my friend's dog drowned

[Canuckchick]

Hi dog people.

I just found out recently that my friend's 6 yr old American bull dog Rocky drowned. My friend moved to NZ awhile back and, not wanting to put Rocky in quarantine for 6 months, she entrusted him to friends. It's been a big mess as the girl who said she could keep him found out she couldn't after a couple of months so Rocky was staying with another friend while they looked for a permanent home for him. He was having a great time on an island, running off leash and swimming and making doggy friends...until, on her birthday, he drowned. It's just so so sad! She loved that dog so much and felt so guilty leaving him behind...and now this happens! I would've taken him but I have 3 cats and Rocky would want to eat them. : (

Anyway, my question is ...I'm an artist and I was going to do a painting of Rocky and her husband's dog for her (they both had to leave their dogs behind). Now I've changed my mind and I want to do a portrait of her and Rocky but I'm not sure if I should wait until she's had some time to grieve. I know she thought of Rocky as her 'son'. She's just found out she's pregnant and I'm very worried about the stress she's going thru right now with this awful news about her dog...I don't want to increase her saddness by sending her the portrait.

Do you think I should wait until she's not so upset?

[elnora]

paint the portrait. I just lost my dog Dakota on Friday and wish that I had a portrait of him.
We are getting some photos framed, but it's going to take awhile and I miss seeing his little face.
When your pregnant, you have so much on your plate and tend to overlook your emotional needs. Your friend would love you forever if you did that for her.

[BabaluandOtis2]

Well, the fact that she wasn't there is so hard, she probably feels so responsible, so many what ifs? Too many regrets. So while it's hard to lose a furbaby at any time or for any reason, losing one like that has got to be one of the hardest.
Just be there for her to talk to or cry to on the phone. A friend like you is more than worth their weight in gold ; )

[Canuckchick]

thanks everyone. I'm definitely going to do it but I think I might wait a wee bit. I talked to her tonight and she's so upset. I think I'd like things to calm down for her before I send her the portrait. She's just found out she's pregnant and the emotional pain she's feeling can't be doing the baby much good. I don't want to add to it even tho I know she'll love the gift.

[aireamdh]

What a wonderful thing to do. I think she will love it, and you all the more for such a deeply heartfelt gift.

[lonewolf07]

When my dog died, my kids put some pictures of him in a frame.  I look at it every night - even talk to it.

The painting sounds like a great idea, it comes from the soul.  I think your friend will love it.

lonewolf

[BabaluandOtis2]

I agree. I have had to say good-bye to 4 of my babies in the past 7 years. All at ripe old ages thankfully, but I still miss them so...they are still here with me, in my heart and literally (in my living room, I had them cremated) They watch TV with the rest of us every night, I give them a kiss when I dust their urns, some people think I'm nuts.....a big fat razzzzberry to them. Those furbabies and the ones I have now  and the ones I will have in the future have taught me more about life then any person I have known.

If a friend had given me a painting/drawing, even on the day after they passed, it would make me feel good, it would show how much they understood what that pet meant to me and I would cherish it.
I do have a friend that has made me a large, maybe 10x12 cement paw with the pups name engraved on it after each one passed. I have a lot of garden/yard type statues, wind chimes etc.. all over my lanai and yard and I keep those in my lanai around my plants, they mean a lot to me.
  So....paint on......; )

[janedough296]

I have to agree.  I grieve today for pets I lost years ago.  What a wonderful thing you are doing for your friend.

[chihuahuagrandma]

Yes, do the painting, tears will always fall in the mourning of a pet w/or w/out the picture, but as a friend, that is a wonderful gesture of kindness and compasion, and sympathy, there are a lot of people, who just don't understand the love between a human and their pet, and as their friend, what a great support to them you are..
Painting would be a wonderful memoir of a great thing...sorry for your friend's grief, and much blessing to you and yours...now, get that canvas ready....