My heart goes out to you. I have never owned a pet, however I have had friend's pets decide that I was their human and have felt the grief when they crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you, it's the most heartache I have had in my lifetime and I have lost two parents.
I loved my parents and miss them but I have lost three dogs over the years and each loss was excruciating.
Dogs are the best.

I've lost my fair share of pets over the years, and it has never been "easy". We have a 12 year old Shih Tzu and an 11 year old one right now. The 12 year old is slowly losing his keen eyesight, and they are both getting a little grayer. I will be with a heavy heart, when it is their time.

I lost my dad in 2009. He was a really good dude. Friend, mentor and of course parent. Best resource that I ever had for trade knowledge. I was sad and miss him every day. Barely shed a tear when he passed.

When I had to give up my last dog a couple of years ago I was a mess. Just crying like a little girl. A good dog gets into your heart in a way that is so very special. RIP Top.

Thank you. The latest for me was last week.

Most of the lawyers on here will have come across this during their careers -- Old Drum was a well-loved hound who wandered onto his neighbor's property one night in 1869 and was shot by the neighbor. Old Drum's owner sued the neighbor and this is his lawyer's closing argument (he won):

Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us--those whom we trust with our happiness and good name--may become traitors in their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world--the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous--is his dog.

Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

Dogs will hunt for the right spot and dig a hole in your heart that nothing will fill.

Cats, will find a secret hole in your heart and squeeze in the most peculiar way.

Birds will make a nest out of heartstrings.

God saw fit to make birds on day 5, and I think that is why they are wise and crafty.

God saw fit to make the furry creatures the same day as us, and why they are such noble and properly fitting in every aspect of our lives.



They wait for us.

To Bandit, Toby, Maxxie, Zeke and Xena, you are always in my heart. I'll never forget you. To Baron Von Ruffhausen, it hurts so much to realize that you may soon join them. They'll watch over you until we meet again.

Freaking DOGS!!! They live for the moment and for you. If only humans displayed the kind of loyalty and constant love dogs provide. I guess there's a reason dog spelled backwards is: GOD (They truly are a blessing from God.)

My best buddy ever. I pray we'll be reunited some day over that bridge. Marley

About a month ago I had to go to the pet crematorium to pick up the ashes of my daughter's
best friend that she got as a pup 18 years ago. The people there were more reverent than those at regular funeral homes.
When I was leaving, I saw something that I had to stop and take a picture of:

I just lost my beloved companion Scout two weeks ago and it was one of the hardest things I have ever been through. Had that dog for 12 great years and he was all that is good in this world and none of the bad. The void created by his absence is beyond measure.

For anyone who hasn’t seen this short video of Jimmy Stewart’s poem “Beau”, it is worth watching but have some Kleenex close by:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=...y1e0-drpsMo&index=86

R.I.P. Merlot (Spoiled? Maybe just a little.)

I sent this thread to my wife. She sent me this:

We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan...
The Once Again Prince/Irving Townsend

Oh my! I'm too emotional about this to write anything. Thanks to all who have posted. That lawyer from the 1800s above quoted said it all.

Had to back out of this one a couple of times because, by some strange coincidence, I had to put my male Black Lab down exactly 7 years ago to the date. Poor guy was barely over 7 years old and ate up with cancer.

Sucks beyond imagination and sorry for everyone that’s lost a fur baby. Thanks for the post though OP.

My wife's sister lost her middle-aged son this Summer, she still can't process what happened.

Now their loved fifteen year old Shih Tzu is nearly gone. Thank you for this clubleaf206, I'm sure it will be a huge help very soon.

R

Lost my friend of nearly 12 years earlier this year. Not a day goes by when my wife or I do not think of him. A great doggie to be sure. House is empty without him

Put my first dog down three years ago. It's the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I know that makes me fortunate, but man was it rough.

I've felt the same way about two horses that I owned for about 28 years and two Irish Setters that each made it to about eleven years old.