:( (((hugs)))

Boxer - I too had to put my 16 yr old Border Collie mix down on this past Saturday, november 26th. I know exactly how you feel. Feel free to message me if you want to talk.

I was carrying her out to do her business as well. She was still eating, but obviously miserable. I finally made the appointment and my husband kept talking me out of it - until finally I just put my foot down. Its been a hard few days since - you have guilt keeping her too long - my vet said our dog only had maybe another week or so - yet I feel a bit guilty about doing it sooner.

Im sure your dog knew how much you loved him. Go to DOGSTER.COM and set up a tribute page for your dog with pics and story - it might be therapeutic for you. Hugs to you and your family!

Boxerpups,

I am so, so sorry about your loss. I saw your pictures over in pets, and what an adorable girl.

Right now, my dog S is young and happy but I know some day that will be me again someday and I cringe just thinking of it. My husband tried to avoid falling in love when we got her because he remembers his own tragedy. My kids are blissfully unaware.

Give yourself some mercy over the vet visit. That is such a hard decision. My mom, brother and I had to take our family dog to the vet for a goodbye as well. I can still see the tender mom in the waiting room, when her little boy came running over to us, and her gently pulling him back. She had looked at us as we came in the door and she just knew. I have read all these comments, as we are that family as you came in the door.

Right now you need time to grieve. But longterm, I think you need an exit strategy from your job. I once worked in one of the most dysfunctional offices ever. About 8 people came and left employment during my year there. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Regarding your coworkers' specific response, I respectfully disagree with some of the assessments here. My feeling is that you do not have to be a pet person to respect someone else's loss. Decent people will understand that. And decent people also know that vacation time is truly that. It is none of their business how you use it. Other things will come up in life--surgeries, losses, etc, and it doesn't sound to me like your coworkers will be there for you.

Again, I am truly sorry and forgive me if I bring this up too soon.

Boxerpups, so sorry about your loss!!! I know that your Cleo knew how much you loved her.

I have a little yorkie who is my gal pal, my little shadow, my princess...I love her so much as does the rest of my family. I just can imagine how hard it would be to say farewell to someone that gave you their unconditional love.

I'm really, truly sorry...condolences.

Oh, boxerpups, you poor thing - to go through this surrounded by unsympathetic coworkers. I am so sorry for your loss.
Last summer my 14 year old lab passed away. I did the same thing, if you can believe it, carrying/sliding my 100 pound baby in and out. I felt so guilty, I knew I should have bought him to the vet but I would look at his goofy smiling face with his tongue hanging out and I just couldn't make myself do it. After a few days he just fell asleep lying in the sun and never woke up.
It was so hard for everybody. But now when we talk about him we can't help but laugh - he was so full of personality.
Sometimes I think a life without pets would be a lot easier (usually when my 13 year old lab is sleeping and I'm watching her side to make sure she's still breathing) and it would be but it wouldn't be half as much fun.
Sherri

Oh, Cherie, I'm so sorry! Like you and so many others here, I've also known the heartache of making that very difficult decision that you faced so recently. No matter how logical we try to be or how stoical, it's never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet.

I put off that decision for as long as possible for my previous kitty but in the end, I realized that she was in so much pain and had had enough of the life-prolonging daily intravenous treatments that I had been giving her for months (me, who could never be a nurse because I'm too squeamish). I tell my current kitty - who's 16 1/2 years old - that he has to live a very long time because I'm not ready to part with him yet. As if I ever will be.

Cherish your memories of Cleo. She will live on forever in your heart.

Many, many cyber hugs to you who has been so very generous to all of us here.

I posted this earlier and GW ate it, but it's an important topic, so I am starting over.

This thread is testament to the incredible love we have the capacity to have for our animals - as well as the regard and concern GW clearly has for you, Boxerpups.

A wise woman once told me that having pets was indicative of the highest emotional courage, as it requires us to consciously give our hearts to a creature that we are going to outlive and have to say goodbye to. This is made more complicated, I believe, because we are generally in the difficult position of having to make the weighty decisions involved at the end.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss my German Shepard, Kodiak. I'll carry my love for him - and his for me - forever.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how much pain you're in. Could you also pass a sentiment on to your colleagues for me? Tell them I think they're $#%^*+^^#). �##%^^�*%*+*^)%� holes...
Be well and try to find comfort in your plentiful memories.

