grieving our pets

[Mr. Moon]

Just when you think you're doing so well.....

This was the first anniversary of Taylor's passing....and I tried my best to ignore that fact and thought if I didn't think about it, it would pass....

Work drama from my total dysfunctional asshat boss was the biggest it could have been this week......everyone was anxious.

I came home anxious and even my new beautiful boy rescue, Foster Grant (almost 2 years old) could feel the anxiety. I kept trying. I remained calm and had a pretty decent day today, even with the continued work drama.

I came home early, and realized I had given Foster a bath and he needed more brushing to take care of his shedding...I knew I had brushes that I hadn't removed that were used with baby Taylor Dane....I used one before with Mr. Foster..so I thought I'd clean the other of her hair, zip lock it in a baggie......

Am I stupid??? I lost it, big time! OMG...it had been so long since that stabbing grief had hit my heart like that. Holy crap.

I'm just sitting now...figured posting and letting this out might help. Foster Grant curled up and let me cry.....kissed my tears.....Love HIM! but I still feel like my heart has been ripped apart.

It takes sooo long.....

I hope you all are doing well.

-Moonie

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moon

Just when you think you're doing so well.....

This was the first anniversary of Taylor's passing....and I tried my best to ignore that fact and thought if I didn't think about it, it would pass....

Work drama from my total dysfunctional asshat boss was the biggest it could have been this week......everyone was anxious.

I came home anxious and even my new beautiful boy rescue, Foster Grant (almost 2 years old) could feel the anxiety. I kept trying. I remained calm and had a pretty decent day today, even with the continued work drama.

I came home early, and realized I had given Foster a bath and he needed more brushing to take care of his shedding...I knew I had brushes that I hadn't removed that were used with baby Taylor Dane....I used one before with Mr. Foster..so I thought I'd clean the other of her hair, zip lock it in a baggie......

Am I stupid??? I lost it, big time! OMG...it had been so long since that stabbing grief had hit my heart like that. Holy crap.

I'm just sitting now...figured posting and letting this out might help. Foster Grant curled up and let me cry.....kissed my tears.....Love HIM! but I still feel like my heart has been ripped apart.

It takes sooo long.....

I hope you all are doing well.

-Moonie

No you are not stupid at all.

My vet cut a lock of my Bishon's hair for me when she died. She died April 19th, 2011 and I will always keep it. It also is in a Baggie.

I will always miss her.

My GF said she is my forever dog and that she is, and always will be.

My cock-a-poo passed August 6th, 2011, so another anniversary is coming up soon.

We will never forget any of our fur-loves.

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moon

Just when you think you're doing so well.....

This was the first anniversary of Taylor's passing....and I tried my best to ignore that fact and thought if I didn't think about it, it would pass....

Work drama from my total dysfunctional asshat boss was the biggest it could have been this week......everyone was anxious.

I came home anxious and even my new beautiful boy rescue, Foster Grant (almost 2 years old) could feel the anxiety. I kept trying. I remained calm and had a pretty decent day today, even with the continued work drama.

I came home early, and realized I had given Foster a bath and he needed more brushing to take care of his shedding...I knew I had brushes that I hadn't removed that were used with baby Taylor Dane....I used one before with Mr. Foster..so I thought I'd clean the other of her hair, zip lock it in a baggie......

Am I stupid??? I lost it, big time! OMG...it had been so long since that stabbing grief had hit my heart like that. Holy crap.

I'm just sitting now...figured posting and letting this out might help. Foster Grant curled up and let me cry.....kissed my tears.....Love HIM! but I still feel like my heart has been ripped apart.

It takes sooo long.....

I hope you all are doing well.

-Moonie

When my best friend, Count Basie, passed, about 5 years ago, I snipped a little clump of hair from behind his ears (a silky soft spot, where I rubbed him to his heart's content). I wanted a paw print, and I couldn't find anything other than a tube of lipstick, so I rubbed it all over one of those big clodhopper feet, and pressed his lipsticked pad against a piece of cardstock paper. When I finally let them take him from me (I had a vet come to the house, so that he could pass in the comfort of home), I had them make a clay disk with his paw print in it, before his cremation. I also purchased a local artist's urn, and it is truly beautiful. I had another local artist create a stone plaque, with his image airbrushed onto it. I still have his photo as the background of both my work and home computers. I have a special box with his jingly tag filled caller, the snipped hair, his paw prints, and his favorite toy, that I get out once in awhile.

