Oh, Cathy. I just saw this post and I am so sorry for you, my friend. Tough times indeed. I thought I'd share this with you to ease your sorrow just a little THE RAINBOW BRIDGE POEM When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Hi everyone, Thank you for your kind words and expressions of sympathy. It really helps. I've been working at home today and keep expecting to step on the lump of gray fur who always chooses the most inconvenient spot for her naps. Alas. It's very hard and lonely. My son is being married in late May and I think after the wedding, when I will be working from home for two months, I'll go to the APL and adopt maybe two kitties so that they will each other to play with. I would love to get a dog, but living alone, I don't think I have the stamina to take care of one. And I have such a small yard. I keep imagining the winter, with the walk covered with you know what. Gibby3000: I'm sorry for your losses, too. I am really glad I could stay home today because I've been a weepy mess. My eyes are swollen and the least thing sets me off. Your so lucky to have three cats -- Catluvr: I'm sorry too, for your loss. My dog died the day I came home from a 10 day trip. She failed within an hour of my picking her up at the kennel and I am certain she was just hanging on to see me. The guilt was ferocious. I understand how awful it is. It still makes me cry. (Well, anything makes me cry right now). Flyleft: thanks, too, for your sympathies. I really do still feel her around, but I actually hope that she's reuniting with my dog, who was her lifelong friend. I just hope my mother isn't there poking both of them with her cane. Uxorial: How lovely to have a Lucy. I was telling my son today that if I get another cat I want to name her Lucy-two. He thinks I'm nuts. But how can anyone not love a Lucy? I hope yours stays well for a good long time. Pecan: Good luck with your pug. 19 years is pretty miraculous. I hope you'll know what to do. I'm very glad I persevered with Lucy. She actually started using the litter box almost exclusively in the last couple of months, and so I'm glad I hung in there with her. Thank you all for your sympathies and e-hugs and understanding. It means a great deal. Molly

Mamacotti, Spedi, Mona, Jannie and Prarie...(hope I didn't miss anyone from the last couple of days)..thanks so much for your kind words and condolences. Now that it has been close to three weeks I can tell funny Duke stories and laugh and shake my head in amazement at some of the goofy things he did over the years. Of course I will cry from time to time and I miss that big ole' dawg so much it hurts.....I know time will make the happy stuff overtake the last couple of days in my memory bank. Then night before last my dad called in tears....his 7 year old Shih Tzu collapsed and died on the stairs. One minute the dog is eating and playing and the next....gone. I suppose the moral of this and life in general is try to enjoy every moment...be happy...because we don't know what is in store the next. I really appreciate all of your kindness and I will post some Duker stories later...there are a lot of them! Somebody told me I should write a book...but I think the guy with Marley beat me to it! Duane

Nice stories, great doggies and kitties, too. We lost our beautiful chow mix, Toby on February 16 (he was 14 years and 7 months old), almost 2 years after losing his dear, sweet litter mate brother, Tibby (he was 12 years and eight months old) We've been heartbroken, sad and both of us are just mopin' around this too empty house. We got Tibby and Toby when they were just 10 days old... we bottle fed them, round the clock, their eyes were still closed and we instantly fell in love with them. It's still hard for me to believe they are gone. We had both of them cremated and they are in beautiful wood boxes with a great picture of them sitting on one and their tiny little first collars with heart shaped name tags, sitting on the other. We knew we would want to save two more litter mates and give them a wonderful life. We found the 2 new pups at a rescue in Mississippi... we are in Boston.... lots of phone calls, lots of pleas for transport help and finally everything came together. They are now, at this very moment, on a flight from Mississippi. They will get here, in Boston, at 7:30 tonight. They got a bath this morning and I'm told they are very, very excited to meet their new Momma and daddy! The rescue was wonderful to work with... not all of them are, most are. This is a pic of our Toby.. I wish I had one for Tibby. Not on this computer. You can see how old he looks, but he was still happy. These pictures were taken in December on the same day. And these are the new babies.. they are 8 weeks old, born on my dearly missed mom's birthday. I'm sure she had a hand in this. My mom's middle name was Bridget... she loved it. But everyone of her kids did not! Not 1 girl grandchild was given the name of Bridget! I don't have any kids.. but I, too, told her ixnay on Bridget if I did! tee hee. Funny how now I think it's such a lovely name. sigh. Her maiden name was Flanagan, so I decided to give her 2 grandkids bearing her name! She would have been thrilled. I'm sure she is! She helped us with the bottle feedings of Tibby & Toby.. she proudly told anyone who would listen, that they were her newest grandkids! We might name Bridget, McBridget...my last name, my Dh (dear honey of 30 years) last name both begin with MC. Still thinkin' on that, though. Bridget is the adorable black girl and Flanagan is the adorable cream colored boy. They weigh 9.6 pounds for Bridget and 9.5 pounds for Flanagan. Sorry these pics are so large. I'm very happy for the Op! Silly