Christine

I'm truly sorry for your devastating loss, boxerpups:((( I will be facing this same issue very soon, as I recently found out my beloved mutt of 15 years has a large tumor on her spleen.

You did the right thing no matter how difficult.

Sending you healing thoughts and prayers...

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it was the hardest thing to do.

We have been there with our beloved chow. My husband and I cried every day for a month. We still cry whenever we talk about Zeus.

I feel so bad that you also have to deal with awful people at work. No one should have to put up with that. I hope you can change your situation soon.

Boxer- Your sweet dog was so very lucky to have you in their life. I know how hard it is to lose a part of the family...which they are...and how sad it is to watch them slip away, a little more each day. But, I also know that a pet, who is loved so much, has the best life possible. Know that your C loved you up until the very end...and IMHO, cats, dogs and other loved ones we care so much about, will be seeing us again, in my idea of heaven :)

Dear Boxerpups,

My thoughts are with you. xoxo

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. And I'm sorry that you have to be surrounded by such toxic people at work. It's too bad they don't see and appreciate you for the generous and caring person you so clearly are.

Boxerpups wrote (I kid you not!) ...
Jodi, Thank that amazing dog to have saved such a creative, talented and wonderful human as you. That boxer gave us all a gift by saving YOU.

Cherie, thank you for the kind words. I thought about you and your loss often last night. Even though I was an infant when Mike, my boxer saved me, he lived until I was 15 years old and I remember him well. We honored him by naming our son after him but call him Michael instead of Mike and have never told our 24 year old that he was named after my hero Boxer dog.

Jodi-

Boxer....
so sorry to hear about your loss. I am sure that your Pet cherished the ground that you walked on and you gave her a wonderful life. You were a wonderful owner to your Pet, it shows in every way that you speak about her. It is so hard to say goodbye and none of us know the best way to do so. I had the same decision to make early in the Summer. Sending love and support your way and this difficult time. Rosaleen

I feel so bad for you. I think everyone on this forum feels like they have a friend in you and would love to give you a hug if they could.
I am also so sorry your coworkers are treating you so horribly. Please know you have many friends on this site and we are all thinking of you!
~Michellemarie

i'm so very sorry for your loss, boxer. i understand your grief and have felt it myself. even now, almost a year after setting my calico of 18 years free, i cry for her every day. i know you were a wonderful host to your beautiful girl and she was very fortunate to have you.

xxo
we know our time together is temporary but it never seems to make things easier.

Steph, I totally understand that love you have for Kodiak.
Don't you just wish you could touch them one last time?

Thank you Michellemarie, I am honored to be considered a
friend. Truly honored.

Chris11... I think I am going to give my notice tomorrow.
Not because of my bosses view on pets or that a few co-
workers are difficult but because I have wasted too much
time in a place where I don't belong. I will give a fair
two weeks but I think I need to leave.

Spay, please know we are all here. A while back PRILL lost
her lab. And there was an out pouring of kindness for her
too.

Colorfast, Yes. I do get it. I can only imagine what you
went through. To be honest, when people would say ( like
my sister) what a stressful job she has. I would think. It
can't be that bad. Well, I am living proof it is THAT BAD.
No worries. I believe Cleo's passing has reminded me what
is important in life. And this is just one more great gift
she has given me.

Whiteriver.. I love the name Zeus. I bet he was a God
himself.

Lavendar, I agree. Animals are too precious and God will
have them there by our side when we pass too.

Thanks Erin, Jodi and Hello.

Boxerpups,

Sending you love and deep condolences for the loss of your precious pup.

My eyes are filled with tears as I read your post, my heart aches for you.

My elderly father's beloved dog and constant companion was tragically killed by a car about 11 months ago. It was one of the most emotionally wrenching things I've ever experienced. I promise you, though, it hurts so badly but it does get better.

xoxoxo
Madeline

Cleo would be proud of her influence! Boxer, life is too short to be stressed by people who really don't understand and don't care.

Good luck! And so sorry that you lost your buddy.

So very very sorry for your loss, and all the stresses that accompany it. So many of us have belonged to this club that no one wants to belong to. My beloved German Shepherd, Troya, was like my best friend. That is why after 14 years I have kept the screen name/email address misntroya (missin' Troya). Best of luck to you, and my heartfelt condolences.

