lol!

Molly was adorable!

I thought I might go the way of Dobrien and not get any more dogs when Lucifer died...but my mind over-ruled my sore heart: I actually function better when I have dogs swirling around me, so I got more.

My two two-year-old rescue GSD's are sleeping on the rug in my office as I type this. They are not Lucifer, but they are good companions. Like you - I need someone to sop up the extra love I generate, and who can give true and loyal companionship in exchange.

Jan

Yes. I lost my beloved Princess to lung cancer in 2009. Subsequently, I adopted two more (now three) adorable felines, one of whom died in 2014 of HCM/saddle thrombus. These losses were devastating. I still tear up when I think of them. My pet loss therapist was told me that the loss of a dear pet is so difficult because there's no ambivalence--which usually exists when we lose a human.

Thank you.

Oh that what is a wonderful poem that anyone who has ever loved a dog can relate too! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you, Chick Ivie. It has been over a year since Lucifer died: I still dream; I still converse; I still cry.

Jan

Yes, me too. I do love all my dogs, but Molly was so special to both me and my husband. She will always be my favorite.

We rescued our Molly too who was a Lhasapoo mix when she was 8 years old. We had a wonderful 11 years with her. We also have 3 more rescues, DeeDee a chihauhau who was 2 years old and now 7 years old, a maltipoo Little Bit who was 8 years old and now 12 years old and Puppy a bichon friese mix who was 1 year old when our grandkids moved to Denmark and gave her to us who is now 6 years old. Me and my husband are in our 60's and will probably rescue a couple more older dogs. We have made provisions for them in case they survive us to be sure they will go to our loving nieces and not back to shelters.

Yes, that is so true. Thank You.

This is the sad part of having pets. They become an integral and very much loved member of our family but they are rather short lived. The number of pets I have buried is outnumbered by the numbers of tears we have shed with each and every one of them. My solace comes from the knowledge that every dog who came to live with us lived a wonderful life but they were all liberal democrats that never had to work for food, shelter or the best of health care.

I had two dogs and two cats late in life, in my sixties. Two have passed (first dog and first cat) in my arms. It was the same feeling as when my parents died 60 years ago. I cherish all the time I have with our current dog and cat. It is impossible to describe the bond with animals, for me at least.

Lost a Great Pyrenees, got hit by a car. Still can't talk about her without tearing up.

Mine was a golden/lab mix For 12 years we were known as the old man and his dog. Got him at 7 weeks old. His name was Jake. I had to have the vet come to my home for the procedure. I am an ornery blustery old cuss. It has been almost 6 years but even as I write this, eyes are wet.
I am 71 yrs old. Don't know who would outlast who if I got another.

better than human pets...

I lost my cat in 2012, at her ripe age of 14 to kidney failure. She had been through a lot with me over the years. I had her since she was a kitten!! And she put up with me for that long. I like to think of her as my familiar and best cat! I cried when I lost her :( i felt guilty too... Iknew something was wrong, but could never put my finger on what... by the time I got her to the vet, it was too late! I'm told there wasn't really much they could have done, but didn't help with feeling the guilt of not doing something sooner. I lost my other cat to the same thing a couple years later. sad: I got them two years apart.. and they died two years apart. Both of them brought so much joy and love in my life. Baby used to wake me up during the tornado drills! hahaha. (I worked nights. so wasn't fun to be woken up by my cat when the alarms were going off!!) At least I knew, she loved me enough to wake me up in the case of an emergency :) I miss her fuzzy butt... I held the nights before she passed away. Actually put her down for the last day. I lost her around thanksgiving. I foolishly thought, let her hang on until then, and let her have her last taste of turkey.... She always got turkey for thanksgiving... I miss her :(

Selphie, my second one., she was the goofiest cat next to my current cat! I honestly think she thought she was a kitten until she was about 10 years old! haha.

my current cat is the love of my life... He's just as goofy as Selphie was. He's given me drama! He went missing for about two months when he was a kitten. I thought he might be dead... but one day got a call from a lady about mile and half down the road about a kitten. She said "I think i might have your cat". I raced home from work and stopped by! sure enough, it was him! :) he was so happy to see me! I am so overjoyed he wasn't killed. I'm not sure how many lives he has left, but I spoil him rotten because of it!!

Dogs are the bestest of best friends. I've always lamented their short lives. For me, I find it soothing to go right out and get another one to love after a loss. Our hearts are always big enough to increase in size for the next member of our family.

So sorry for your loss!

Digger

Longer ago than I care to remember
I had a dog, his name was Digger.

He understood how to taste life
Better than any human I ever knew.

For Digger the world was a place of wonder
Smells, sounds, cool breezes, he savored them all.

He loved to explore, and
He would insist that I join him.

We lived at the edge of the woods
It was his favorite place

As we walked together
He showed me the wonder of
A bit of tree bark.
A wooly bug
A broken birds egg
And the sound of a gentle wind in the pines

And when we were done with our exploration
He would sleep and dream
And so would I

Digger has been gone for a long time
But I can still see him dream
And then so do I.

And sometimes I ask my long gone friend
Where would you like to go today?


Chuck Ivie

Just got to find a willing female owner.

My beagle follows me from room to room, but goes to my wife when she needs to go out. I'm the softie snack person, she's the nurse and comforter. All Bella's decision, not ours.She was a rescue dog and 7 months old when we got her. Her former owners just let her go, tags and all but we had her spayed a brought her shots up to date..So far, she has cost more to raise than both sons combined. Absolutely worth it.

My current dog is a beagle. She just turned 11. Her face has turned white and she's now a Little Old Lady.Of all the dogs I've ever had, she is the best. They were all good, but Bella is amazing. Smart, easily trained but still, lots of personality.I could write a book about her. So, I think I can understand how you feel. 19 years? you're lucky to have had Molly that long. I've always said that if dogs aren't allowed in heaven, I'm going to hell. (Probably anyway).

We've seen three standard poodles (Sally, Bob, and Maggie), a schapendoes (rare dutch sheepdog, Molly), and a wonderful one-eyed mini-poodle rescue (Windy) cross the "rainbow bridge" over the last 25 years. After Windy, I felt like avoiding more heartbreak, but my wife said I was too loving to deprive another dog a good life, so I "doubled down" and rescued a maltese (Bella) and a havanese (Rusty) that had lived together since puppyhood, and the house is full of joy and laughter again. Given we rescued these two at the age of three, I have a feeling these are our last dogs, since these little critters have at least another ten years left. Bella is the cuddler, and has claimed me as her human, and Rusty is a ten pound guard dog, and stays riveted to my wife's side all day.

You should definitely breed him and get pick of the litter. Our family had 3 labs growing up: Husky, Pirate, and Yeller. They were the best dogs. So lovable and loyal. Give him all the love you can while you can.

I know how you feel, I lost Skippy, my little Yorkie a couple of years ago and I still miss him. They truly become part of of our life and family.

Sad. Sorry for your loss. Seems like she had a nice a life and passing as a dog could hope for.

We keep labs, typically 2-3, 3 now. The first two we had passed away some time ago. My favorite, is 95 lbs, 100% muscle, and wants to do what you want him to do so bad, he will shake if he doesn't understand. He is 13, and can still catch a Frisbee, but will no doubt be moving on in the next year or so. Fact of life.

He is still a viable father, and I'd love to breed him. He has a pedigree as long as your arm, which I don't really care about, but that's the we he came.