Lost My Best Friend

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Very sorry to hear of your loss. Such a sad thing.

Please take some comfort in the following.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

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....

(wiping a tear from my eye) I dream of that very thing, my friend. Thank you

Originally Posted by Captain Dave

Sorry you lost your friend. We're on our 2nd set of Labs after our first two passed on. Animals can become such a big part of our lives that they leave a void when gone. I'm sure that when the time is right, a new friend will come romping into your life.

Ain't that the truth. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

(wiping a tear from my eye) I dream of that very thing, my friend. Thank you

I am certainly no authority on this heaven gig. But if dogs are not allowed there, I don't wanna go.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am certainly no authority on this heaven gig. But if dogs are not allowed there, I don't wanna go.

I still wanna go regardless, but I hope they're there.


Well, ask yourself, what would bring you joy beyond belief, to get to heaven and have your pet come a running at ya. The bible does say
eye hasn't seen, nor ear heard the joy that God's prepared. Simply, we can't comprehend what joy awaits. I would think that joy would include animals.

[NorthBeach]

Wernher- My deepest condolences. I have lost a few long time companions. None closer to me than my Husky/Wolf, Shasta. He sailed as First Mate (don't tell my wife, she thinks she was First Mate, even back then) with me over thousands of miles. And, flew right seat with me for hundreds of hours. When I was away for weeks at a time, he would check my office and look for my truck every morning to see if I'd returned without his knowing. But, he knew I'd return. Even if I, or my wife, didn't. His son is with me now. But, it's different.

As Platapus said, he'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge...

My prayers are with you.

[virtualpender]

I'm thinking of you tonight and am very sorry to hear of your loss.

[Theros]

Im very sorry for your loss. And fully understand you man, my dog Duke
died too of kidney failure about a year ago after 15 years with me...
Sure thing they now play together on a better place...

[AVGWarhawk]

Sorry to hear that. You will never know a more loyal friend! That is what makes them special.

[McHibbins]

Wernher, you´re not alone.
My deepest condolences. Same happened to me with my sweet Dachshound (?) (Dackel) Daisy on August 23th this year.
She was 15 1/2 years old when I brought her to the "rainbow bridge"




Edit : Maybe this may help you a little bit......




and

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by McHibbins

Wernher, you´re not alone.
My deepest condolences. Same happened to me with my sweet Dachshound (?) (Dackel) Daisy on August 23th this year.
She was 15 1/2 years old when I brought her to the "rainbow bridge"




Edit : Maybe this may help you a little bit......




and

Thank you McHibbins, that was very touching. I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and words, I've read them all.

When I was only 6 years old, my parents bought me my first dog, Baron. I had 3 sisters but no brothers and my parents felt Baron would make a good companion for me since I had little in common with my sisters and my father worked long hours as an executive. I played with Baron and grew up with him over the years. In fact, he lived over 17 years. Eventually, I grew to become a man, got married and moved out of my parents home at the age of 21.

Before moving away, I had naturally developed other interests (friends, work, dating, etc.) and unfortunately, Baron sort of faded quietly into the family fold as a second thought. He was aging and becoming increasingly more feeble. After I had married and moved out, my mother telephoned me to tell me that Baron could no longer walk on his own and she was going to take him to be euthanized. She asked if I would accompany her since she didn't think she was emotionally up to the task. Being the young, strong, virile man that I thought I was, I agreed out of respect for Baron and a sense of duty as his (sort of) fellow sibling.

During the drive to the Vet's office, I began to reminisce about all those years I had spent laughing, playing and growing up beside my canine companion. Great sorrow and regret began to break down the walls I had so carefully constructed over the years. As we pulled into the parking lot at the animal hospital, I began to cry unabatedly and unconsolably. I told my mother that I could not go through with it and that Baron was the only companion I had known as a young child. By this time her own floodgates had long given way and after serving no small meal of choice expletives to me, she took Baron inside the Vet's office as I sat adamantly and safely at the helm of my vehicle.