Cherie

First every post touched me and I read them all, especial Jodi's boxer saving her as a child. But this post will be miles long if I address them all, so I want to just address the two poems for now and the unhappy work experience that poor Boxerpups is going through.

Capegirl5 & ICFgreen, I loved both your poems and I am saving them. ICFgreen's poem I knew was how my much older friend was feeling the last few days as he keep crying and calling me since his dogs cancerous tumors had spread and she was failing so bad and could not stand and finally his son brought him to the vet to see what they could do and she had to be put to sleep to end her suffering. He is so alone since his wife died around 10 years ago. He is like a father to me and he tells me that I am his best friend. He calls me every day and I do not really have any family left that I am close to so I treasure that I can mean so much to someone. I listened to him every day about his Samantha. I watched her for weeks last year when he was back in the hospital since his cancer had returned. It is amazing we are so far apart in age but become friends.

I used to listen to him about his pain from the loss of his wife and he used to listen to me cry every day about my Lacey. He would care and understand and never get angry at me for repeating myself. He still wishes he told his wife he loved her more since he always felt he did not need to say it since she knew. The crying spells were bad for me and it affected my work and dealing with stressful clients that I should have dropped but I could not confront them since the tears would start. I finally understood that a dog was just not a dog. I love all animals and cried so much when my cat were gone when I was younger but as an adult my dogs are my children and it would be the same if I had a cat now as I am home all day with them sleeping in my home office. I could not move on and it look three more dogs to help me have less sorry. She was so special and it is a long story why I can't get over her.

I now have two very sick dogs and I know one day I will have to make the decision. One is a 6.5 lb Maltese who I did not give back to the breeder when I found out she had a severe heart murmur. It has gotten worse and she almost died on me about 6 times not breathing last year and still has fainting episodes and sometimes seizures due to the two holes in her heart with one the size of 1/3 her heart and the other flooding her lungs with blood. I take her to the cardiologist and he is amazed she is still alive and never met a dog that lived past a year with her condition. She is usually enjoying her life and doing well on the medicine but he says she could go at any time and if she starts getting worse and suffering. When she is doing bad and can't breath, I wonder if I am keeping her alive for me but she has many more good days than bad days. I know I will have to make the decision one day if she is doing worse and can't breath and is suffering. My other little dog's seizures are back again despite the medicine he is on, so I need to call the vet again. I kept him despite finding out he was deaf and did not realize the focal seizures were just that. Then they progressed into cluster motor seizures going on for such a long time. He is now over 12.5 years of age and amazingly happy despite all his conditions including chronic skin allergies. He is from a top breeder. I will always rescue after my experiences. He is not seeing well and sometimes having problems walking.

I just can't bear to lose another dog since I am not strong enough but after reading all these posts, I know I will not be alone and this time have a place to share.

I still dream of Lacey. My little sick Lexi is named after her.

Boxerpups, I also love your posts and I want to tell you that I have had a few jobs where it was affecting my health so badly. One job I was made to stay late when I was just called up and told I was robbed. My boss was unhappy and he liked to see me suffer so he purposely kept finding work to do that could wait until tomorrow and would not let me stay on the phone to find out more. Another time, we had such a bad storm that it took me over 3 hours to drive the 45 minutes and having to keep getting out of the car to clean it off since I could not see and I got so sick. I caught the Bronchitis from the other boss that sat behind me since we would be fired if we were sick and we were not allowed to smile at work. I got sicker and sicker and was coughing up blood that I called in sick for a few days and I was told each time, that I was fired so why was I calling up. Then the consolidated financial statements needed to be filed and no one knew how but me so they kept calling me to see when I would be back to work. That is when I knew I could pretend I had doctor appointments to interview. No one liked me after that since they could not be sick. I was threatened to be fired and docked pay if I was 1 minute late. We had 11 secretaries in 1 year in the executive office where I worked. I was losing weight and doing so bad that I finally quit but had to give 2 weeks of notice. My boss acted shocked when I gave notice. I had waited 365 days before I left for my resumes sake. I learned how to be my own secretary which pays off since I am now self-employed but that has its own problems with the cost of my health insurance sky rocketing and not having dental or vision insurance, as well as collecting money.

I just know how it is to go to a job that you are stressed out each day and come home stressed out. Life is too short to be that unhappy.

