Little did we know when we woke up today, and Bailey was running at our feet, that this would be her last day on earth. Just 3 hours ago she was happy and healthy. Now a heart attack has taken our baby away. Please enjoy every moment with your pets as if they were the last. God bless our little girl.

Hello,

I am so sorry for your lost, I too lost my beloved pet last Saturday. I feel for your pain..


Still Greiving,
Sheena

Thanks. We just needed someone to acknowledge our grief. Since she was not sick, we are in shock. Our hearts are with you. and grieve for your loss. Thanks for your concern.
Pat and Dennis

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.... I also lost my Cobbles (the rabbit) very quickly as well... I found Cobbles 2 weeks ago already dead in his cage... I feel it made it harder on me to have lost Cobbles so quickly then to have know something was wrong with him. At least then i could have prepared myself. But, know that on this site everyone understands what you are going through. It has been very benifical to me. Keep talking about it, and in time it will get a little easier.

Thanks for your kind words. It helps to know that even strangers can understand the grief that we all feel. I had a pet rabbit when I was little. His name was "Flopsy." So sorry for your grief. Hopefully the loss gets better with time. Thanks again.

I am so sorry to hear about your baby!!! I had time to prepare with mine, but it didn't feel any easier. I actually prayed for something to happen or for him to just die in his sleep so I wouldn't have to make "the decision". I believe the choice was made for you, it actually will spare you the heart wrenching decision. I know this doesn't make it any easier and in some ways it may be harder because you feel robbed of time. However, it might help for you to tell us more about your baby and especially mention the good times. I will check back for your story when you are ready. I am sure it was a good one, as they all are. Prayers and peace be with you.

Parker's Mom,
Kerry

I'm sorry for the loss of Bailey. What a shock.

And thank you to for the message to enjoy every minute with your pets. My Theo left this realm last Wednesday night. He was 13 and left before his devoted cat friend Emily who is 16. She misses him. And so do I, so much. Your message made me realize how important it is for me to love and spoil Emily and give her the best old age possible.

I know that few words at this time are consoling but know that there are folks out here in cyberspace holding you in their thoughts.

Luna

[SIZE=7]Thanks for the invitation to talk just a little about our Bailey. She was indeed special, as all of our pets are. She was a registered therapy dog with the Love on a Leash Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy. She worked every Friday in her nursing home, and actually had logged over 800 volunteer hours. She was featured on a magazine cover and had many, many newspaper articles written about her. She had made several breakthroughs with patients who would not speak, but began talking about their long ago pets after many visits with Bailey. But to us, she was just our dog, "velcroed" to our sides when we returned home from work each day. The house is sure quiet now. It will be a sad Thanksgiving and holiday season. Thanks to the members of this board for their support. Sometimes strangers can offer the most comfort of all.

Wow Bailey sounds like she was really special!! I am so glad you felt like sharing a little bit of her story with us. Was she a retriever of some sort??? She sounds like a Labrador.......of course I am a little partial as my Parker was mostly lab with a bit of something else in him......we said he was part snuggler. How cheesy is that? Parker did some work at nursing homes for a while, I know that takes a very special dog. Are you starting to feel any better at all, or are the tears freely flowing all day still? I am going on 3 weeks and I will tell you, it goes in waves. I started to feel a little better about one week later, and then cried for 2 days straight this past weekend. It helps to have people who are as dog crazy as I am to talk to. Please feel free to e-mail me direct whenever you would like. Hope to hear more about Bailey.

Parker's Mom,
Kerry

Well once again, thanks for your kind and supportive words. Bailey was a Shetland Sheepdog, a blue merle. Her one brother was the runner up for Shelties at the Westminister Dog Show, and she had several half-brothers and sisters who were there on a regular basis. We bought Bailey because her breeder thought she was not "show quality" which we could have cared less about. She probably got more attention than those show dogs did anyway! It still hurts, but talking about the good times helps. We will be going to our mountain home on Friday that she dearly loved. That will be hard, but we will be ok. I cannot believe the support from this website. You all saved my sanity and I am greatly appreciative. I am trying to go online and post to people who have lost pets after I have, and help in some way. You all are special. God bless. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Her best doggie friend was a Lab, Sunny. What a pair those two made!!! Will post again soon.

Jeez, just realized your name was Kerry. We are Irish and made many trips to Ireland, and the part we loved most was County Kerry. And Bailey's registered name was "Murphy's Kerry Bailey!" How about that!!!

I am so sorry about Bailey. I had a Sheltie when I was growing up, her name was Trixie and she was such a sweetheart, my parents had to put her to sleep when she was 8, she had cushings disease and the vet we had misdiagnosed it for so long that by the time another vet finally got it right it was too late to do anything for her. I'll never forget lying in the sun with her on her last afternoon.
This may sound quite loony but I knew at the time that I wouldn't have a dog again for many years so I whispered to her please come back to me as a kitty. Many years later I got a silver persian girl Nymph with the same personality. I've always wondered...
You are absolutely right, we have to cherish them as long as they are with us because no matter how long they are with us it is never long enough. Losing a loved one is so hard. I just had to say goodbye to my Nymph early Friday morning.

I'm so sorry it happened so unexpectedly, it must have been a terrible shock. Rest assured however that she knew you both loved her. The love doesn't die.

Oh my goodness. Before Bailey, I was definitely a cat person too. So sorry Nymph has gone to the Rainbow Bridge! Bailey is over there, barking and spinning, and waiting to chase her around a bit! Take care. The hurt is being shared by myself and a host of others. The good times outlive the bad. So sorry.

Well we will take Bailey's ashes on Sunday and spread them in the forest where she loved to run so much. Knowing that we have this ahead of us has brought back the hurt all over again. She had a funny way about her. Whenever anyone would sneeze, she would bark and bark. I find myself holding back sneezes at night because I don't want to wake up anybody in the house. Then I realize, it doesn't matter anymore. She also did not like it when someone in one room talked to someone in another room. How silly was that! We are moving into a new house in a week, one that we bought because it had a big yard for Bailey. Whenever we were looking at property, that was the first thing we looked at--is there room for a dog? Is there somewhere to take her out to go to the bathroom? Even though this is an exciting time, the joy is gone. Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble a bit. The memories come back at the most unlikely times.

I am going to put a headstone on my dog Rudy's grave this weekend, also at our weekend house. He died one day before Bailey. Yes, these acts of "closure" do highlight the grief again (not that it really is closure, or that the grief is that far away any time). I will be thinking of you.
Gina

Hi there. Bailey sounds like an absolutely amazing dog who touched many lives. What a true blessing to have been a huge part of her life. Was she a therapy dog? I know this is a difficult time but I have found this forum to be very helpful and comforting. I hope that you will have a wonderful time at your mountain home. Bailey's spirt will be all around you and I am sure she would like to see you enjoying yourselves and relaxing. Take care.

Molly