Mollie

[lindapalm]

We had to put our Shetland Sheepdog to sleep in February, and it is still so hard to get used to the quiet, she loved to bark at everything.  She was the smartest dog I've ever met, but also the moxt neurotic, which makes it even harder to get over her because she had sooooooooooo many weird habbits that drove you nuts but you ignored because you loved her.  I've got a lot of other animals, but Mollie was my best bud and I miss her a ton.

[Judy246]

Two weeks after Toby had died, I went to dinner with my fiance to his brother in laws house and in the dinner table Toby became topic of conversation and he said to me, "Oh, Judy, he was just a dog go and get another one," my fiance opened his eyes wide, because he knows me and I looked at him, began to sobbed, felt anger,and yelled at him in his home in front of his entire family! I got up, walked out slamming the door, got in my car, sobbed all the way home uncontrollably. I felt sooo hurt that they didn't know my boy. They didn't know that he was like a child to me. They didn't know that I was heartbroken and wanted to just die without my dog. They would think I'm crazy, but for ten years my boy slept next to my bed and waited until I got home or would not sleep all night waiting for me. They just did know or get it, that our pets are our baby's. He had a cat and I said to him, "one day you will be in my shoes, and when you get there, remember me" and it happened!.

Thank you all for sharing your story we all love to hear them! hugs, Judy

[Jaybay]

I've always felt that "critter people" are very special.  We take our pets into our lives and hearts knowing we will outlive them.  We know we're in for a very painful parting, but we do it anyway, and in many cases we keep on doing it for the rest of our lives.  

My husband and I can't imagine not having two dogs in our lives.  It really does help when it's time for one to say goodbye to have the other as a comfort.  When we lost Chica in early January 2008, Maggie was in mourning just as much as we were.  I know we jumped in with another dog too soon - it wasn't even 3 weeks - but Maggie picked him out.  SHE was ready for a new packmate.  

It was the oddest situation.  There we were in mourning yet getting used to a new rescue dog in the family.  In hindsight, I think having Doc come into our lives so soon helped to keep us moving forward rather than focused on the past.  It wasn't easy, but so well worth it for all of us, and mostly for Maggie.  She's a dog who needs a companion and it wasn't long before they became devoted pack members.

It also helps to know I'm not the only one who gets criticized for mourning my dogs.  I get thoroughly sick of people who say, "What's the big deal?  It was just a DOG!"  My boss was like that with me when my first dog died and I couldn't stop crying - even at work.  He actually made jokes about it until I finally blew a gasket with him.  Non-"critter people" don't understand us; and I certainly don't understand their callousness.  The one good thing that happened from that time was that I finally saw my doctor and got on the antidepressants I had needed probably since puberty.  That's one more thing I can thank my dogs for.  :-)

[crzywt4it]

lindapalm, I also am sorry for yr loss. I know you miss her and you always will but remember one day you and Mollie will be reunited!
Nadine

[Judy246]

I did everything humanly possible to save Toby. I even made his special "soft" meals for his tummy and he just kept vomiting and vomiting. Also, a dog will love his/her owner, even if abused! What an amazing ability to love unconditionally. Also, the larger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. Toby was only 10! I was hoping he would at least live to 13-14, so it took me off guard and I just can't do it again. At least not right now. Thank you for sharing with other also. Hugs, Judy

[lindapalm]

Thank You for allowing me to post about Mollie.  She was diagnosed with Cushings, we had her on meds for almost four months, but she continued to decline.  I don't blame you for not wanting another animal, our other dog is eleven, and in good shape, I pray she'll last a lot longer cause I don't want to go through this again for a very long time.  You are right, animals are better than A LOT of people, they accept you no matter what and continue to love you.  Thanks again.

[Judy246]

My deepest condolenes on the passing of your beloved Mollie. It' sooo hard and painful to lose a beloved furbaby and it's necessary for us to also experience the stages of the grief process also. My Toby was my son, since I don't have children, but losing him cut right through my heart in a way that I never knew it would be soooo painful. You are bless to have other pets to help ease the pain, but after everything that I have gone through, I'm just can't open my heart and home to another pet. It's not that I don't want to, because I have an abundance of love, but it's fear of lossing them. It's fear! I cried Toby as if I had loss a child, and so many people do not understand whey we grieved so hard, but my Toby was better than some people that I know and they offern and abundance of unconditional love.

What happened to Mollie? Also, you are welcome to comment on other new posters. I just set this up this forum 1 day ago, because we need a place of our own to say, my pet has died and I'm devistated, heartbroken, hurting, angry, please help or just listen.

Thank you for your contribution to this new group. Judy