[FONT=Arial]Hi Im new around here. I wanted to share my story about my best friend. Jessie was a shepard/pitbull mix, that my husband and I got a few months before we were married. 3 years later while O was pregnant with my first child Jessie was hit by a car. After she was hit she ran away. We searched for her and put fliers up all over the place. 5 days later she came home. The car tire had run over one of her back legs and it was hopelessly mangled. We took her to the vet and they removed the leg. Not that you could ever tell. It never slowed her down.
2 thursdays ago I noticed she was have lots of trouble walking so I took her to the vets. I figured it was arthrities or somthing like that. She was 11 years old and had to all the weight to hold on her one back leg. The dr.s did some tests and told me that she had lymes and was in kindney failure. My world stopped. We took her in for 3 days to get IV treatments and she really did seem to be doing better. A week later she took a bad turn. Her back leg would not support her at all. I spent the day petting her and loving her. I told my husband that if she was not better by the friday that we would have to take her to back to the vets and send her on her way to the rainbow bridge. The next morning I was woken up by my son saying that Jessie was not moving. I rushed down stairs to find that she was gone. I am so thnkaful that she went on her own and I didnt have to make the choice, but man I have this ache in my heart. We had a ceramony in the yard for her where we told our favorite Jessie stories.
A couple strange things happened that morning that I want to believe with all my heart were signs from her saying she was ok. After we found her my son touched her leg and right as he did itthe lights went out. It did happen in all the neighborhood but I still want to think it was her saying goodbye. Also I looked at my watch and it was an hour slow. It had stopped somtime in the night.
Anyway yesterday we went to the pound and got a puppy. I feel a little guilty at getting a new dog so soon but I needed to have something to help take my mind off of Jessie and help me move on. Though it hasnt taken my mind off of Jessie the new puppy has given me something to laugh about and Im already starting to fall in love with her. She is great with the kids and its helping them from missing Jessie too much. The new puppy is a little rotti/shepard mix. I know in my heart Jessie wouldnt mind. She would want me to share my love and give this little pup a good home and life.
Thank you for listening to my story. I really needed a place to come and talk about Jessie. My family are great but how much do they really want to hear. My husbands family think a dog is a dog and dont really get that they are a part of the family.

I am terribly sorry for your loss. Indeed our world stops when we lose such pets.
Some people dont seem to understand that humans are not the only species that can give and receive love. Those people don't understand that our love for our pet can be much stronger than the love that unites us with other people around us and that losing our pet is a major loss for us. Such a bond with a pet can not be explained, it can only be experienced. I hope the new puppy helps you through this, indeed, love is healing.

I am so sorry to hear about your Jesse.Some people don't understand.I feel sorry for them to have never known the love that we have share with our pets.They are family members,the same grief. I wish you well,and I hope things get better.

I am sorry for the loss of your freind. Do not feel guilty at all about the puppy. It is obvious from your story that you are aware the puppy is not, and will never be a replacement for Jessie. You are one of the keepers of Gods great creatures. This devotion you have to look after and care for that which cannot care for itself comes from the heart & soul. It does not come as a requirement to fill the huge void that Jessie left. Guilt would like you to "believe" that you are wrong in this decision by "playing on the notion" that you have tried to replace Jessie but do not give in to this. You have already searched yourself and know this to be untrue.

Ther are many people out there that think pets are just that, pets. Not really part of the family. These emotionally challenged excuses for human beings are not the type of people condusive to positive movement forward through the grief process. You will find here what you seek. The kind of people that put these creatures on the pedestals they belong. Here you will find compasion and understanding about your loss.

May you find the strength and comfort you need in the days to come.

Thank you for your kind words. The puppy has helped ease alittle of the ache I feel about Jessie, but I still miss her so much. She has been gone a week now and for some reason my mind still refuses to accept that she is really gone. I keep expecting to see her around a corner. I am already in love with Ruby, but she will never take Jessies place, she will have her own place. Just as Jessie will always have a special place in my heart.
I have a hard time understanding how some people dont see pets as family members. You dont find too many people that give that unconditional love that a pet does. How many people are truely happy just to sit by your side?
Xrayspecs, thank you for your comments about feeling guilty for getting a new puppy so soon. I had been feeling guilt that I some how betrayed Jessie. Then I thought more about it and decided that I was honoring Jessie by getting a new puppy. The love that I was able to shower on her for 11 years should be shared with a new little friend that can now have a good life and be put on that pedastal where she deserves to be.

Hugs and thanks to you all. This is such a great site.

Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss. I recently lost my pet also and I understand your greif. I hope your new pup brings you great joy.