I have only been here for a few hours, reading posts, crying, replying to posts, crying, thinking about and profoundly missing my kitty Tiger ( also called Tigerpaws), and in this short time I have never felt so connected to a group of people. When I read your posts, look at the pictures of your beloved companions I feel part of a greater whole and knowing you feel as I, grieve as I, have the same questions and worries as I,and hurt and have experienced the same loss as I, the feeling of being alone dissipates and somehow even if for a short while things get a little better. Your kind words, thoughts and prayers don't necessarily make my pain go away, (we each must work through that ourselves) they do make the alone feeling go away. For that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please know that my tears are for you and your loss as they are for my precious Tiger, my prayers are for your healing as for mine.


Be Well Each and Every One of You

Mark

(((tikkanen)))

I feel exactly as you do. Thank you for putting those thoughts into words.

I think most of us can work through these feelings of separation and loss on our own. What we cherish is the knowledge that others are traveling down the same path as we are. Comfort lies in not feeling alone. It is good to know that others understand the terrible feelings we are experiencing. That is probably the greatest value of the forum.
No one would wish this situation upon others but we gain strength in the unity with others like ourselves who will listen and understand.

All the best,
Ken Albin

Thank you Mark for your kind and beautiful words. You have expressed what all of us feel, so perfectly. I have found such peace when I've written here. I cannot go to my family and express my feelings of grief. They think I "should get on with things". I'm doing ok some days, but I will never forget or have questions. I still wish for one more hour, one more day, or week, with my precious baby taken all to soon. The truth is, I'm just taking one day at a time, and not worrying about what others think I should be feeling. I guess I'm back at the anger at my family stage again. They are making demands of me that I just don't feel like doing. So, I just don't answer my phone (again).

But, back to my original point, if not for this site and people like yourself, I could not have gotten through from one day to the next.

Scooter's Mom

Yes, I am in awe of the kindess and love here...for our beloved pets and for other human beings...the wonder of connecting over the internet.

I think we come here for more than support in our losses. We are also here because we have learned from our special friends what loves really is. We reach through our pain to each other because as we were grieving, knowing that awful day was approaching for our beloved friends, they reached through their pain to comfort us. They knew we hurt and they gave their love to us, no strings attached. We simply pay it forward, that is what our special friends gave us. Just as our releasing them from their pain was our greatest act of love, their teaching us was theirs.

Mark

This website has done more for me since I discovered it even existed! There are virtually no pet loss support groups where I live and now I am trying to change that through learning of everyone's experiences with their pets, living, loving and loss. Every day I visit this site and read others' experiences it gives me more insight that though we are from different walks of life (and even different countries), we all go through the same thing. Some of us may recover more quickly, some not, but grief is a process and it's different with everyone.
Talking with others is the first step, sharing experiences (no matter how sad or awful they may seem) is so crucial in the grief process. Keeping it to yourself is not good! Talk as often as you like and share your grief. It helped me heal and is still helping on the bad days (and they are getting few and far between now). I don't know where to start thanking everyone here for their support and friendship!!
It has meant so much knowing I wasn't alone.
Lisa