Comments for <h3>Your Pet Loss Stories</h3>'The Love Of My Life For 16 Years'

Comments for

Your Pet Loss Stories

'The Love Of My Life For 16 Years'

Dear Patches
by: Heather

I am sitting here thinking of you. I am so lonely without you. I thank you for making me so happy when you were by my side. I know you wouldn't want me to be sad or lonely. Because when you were here with me you would always do everything you could to make me feel better. I just can't seem to let you go. I know I did the right thing for you I didn't want you to hurt any more or to die from starving because that would be awful and I know you would never do that to me. My heart hurts soooooo bad almost to the point I can't take it sometimes. I just want you back with me so bad. Love mommy

Thank you
by: Heather

Thanks so much to all of you for your kind words.

So Sorry
by: Anonymous

Hi my name is Sue. 1 year ago in Feb. I had to do the same as you with my Dog Gizmo who I had for 16 yrs. Until this day I feel the same as you about putting him to sleep because he was sick and I am still not over it to this day March 2013 I feel I killed my beat friend too I cry everyday about it. I love my Gizmo so much there is days I do not want to be here I want to be with him. I have no kids I always had my Gizmo. I lost friends because they tell me to get over it. Well I can't, every day I want to turn the clock back to be with him when he left he took my HEART I have not been the same since he's been gone so I really know how you feel and it's been over 1 year and it hurts like hell. Hugs and kisses for you.. Sue

Patches
by: Diana

Dear Heather

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of Patches. We all hope we never have to make the unthinkable decision to put our pets to sleep. I had to make the same decision for my beautiful 12 year old Doberman Leya.

Although at the time I knew in my heart I had to help her and end her suffering, it is always later that we second guess this decision. And that is when the guilt really takes over. When a pet we love and have shared our life with is suffering, and there is no hope of a cure or a good quality of life for them, we are the only ones who can step in and save them from suffering.

You did not kill Patches. The disease or medical condition she had is what was killing her, not the mercy given to her by this decision you made. This is truly the ultimate heartbreak we must be willing to endure for our beloved friends. It is one of the most painful and traumatic moments of our lives, and it will always be one of the most loving.

You loved and took great care of Patches for 16 years. In the end, this love made you strong enough to be with her when she needed you most. You put her needs before yours, and made the decision out of love for her. That can never be wrong.

I too was tortured by my last moments with Leya. Then I realized she would not want me to continue to suffer. She loved me, and spent her life making me happy, just like Patches did for you. I found a picture of Leya in happier times, and every time I would start to dwell on those last minutes with her, I would grab that picture and look at it, and think about the fun she was having then. Even if I didn't have the picture with me, I would just look at it in my mind. I found it really helped me to remember her in a happier way.

I also started a scrapbook to honor her life and our times together. It was very helpful, and each page I did was like a beautiful visit with her. I really would suggest you might try something like that. Writing on this site also helps. I would suggest visiting www.aplb.org. It is the site for the Assoc for Pet Loss and Bereavement. You will find a lot of help there.

I still have days when I cry for Leya, but that is a normal part of grieving for a pet we love so deeply. I believe the depth of our grief is equal to the depth of our love for them. I am slowly learning to remember Leya with happiness, as she would want. I hope you will eventually be able to remember Patches that way.

Be kind and forgiving to yourself Heather. Patches would want that for you. You can honor her the most by taking care of yourself.
I wish you well...

A Parting Prayer
by: Anonymous

Dear Lord, please open your gates
and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion
across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign her to a place of honor,
for she has been a faithful servant
and has always done her best to please me.

Bless the hands that send her to you,
for they are doing so in love and compassion,
freeing her from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss.
Help me remember the details of her life
with the love she has shown me.
And grant me the courage to honor her
by sharing those memories with others.

Let her remember me as well
and let her know that I will always love her.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise,
please allow her to accompany those
who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of her companionship
and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord,
for granting me the strength
to give her to you now.

Amen.

- © Brandy Duckworth, 1998

You can start here
by: Gabrielle

I am so sorry that you have waited all this time to speak of your little friend. We have to speak of our great loss and I know some people just don't understand how a pet can be so important to us.

In December I did the same for my lovely Alfie. I miss him so much still, especially here now Spring is beginning. In a way I don't want to look out of the window where I would see him chasing rabbits and poking through the daffodils sniffing for voles and mice. I do it because although it brings tears, afterwards I feel a little better because I have had the guts to remember him when he was at his best. At the end he looked as if he was asking me what has happened. There is always a difficulty in deciding what to do to help them. You are not responsible for her death. You just helped to shorten the suffering.

Try a diary and talk to her. We all feel we haven't done enough or done the wrong things, but there are not many choices. We can only love them and take care of them and the love never goes away.

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