Should It Hurt This Bad?

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

I hope this helps, I lost my Sandy at 16 years old, he was my first dog (although as a family we had always owned them), and it is the most heart wrenching thing to say goodbye.

A Living Love

>

> If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will

> always remember....

>

> The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your

> young new friend.

> You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked

> numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a

> breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen

> that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply because something in its

> eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and

> watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front

> room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time--it

> instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the

> many years to come.

>

> The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later.

> It will be a day like any other.

> Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will

> look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You

> will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will

> see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your

> friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may

> feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming

> emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until

> the third day finally arrives.

>

> And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then

> you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of

> your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest

> Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you--you will

> feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

>

> If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as

> they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your

> circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or

> comfort you.

>

> But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the

> many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size

> than your own--seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely

> days to come.

>

> And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to

> happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very very

> lightly.

>

> And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend

> used to lay--you will remember those three significant days. The

> memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your

> heart--As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of

> its own.

> You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you

> reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you.

> Either way, it will still be an ache.

>

> But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when--along with the

> memory of your pet--and piercing through the heaviness in your

> heart--there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will

> be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have

> loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living

> Love--like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals

> have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to

> remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave

> us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we

> live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave,

> perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love we will always possess.

>

> (by Martin Scot Kosins)

[SpikesPuppy]

Hesapandabear- Thank you so much for sharing that. It's so beautiful and all so true. Thank you.

[Joey Rocks My World]

Hi

I'm another one who understands your exact feelings

MY beautiful Jenna, who i had for just over 14 years who i had gone through life's many up and downs with, was put down a few month ago

she was diagnosed with operable cancer last novemember, on our first year wedding anniversery (as we were going away for a romantic weekend) and pts on valentines days, in Feb( 3months later)

It was total devastation. We still cry over her.

theres a song on the radio, 'forever young' that had just come out when we had to make the desicion and everytime it comes on now , it makes up burst into tears.

Like you i have had on and off depression made worse since she has gone.

I deal with it with my 2 new dogs Joey and Renae....they have been a big godsend!!

without t hem i would have lost the plot, i think.

it does get better, you will never forget them, but the pain does ease a little over time.

I promise you this!

Just allow yourself to grieve in whatever form it takes..better than bottling it in.

if you don't think you can cope, then see a gp as you are planning

big hugs to you.

we all know, feel and understand your loss and pain.

You will get through this.

xxxxxxx

Edited May 8, 2006 by Joey Rocks My World