So, no. You are not being stupid. I will never forget my Basie Boy, and at times I still find myself feeling that utter and complete sense of loss.

[Mr. Moon]

Thanks everyone for your honest and...well raw (?) responses. Maybe I'm the one who feels raw, who knows.

I have all Taylor's things still out, some in baggies (I am preserving her smell....which is part of what happened with the hair...I took a wiff..oy). I have her two favorite toys out next to her wooden urn....Holly - one is a small Raven's football. I used to take her toy every day and kiss her box with it, just like we used to do kissie face with it...she loved that. This all will sound pretty awful to people who have no clue what we all are going through with the loss of our babies. (I still do kissie face sometimes LOL)

My new pup Foster is very tolerant of all this, like he knows....but he's a special boy and senses everything....which is good and bad

Thanks for the safe space to write and read. I have come and read all your stories, not often in the last year because it dredged up my horrible grief, but I have read them.

I think we're all special people to allow these special loving animals in our hearts and souls....

That would make me smile on some days I guess.

Bless you all, really, and thanks again for being here.

-Moonie

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

When my best friend, Count Basie, passed, about 5 years ago, I snipped a little clump of hair from behind his ears (a silky soft spot, where I rubbed him to his heart's content). I wanted a paw print, and I couldn't find anything other than a tube of lipstick, so I rubbed it all over one of those big clodhopper feet, and pressed his lipsticked pad against a piece of cardstock paper. When I finally let them take him from me (I had a vet come to the house, so that he could pass in the comfort of home), I had them make a clay disk with his paw print in it, before his cremation. I also purchased a local artist's urn, and it is truly beautiful. I had another local artist create a stone plaque, with his image airbrushed onto it. I still have his photo as the background of both my work and home computers. I have a special box with his jingly tag filled caller, the snipped hair, his paw prints, and his favorite toy, that I get out once in awhile.

So, no. You are not being stupid. I will never forget my Basie Boy, and at times I still find myself feeling that utter and complete sense of loss.

Willow Anastacia passed years ago when I was in FL. I also had her cremated and have a paw print of her. She was such a special kitty and comes with me wherever I go. Since FL, she's been to WA and TX and is now in RI with me.

♥

[NJFemmie]

We rarely let the cats outside, and when we do, they usually stay confined to the front porch with no desire to wander off. The day Ember died, Mare engulfed Herself in gardening to keep Her mind occupied. As She as working, a small tuft of Ember's hair was found in the tulips - an area where he never wandered. I told Her that was his way of letting Her know that he is with Her.

That tuft of hair and his collar is now encased in a small metal heart. A small memento of a cat who spent many years comforting Mare, especially when She couldn't sleep. Last night was one of those nights for Her. She was always able to hug him close and he willingly allowed it accompanied with loud purrs.

Ember was extra special to Mare because She got him at a time when he needed to be bottle fed. He was literally Her baby.

I'll miss the nights "arguing" with him about getting off my pillow because it was my bedtime. Or, park himself on my side of the bed and look at me with those big, soulful eyes guilting me every time I had to move him along. He was certainly royalty in this house and he will be an incredibly hard act to follow.

[Soft*Silver]

an online friend of mine just lost her 14 year old newf..she passed a few days ago. I spent years reading her stories about her newf, and felt like I knew the dog so well. I wept when I read of her passing. I look at my old boy, who at 9-10 years of age, is older than he should be. He will not make 14. I will be lucky if I get another year from him.

how do they get so entrenched in our hearts and lives? even from afar...even in a short amount of time. Our lives remain forever touched. But thank heavens they do! I could not imagine my life without the love of these incredible beings...

[Glenn]

This is dedicated to my sweet, kind, and good, Norweigan Elkhound -Thor. 1998-2007 You were my last dog my beautiful young man. I am coming home soon my beautiful son, and we will be happy together forevermore.

[Smiling]

I'm missing my sweet baby so much. I keep her urn very close.

It's been almost a month since I lost her and I still cry every day; some days only light tears come and other days bring unbridled sobbing. Today it is the latter.

She hasn't come to say goodbye to me yet, but I feel her presence around me now.

And I don't want her to go.