I am so sorry to hear about your baby. As others here, I lost my Chelsea a year ago Feb. Just know that we understand what you are feeling and that there are people here to listen.

I don't know if you have access to something similiar but the place that did our babies' cremation, took a paw print of her foot and made a plaster of paris casting of it. It is in a double frame with her picture. I did it for me, no one else, but I am so glad I did.

God bless and stay in touch.

Mary

Mokanee,

I know how horribly painful and difficult this is for you, and I understand the extraordinary bond you have with Jelika. You know I do. You aren't just saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Jelika raised you, as Tempest raised me. She accompanied you through most of your childhood and all of your adulthood. That's a lot to let go of. Too much.

But you have to do it, Mokanee. You can't keep holding on to Jelika just because it hurts too much to let her go. Mske the call. Don't give yourself the option of backing out. Jelika needs you to help her past this struggle. As sad as it will be, I also know that you will feel her relief as she is released from that gasping body. Just remember that the relief you will feel will not be your own; it will be Jelika's.

The happy, healthy Jelika that you want to hold onto is trapped inside a dying body. It's time to set her free.

I'll be there with you in spirit, Mokanee.

Laurie

Oh, Mokanee! I am so sad for you right now. Please hold her, love her, and baby her in her last hours. She already knows how much you love her, squeeze the last bit of love that you can into tonight, and make the call tomorrow. You already know it is the right thing to do, and we are completely here for you.

I like the pawprint idea, Mary.

Sending furbaby hugs and sandpaper kisses,
Michelle

Love is forever, paw prints on your heart never fade.
Jelika, may your soul find shelter elsewhere.

She's gone. She passed on her own in the car on the way to the vet. I feel like I'm missing the sweetest part of me.

I'm so sorry.
Katharina

You have my deepest and most sincere sympathy. My heart shares your pain. Jelika will keep safe the large part of your heart that she took with her.

Laurie

She was ready and she loved you enough to take the final step on her own. She will always be with you.

She knew what was coming and chose to spend her final moments with you alone. She was waiting for the right moment. I am sending you the biggest hug, and am so very very sorry for your loss. Jeli is at peace and knows how much you loved her.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is such a hard time. Just know that others are thinking of you and sharing in your pain.

I'm so sorry. I just lost my girl, she was 14 1/2. It is just the hardest thing ever. I'm glad you were with your sweet Jelika at the end, and so was she.

Those of us who have loved and lost a furbaby know the pain you're feeling.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Mona

I'm very sorry for your loss..It's so tough, I know but just concentrate on your good memories and focus on them. I'm going thru the same thing right now..trying to decide to make the appt. with the vet, and then not calling because my boy rallied. It will soon have to be done but I hope he passes away here at home. Your situation I think was more peaceful than had she lived till you arrived at the vet. She wasn't traumatized and went peacefully. That's all any of us can hope.

lily,

The hardest thing can be knowing when your pet is suffering vs dying peacefully. Try to be honest with yourself and do what's best for the pet, not yourself.
I've held on too long before and felt worse afterward. Only 'you', as their caregiver, will know the subtle signs of when it's time to let them go.

Laurie said it very well...............

I am so sorry. You can't replace a pet, but hope you will someday bring another furchild into your life. Not as a replacement but as a tribute to Jelika.

I'm so sorry.

I also am truly sorry for your loss.

Sammy

I truly thank everyone for your thoughts and kindness. This is just a small update.

I have to say that Laurie was right. It was incredibly odd and it seemed the very second Jelika left our world a huge sense of relief and calm flooded through me. But as she said I think it was Jelika's relief and not mine. I am heartbroken and probably will be for a while yet. I can not get used to her not being with me. It is so hard.

But since she passed before we got to the vet there was no sense in going there, so instead we went straight to the crematorium (incidently it was the hardest thing I've ever done is leaving my baby there, knowing I would never see her or pet her again).

I called them this morning to see when I could pick Jelika up, and she put me on hold to go check, then came back and said "We can't find it right now, we'll call you back when we have something" I FREAKED! How could they not find my baby! So I called my boyfriend and asked him to call them, and he found out that there is a back room that the receptionist just didn't want to get up to go check. But he made her and then she said yes, Jelika was back there and ready to go.

But how horrible is that.. to hear that they can't find your precious baby. It was the worst thing to think that they misplaced her. And how can I be sure it's her I'm getting back?? With a receptionist as heartless as that.. it was just awful..

People can be pretty callous.

Jelika had a beautiful life with you. Even if you're not sure you're getting her back, try to remember that Jelika was a living, thinking being. You were with her to the end. What you're getting back are her ashes, you left her body to be cremated, you had her soul while she was alive. I hope I'm making sense to you.

What I mean is, Jelika doesn't know at this point. Don't make yourself crazy. Her energy is still around you. That's what matters.

Oh, Mokanee so sorry for your loss. But it was good too that Jelika passed without the stressful trip to the vet. I too believe that Jelika's soul and energy are still around.

I know what you man about the creamation. I paid for our Chelsea to be creamated by herslef so that I could have her ashes, not with any others. But I have no way of knowing if that was really the case. I just know that I feel better about it. Suround yourself with her memories and like bbaird said, she is still around you.