and gentle purr for me and all he met. He and I surfed the Airstream Forums for hours, and loved when my son came over to spend hours in his lap. He talked all the time and you would swear you knew what he was saying. He will be missed very much.

He is the white one. His little sister (not by blood) is already missing him terribly.

[Pick]

Nancy, I must have missed the original post back in November. Sorry to hear of the loss. Glad I got to meet Kelsey and your family on Labor Day weekend of last year.

[eubank]

My deepest condolences for your loss. We're having to face a similar circumstance with our Amanda, who is just barely able to walk now. Still that big, big smile on her face, even while she struggles to get up to greet us. It's hard, very hard.

On a slightly lighter note, Amanda just puked on my foot. God, we love our doggie!!

Lynn

[Edie]

Originally Posted by Sneakinup

Always had a warm look and gentle purr for me and all he met.

Brett told me that Sparky was about the nicest cat he'd ever met. We're so sorry to hear about your loss. I know Sue must be heartbroken, too.

[Sneakinup]

Originally Posted by Edie G

Brett told me that Sparky was about the nicest cat he'd ever met. We're so sorry to hear about your loss. I know Sue must be heartbroken, too.

Thanks. Yes, it is very sad, and sudden. Sue and her daughter are devastated, as am I. I keep expecting him to walk around the corner and say something to me. I'll definitely cherish the short time I had to spend with him.