Over the lat 18 months, we have lost all 3 of our beloved pups.

In August, 2002, we lost Shannon, our 12 year old mutt. She had come into our lives as a stray, only about 2 months old, and quickly wormed her way into our hearts. She was the biggest of the three, but was always a bit of a puppy... She was also the most "talkative" of the pack (but only when she had someone to talk to). She went to the Rainbow Bridge to wait when she went into kidney failure following surgery to remove a sewing needle which had perforated her intestines. How she swallowed that, we never found out. We don't sew, and have never kept needles.

Last October, Meeko, our 6 year old miniature American Eskimo dog, suddenly developed kidney failure as well. Again, we have no clue about the cause. He had always been relatively healthy, and there's no reason to suspect that he got into something that made him sick. Meeko was an athlete, and was the comedian of the bunch. He had a small collection of stuffed animals which he cared for greatly (Shannon was never allowed to touch Meeko's baby's, cause she was too rough with them). When one of us was sick, or sad, it was Meeko who kept us company.

This past Sunday, however, Kaala, the Matron of the pack, passed to the Rainbow Bridge. Kaala was a Keeshond, and was abolutely the most unperturbable and stoic animal I have ever known. She was also the most beautiful. Kaala had just turned 15, and, despite her age, appeared in good health. Oh, sure, she had a touch of arthritis, and she'd gone deaf, but she could still see, and she could still love. Kaala was fully retired, and cuddled as a hobby. But, all along, she was really sick, at least for the past few months. A liver tumor had snuck up on her, and had choked off many of the vital organs in her abdomen. She may have been in some pain, but she never told us. Saturday, she started vomiting. We made an appointment for her regular vet for Sunday, but by Saturday night, we were seeing signs that she was extremely ill. We ran her to the emergency vet in town, who found the tumor. He thought she had a few days, so he suggested that we might keep the appointment for the next day, and consider euthanization then. I'm so glad we took her... I can imagine the guilt I'd feel right now if I hadn't. We took her home, and I helped her to bed down for the night, at the foot of my bed, where she always slept. I lay awake for quite a while, dreading the decision to be made on the next day, while listening to her breathing. But, Kaala had her own plan. When I awoke Sunday morning, Kaala had moved towards the head of the bed, closer to me, had layed down and moved on to the Rainbow Bridge. I think making the choice on her own was her final gift to me. She looked absolutely at peace.
I feel so sorry for anyone who has never experienced the gift of the love of a dog.
I miss her horribly... I miss them all.

Thank you for this forum.

Finally:
To my wonderful pets... I'll see you at the bridge!

I'm so glad that you know Shannon, Meeko and Kaala are at Rainbow Bridge, and while I know it’s hard to have lost Shannon and Kaala, to loose Meeko so young is always so unexpected.

For me its been 1 year,1 month since Sadie passed and 10 Months since we had Jude put to sleep. And I can honestly say that although I still miss them terribly and still have the odd day of tears, I look back on my wonderful 17 years with them and am thankful, when I think we only had them because my husband nagged me, what I nearly missed out on.

Take Care
Love Sue

Thanks, Sue

Yes, Meeko was definitely the hardest hit of all... it was most unexpected. We were getting prepared for Shannon and Kaala, but when we lost the Meekster, we were blown away.

I am sorry for you losses ... to lose so many in such a short amount of time would just devastate me ... and Meeko so young ... my heart breaks for you.

It has been 5 months and 14 days since I was forced to let my little baby go on to the bridge and the tears still come unexpectedly ...

I hope for you that the days start to get brighter and that the memory of your little ones will soon bring a smile to your face ...

hugs,
Beth

Thanks, Beth. Having been through this several times before, I know that what you say is true. I know that I will fondly remember both the funny and the touching moments. Over the past few days, I have recalled moments long since stored away, of puppyhood, of my son and daughter trying to entice young dogs to sleep in their rooms, of dogs protesting the indignity of being dressed up like little girls, of Shannon's dirty tricks to lure Kaala away from a rawhide chew (since her own didn't ever seem to last very long), of Kaala on a walk, insisting that we cross the street (because surely there must be a dog eating monster hiding in that storm drain), of Meeko discovering the art of opening doors by jumping and flipping the door handle with his paws. I miss white hair on my dark sweaters, black hair on my light sweaters, and being awoken a 2 in the morning because Miss. Kaala has to go out. I miss 3 furry faces struggling to be the first to welcome me home.

I know that time will soften the hurt. I know that tears will try to sneak past the guard from time to time. It just doesn't feel good now. I'm sure that it's going to get a little better once I have been able to bury both Meeko and Kaala (the ground is frozen here), where they can keep Shannon company (I buried her beneath a tree which was her favorite resting spot).

I believe that dogs go to heaven... but, if they don't, then I want to go where ever they do go.