((((((((Cherie)))))))))) (((((((((((Cleo))))))

P.S. Cleo is such a cute name. My Skeeter mourned so badly when my Lacey was gone. He is the sick dog that is deaf with epilepsy, bad knees, skin allergies but I love him and I finally caved in and when he was almost 3 years old, adopted Sassy. Then I adopted Panda and saved her eye sight to be a friend for Sassy since Skeeter had no idea how to play with another dog (came to me like this but he still loved Lacey for 6 weeks). Lexi reminded me of Lacey so I had to say yes and when I found out she was so sick, I could not part with her.

We lost our girl 2 years ago. She was 15. Miss her everyday.

Bichonlover, your girl was beautiful with such pretty coloring. So sorry for your loss. What was her name?

Boxerpups, I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Cleo. My heart goes out to you and your family. We have been there, too, with our 17 year old kitty. I am glad to hear you say that you are giving up your job with the unfeeling, nasty co workers. You don't need that crap! You seem like too nice a person so it is not a good fit. Take care.

Sayde, You are so right that "Perhaps the only thing worse than seeing your pet get old and die is not having had the joy of having had them at all."

Boxerpups, I understand what you are going through. We lost our Ruby in May to cancer. In our case, we were planning to let her rest forever pain-free that day, but she died before the vet's office opened...with all of us around her...what a great way to go...and yours had the same thing...in your loving arms! (For us, it was two years ago to the day from when my father died! What a month!)

I've held off responding to this b/c I keep tearing up (ok, crying!) when I think of what we went through and what you went through (I'm looking at the monitor through my tears right now!)

I firmly believe that our pets are waiting for us - young and pain-free!

My thoughts & prayers are with you and all of us going through or having gone through the same thing!

I tried not to open this thread last night because, remembering months ago your mention of a sick dog, I knew the sad words I would read. When I did open it, I was crying too hard to type. I'm truly sorry for the pain and grief you and your family are going through. Like so many others here, I've been through the loss of a beloved pet also.

Soon after DH and I got married we had accumulated a total of 3 crazy young cats, one at a time. We waited quite a few years to have kids so these cats were like our children. I loved them all. When I was pregnant with DS about 6.5 years ago, our adorable gray female Sunii's kidneys began to fail. We nursed her through almost dying and managed to keep her in decent health with meds and daily IVs until she passed away at home 5 years ago.

Peanut, Mr. Personality, was our crazy, insane, possessed orange tabby. He had at least 7 lives in his skinny little body as he made it through more than a few bad injuries and mysterious illnesses. When having his back leg set from a severe break thanks to our nasty neighbor's neglected cat, we found out he had intestinal cancer. (Coincidentally, I was pregnant again with DD.) Chemo kept his tumor at bay until July 2010 when we were forced to make the decision to have him euthanized. It was so difficult to hold him as he left us.

As much as I loved Sunii and Peanut, my heart belonged to my sweet black kitty Archie. He was what helped me deal with the deaths of the others. He was my once-in-a-lifetime pet. He followed me around like a dog in the house and in the garden; talked to me with his little meows; slept with me; and stared into me with his gorgeous big eyes. Archie had the most amazing eye contact, always wanting to be connected to me. Every night as I went to bed (he followed a couple hours later), I reminded him that he could never leave me because my heart couldn't take it. I even said I wouldn't have any more kids because each time I was in my second trimester, one of my feline kids got sick. ;) Having his love got me through family deaths and troubles, miscarriages, fertility struggles, a nasty work environment, etc.

Archie was 17 when his age and weight caught up with him. Arthritis caught hold and his kidneys began failing. He seemed to do well on his meds until July of this year when he went downhill very quickly. I took him to the vet thinking we just needed to increase his meds, but found out his kidneys had failed suddenly. I walked the tightrope like you for only a few days of wanting to spend every last second with him but not let him get to the point where he was clearly suffering. I relished my last days digging my fingers into his dense, velvet fur and kissing his head. Taking him to the vet to say goodbye was one of the most painful things I've ever done.

I'm not going to tell you that knowing you helped end Cleo's suffering will make you feel better. It won't. I don't know what does make the pain better. Time, maybe. I wish I knew. I cry every day for Archie. Nighttime is the worst because he's not laying at my feet on the ottoman waiting for me to love on him. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I swear I hear him thumping down the hall coming to sleep with me.

I admire you for taking such good care of Cleo. I'm sorry she is gone. I'm also sorry that your work life hasn't improved. I hope you can find a place that appreciates and values you. Please take care of yourself. Cry when you need. Get a hug when you need. I'm sending one your way now!