I was still crying as she exited the Vet's office, empty handed, and after several nearly indistinguishable apologies, found that I couldn't even drive the car home. In a nutshell, I was a mess. I was saddened even more that Baron was not taken home for a proper burial. All these years later, I'm still haunted by my failures on that fateful day. I swore that if I ever got another pet, I would handle it in an exceedingly more appropriate manner. I would not fail again.

Remembering Baron so many years later, and the vow I swore, I was inexorably set against ever owning a dog again. I could not, and would not, be swayed. After my second marriage, my new wife was incessantly hounding me to buy a puppy for her. For 2 years she endeavored tirelessly in her quest. Strictly as an appeasing effort, I took her to a local pet store without ever intending to spend one thin dime on any animal. The pain of the loss of Baron was still as present in my heart. "No way! No how! It ain't gonna happen! You can't talk me into it!", were the replies she would always hear.

As we pulled into the pet store parking lot, so many years ago, my new wife and I had been engaged in converation regarding the possibilities we might encounter in purchasing a pet dog. Of course, this was, in my mind, without ever intending to follow through with a purchase but rather, as a placatory strategy. I though I was being shrewd when I honestly suggested, "Too bad they don't make big dogs in small packages. You know, like a German Shepherd or a Dobermann but only, very small." In all honesty, I was telling the truth believing that no such dogs existed.

Once we entered the pet store, I immediately saw, and was instantly drawn to a tiny, stag red, dog, looking very much like a Dobermann and with a spiked collar that was so small, it could only accomodate 2 spikes.
I approached the puppy, who was in a topless, raised, pen and almost as if by fate, an employee was standing adjacent to it. I asked in eager astonishment, "What kind of dog is that?" The female attendant said it was a Minn-Pin. Duh, I just noticed the sign on the pen. I asked, "Minn Pin? You mean, like a mini Pinscher?" After a short testimony to the breed, she picked him up out of the pen and handed him to me. He was barely larger than the palm of my hand and I held him (with one hand) against my neck. The dog began, what would soon become, his trademark lick upon my face. As soon as he did, I was caught, hook, line and sinker, and my check book was already out of my pocket. The bond was instant.

That was the day we took Saber home and the events I've testified to are more than likely, the reason why I developed an unusually strong bond with him. I named him Saber because, that's what he was to me. He was my sword that garnered my strength for the battles (stresses) of this world. I'm sorry if this was long winded but, that too is in my nature, to explain against any possibility of misinterpretation. My wife complains constantly that my words are superfluous but, it has sure come in handy during cross-examinations.
I stayed with Saber through the entire process, holding him and caressing his back as the injections were administered. Though it was breaking my heart, I did not cry and give Saber any indication that something terrible was about to happen. After it was over, still not one tear shed, I carefully placed him back into his carrier, took him home and began to dig his burial site. Before wrapping him in his favorite blanket, I held his lifeless body, like I often used to (on my chest), rubbing his belly. It was then that the deluge came upon me. I held him for several minutes before placing him into the ground and covering him.

I did it right this time.

SABER:

[Platapus]

Although it does not make the pain go away, take heart that you did a noble and merciful thing.

From "A dog's plea" by Beth Norman Harris

....And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep my going. I am not having any fun. Please see to it that my life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing that with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands

A most noble thing you did

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I still wanna go regardless, but I hope they're there.


Well, ask yourself, what would bring you joy beyond belief, to get to heaven and have your pet come a running at ya. The bible does say
eye hasn't seen, nor ear heard the joy that God's prepared. Simply, we can't comprehend what joy awaits. I would think that joy would include animals.

1 Corinthians 2:9-
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him".-NIV

I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and kind words from this community.

[Zoomer96]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. There are few things as painful as losing a dear friend. And a dog can be one of the best. Been there, Done that.......

[cdrsubron7]

Sorry to hear about your loss, my friend. My condolences.

[Fish40]

I'm sorry to hear that Wernher. I actually had the unpleasent task of takeing the family cat to the vet to be put down. My wife, then girlfriend, had to drive back because I was a blubbering mess. I don't think I would want to do that again. Keep your chin up bud, and remember all the good times you had togeather.

[Mandiworld]

Very sorry about your loss. I hope this helps you in your pain...

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live..

He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''