I forgot two things.

You may know about the thread about pet loss on the Grieving Forum. I read it sometimes late at night when I miss Archie and can't sleep.

And here's a photo from several years ago of my Archie.

Oh, boxerpups, I am so very sorry! Losing a beloved fur-baby is heartbreaking, I know. (((((Cherie)))))

I have this giant lump in my throat because there is nothing like the unconditional love of a wet nose and soft paw. God bless you, GW friend.

Oh Boxerpups, I'm so sorry for your loss. We had to make the same difficult decision for our 17 year old cat, Tiger. He had lymphoma and we kept him around longer than we should have because we couldn't make the final decision to let him go. It's been five years and we still miss him every day. We know that he is now over the Rainbow Bridge, along with your precious pup, and we will see him again one day. (((HUGS)))

Breezygirl, I cried when I read your post about your three cats, especially about having to put Archie to sleep. Hearing hi thumb down the hallway to sleep with you really had me in tears. I know what it is to lose a pet and it really hurts so much. It takes so much love to know when it is time and I have never had to make the decision yet but I know will will be so difficult on me. I am so sorry about your losses. Thank you for sharing.

Buehl, I am sorry about Ruby but it worked out well that she passed away with you there so she was not alone and you knew it was definitely time since she passed away without you having to do the final decision. So sorry for your loss. I miss a purring cat and one day, I will rescue a kitten or cat that touches my heart that needs me. I keep thinking I have to wait for one of my pets to pass first since I have 4 small little dogs.

I'm just bawling up a storm, and I thought I was through crying. My heart goes out to you, Boxerpups--I'm so sorry for the loss of your family member.

We had to make that decision 3 weeks ago for our darling little Ellie--17 mo-old Ragdoll kitty. She had a horrible disease that at first we were optimistic over because we got her on an experimental medicine that had shown promise. She was on it a month, but she stopped wanting to eat. I couldn't "assist feed" her without both of us getting too stressed out, so I took her to the vet every morning for feeding for a week to see if getting a good amount of good food in her would make any difference in her (as a prelude to doing an "e-tube"--feeding tube; I didn't want to put her through that if "eating better" didn't help). On Friday night, seeing the worsening blood test results, the continued weight loss, etc., I knew we couldn't do anymore for her--or put her through anymore for our sakes. On Saturday, we didn't make her eat or take the medicine. We didn't put her in the carrier to go to the vet. We didn't make her do anything; we gave her a peaceful day, but I knew we couldn't let it go any further because she wouldn't eat on her own, and I didn't want her to "go hungry" past that day. We let her out on the screened in porch where she wanted to go (thank you Universe for the beautiful day so that we could!) and called a mobile vet who came to us. My husband and I and her companion, Coco, were with her when she passed. I had my eyes squeezed shut, but my husband was watching our other kitty's face. He said Coco's eyes got really big and a strange expression flitted across his face for a few seconds right when Ellie passed. We were glad he could be there so he could have closure, too.

It's so hard to have a sick pet--they can't tell us where it hurts or if it hurts too much. Only other "pet people" can really understand what we agonize over during a pet's illness and death. I read something along the lines that while we may have many things going on in our lives in the world-- filled with activities and many people-- to our pets, we ARE the world. And we always try to do our best with this great gift we feel we've been given---the gift of animal love. You gave C the last wonderful gift you could give her!

May you find peace in the good memories!
Tracey

oh that heart ache, literally, a broken heart is the pain felt when you lose a cherished pet. Sounds like you were lucky to have her and she you.

ICFgreen pegged it with that beautiful poem. It takes quite a while for the heart to heal, but those memories will last forever. May you find some peace during this hard time. So very sorry you have lost your sweet friend.

Boxer- it is always so difficult. I miss my old pup everyday especially when I see another beagle. You made the right decision even though it is always so hard. It would just be so much easier if they could talk and tell us what they were feeling. We are always so lucky to have such amazing companions for however long they grace us with their presence.

boxerpups

First, please accept my apology for seeming to make light of your reappearance. Delighted as we all are to see you back, it was lunk-headed of me not to figure that there must have been good reasons for the hiatus in your posting.

Second and more important, please accept my condolences on your loss. I am awed by the intense affection that leads people to link their psychic well-being with the company of a creature that cannot possibly outlive them. Clearly, the years of joy outweigh the inevitability of loss.

Best wishes. hbk

PS If there is any human whom you deem deserving of having his or her knees broken, please let me know.

(((Hugs)) Boxer I'm sorry for your pain and loss.

Boxer, you're always the one that brings me out of lurkerdom. I feel a kinship with you since we're both so obviously in love with our pets.

My sincerest condolences on your loss of Cleo. No one else touches us quite like our pets, and it is so difficult when we lose them.

I feel so sorry for your coworkers that obviously haven't experienced this special relationship for themselves. Their lives must seem empty.

And Buehl, I remember you mentioning your poodle was ill. I'm so sorry for your loss as well, even though I'm a little late.

~ Mastiff Mama

I am so so sorry to hear you have lost your fur baby. I know the feeling. I loved my dog so much that when I finally had to give her the special gift of letting her go years later I still thought I could hear her nails walking across the floor.

I would not get another dog for 20 years it hurt so bad. I love my new Mastiff now but I do not know how I am going to take letting her go.

Dear Boxerpups,

Sending warm hugs to you....your loss is our (your GW family) loss too...tough love is so hard...but you gave your sweet girl a loving send off. As an owner of 2 Doodle pups...my heart hurts for you...very much.

Am also sorry to hear about your nasty work environment..hope that there is something out there that calls for you very soon...so that you can leave that job and move on to better things.....

(((((((Boxer Pups)))))))

BPea

Have to say so very sorry for the lost of your, beloved dog. I, truly know how much your hurting. About five year' ago our dog, fell in our swimming pool. My son, had be to the one to find him. The thing is he hated the pool, and would run around and around the pool,and bark when the kid's were swimming. So it was so sad that he, died in the place he, hated so much. But this dog when our son's were older they would say let's go to Abco, that was a grocery store we once had here in Arizona. The dog would jump up and down. But when they would say let's go to fry's another food store he, would just stand there. We had said it would have made a great ad for Abco. So you, will remember all the funny thing,s your dog did. That will really help you.

The outpouring of love on this thread speaks volumes of how much people love you here, Boxer. I cannot ever remember a thread that has made so many people cry

and cry

and cry

May you find peace soon.

I hope you find comfort in knowing that Cleo has so many new friends....all of these GW fur babies are running and playing pain free together now. And they are all probably sitting around talking about how their kitchens were laid out....

"oh yeah? you should have seen where they put my bowls, I can't even imagine who on GardenWeb suggested THAT location".....

I hope your smile returns soon.

more hugs,
Bee

Boxer,
I'm so, so sorry for your loss. Please don't beat yourself up over whether or not this was the "right" time. Sometimes it's obvious, but when the degeneration is more gradual, it's much harder to know. I've had the same doubts; they serve no purpose whatsoever--let it go! You gave Cleo a wonderful home and loving family and she gave you all her love and attention--remember that--it's absolutely okay to cry and feel the depths of mourning her loss. The big regret I can't seem to let go of is that when our dear Maggie was sick (many, many years ago) and it became obvious it was time to put her down, I didn't go in to the vet's to hold her and say goodbye because we had out of town guests. She deserved so much better than that. I'm so ashamed I didn't face my fear and go to her (she had been at the vet hospital for a week and I had visited her, but didn't go in when they put her to sleep).

As for your co-workers, something tells me they've never experienced loving and caring for a dear pet and losing that pet. Loving and caring for our pets make us better people--more caring and empathetic. Allow yourself time to mourn the loss of dear Cleo--it's only right.

And here's to remembering my dear Toby, Maggie, Dakota, Shadow, and Casey. I miss each of you more than I can put into words. (Casey, I will especially be remembering you this Christmas as you were a Christmas puppy and died much too young several years later on a very early Christmas morning a few years ago.)

((((((((Boxer))))))))((((((((Cleo))))))))))

Dear Boxerpups,
I can relate to your pain. Just last week my 8 yr. old Golden passed suddenly. One minute going for a walk with me, saying hello to my son as he came home from school and running around the yard. Few minutes later she was lying on the ground gone. Because it was so sudden and she had no signs or symptoms of being sick the vet thought maybe a blood clot or heart attack. The worst was not having the option to say goodbye or one last time snuggle with her. I can understand your wanting to keep your precious friend around.

My newly completed kitchen just doesn't make me happy . I would gladly go back to my old one if Chelsea could be here running around and making us happy. I always had her to keep me company and console me when I was feeling down and now I have to do it on my own and keep the rest of the family moving along.

Sorry you don't have supportive co-workers. I think it is absolutely amazing at the support you are getting from the gardenweb friends. People all over the country are sharing their own stories and lending support. My thoughts are with you as you go through each day.

I am so sorry about your little beloved. Don't beat yourself up over loving your pet so much you did not want to let go. I have not been in that position before, but I can easily imagine how difficult the decision must have been. I am mostly a lurker here, though a very long time lurker, and when I started visiting regularly again last spring after my project started, I immediately was struck by your kind and generous spirit. We on this forum know your pet lived a blessed and happy life and now has passed on to an even better home. I hope you feel better soon.

Rhodygirl,
So very sad. I have heard that Boxers and Goldens are
known to have heart issues. Not that this is what you want
to hear. I am so very sorry you lost your wonderful friend.
~bp

Flowersnco, beautiful that you listed your treasures.
I know Cleo is hanging out with them right now talking about

pet treats.

Bee, I am wonderfully surprised to find that not only do
I have a love of kitchens but that there are hundreds
of us who love and have lost pets.

Honorbilt. Do not apologize. I thought it was excellent.
and my Shhhhh I am in cognito was meant to be funny.
I adore your posts and know you to be a great kitchen friend.

beachpea3, thank you (((((hugs)))))

Sharaz, Ricksfa, door1, Mastiff, brian, cali, tracy,
Thank you ... Thank you so very much.

Lynn, truly beautiful your sweet words. I appreciate it.

Breezy, Yes, I need to seek out these great places to
feel less alone. Your kitty story had me in tears. I
feel so less alone thank you.

Marquest, Read the post from It takes courage.
Enjoy those precious moments. .

Have2cats, (((((hugs back at you))))
I know you must miss Tiger.

Love the name Troya.

mtsoni, thank you.

Buehl, I am so sorry for these memories making you cry.
I know this will be years from now. Clearly the love you
have for your dog and of course your father is bond that
lasts eternity.

Bichonlover, beautiful photo.

My sister forwarded this to me. It was sent to her the day she said goodbye to her best friend.

IF I SHOULD GROW FRAIL

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain does keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done
For this - the last battle - can't be won.

You will be sad I understand
But don't let grief then stay your hand.
For on this day, more than the rest
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must now be you
Who has to decide this thing to do.
We've been so close - we three- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

boxerpups - I am so sorry for your loss. Pets are family and provide so much love and affection that is unspoken and unconditional.

We lost our beloved lab of nearly 10 years this April just shy of his 10th birthday. He developed a splenic tumor and was very sick. We opted to operate b/c the other choice was to put him down or let the tumor eventually explode (which it was close to at the time). We knew the chances of it being a cancerous tumor were very high but we wanted to give him every chance he could at life and there was a small chance it was non cancerous which gave us hope. We operated and he had a rough time recovering b/c of the size of the tumor and b/c his heart had been so stressed due to the tumor. We checked him out of the hospital against medical advice after nearly a week in the vet hospital b/c he wasn't eating on his own or really perking up if we weren't there. We brought him home and he was never happier to be home, went out in the yard, went upstairs (even though he wasn't supposed to - he always slept upstairs next to my side of the bed), snuggled with all of us and ATE! We thought he was going to be okay, drs were amazed he responded so well to being home. Well he passed away the next morning. :( Sometimes pets need the extra time with their owners as much has we need the extra time with them. Our dog NEEDED to come home and one extra night with us, check out the yard, go all over the house and make sure all of us were okay too.
Turns out his tumor was not cancerous after all. We are glad we operated and glad we got one more night.

So just because YOU needed the time, don't think your beloved pet didn't need the extra time too to say goodbye and spend with you and your family.

Boxer, I just wanted to tell you that after about 4 weeks, I did have a dream where my Angel crossed the floor at the end of the bed and jumped up and laid on top of me and purred. I knew it wasn't real, but it was a few seconds of comfort and at least half a day sobbing whenever I thought about it. After I thought I was done and beyond all that. Just sayin' -- it may hurt as much as it helps if you do get that dream. You know it is all in your heart either way.

Honorbilt, thanks for a chuckle.

Boxer -- maybe you should take him up on it! ;-) Or get a better job and move on. Living well (and happier) is the best revenge.