my husband rescued eddie 14 years ago. I had never had a dog before so when he wanted me to meet eddie for the first time, i was nervous. i'll never forget that day, when the door opened and the cutest dog with a chocolate face and white eyebrows and muzzle nuzzled his way into my heart. eddie had me at HELLO.

eddie was so full of life. he just wanted to be touched all of the time whether nuzzling his little head in between your legs or putting his paw on you-- any physcial attention was good by him. eddie chased squirrels, swam until he brought back that stick, played with his bubbies, and of course, as a lab, played fetch with anything that you were will to throw. he was always under toe, while i was in the kitchen cooking, just hoping i'd "accidentally" drop something on the floor. eddie loved PEANUT BUTTER and we always loved his reaction to it. he loved the cold weather and would eat the snow, then pee in it. he could be so stubborn especially when he wanted to visit a favorite neighbor and our clocks wouldn't permit it, he'd just plant his feet in the cement and not move until he got his way. eddie had the most adorable personality; affectionate, warm, fiesty, playful, needy and empathetic. he hated it when i cried and would run circles around me and bark until i stopped. he was the best spooner too, we all loved spooning eddie.

he was just like a little person to us. eddie, you will always be a member of our family and we know there will never be another like you.we miss coming home to your little, white eyebrows peering through the gate. mommy, daddy and kayla miss you so much but we know that though you miss us too, you are able to do the things that you loved so much that your tired oldself could no longer.

you will always be in our hearts. rest in piece angel-boy.

Dear Eddies Mom,

I'm so sorry for your loss. Those words sound so empty when I look at that sweet face . You were so blessed to have him as your first puppy. The eyes are the windows of the soul and you can tell from the picture that he had a wonderful soul and will be missed by you and his "favorite neighbors".

Of course he was like a person! There is a saying, "I want to be the person my dog thinks I am". I'm sure you are a much better person from having him in your life. Our pets teach us so much about being a good person. What a wonderful soul! Please know you are not alone in your grief and you will see him again one day. When you are able, please post more pictures. I know I'm not alone when I say that I would love to see more "Eddie pictures".

Your in my thoughts and prayers,
Michelle

Eddie's Mom,

What a beautiful lab baby! I could see how he had you at HELLO. You and Eddie are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for your loss. It's so fresh right now. I lost my babypuppy in September. I know how much it hurts and I'm here for you.

Wishing you lots of hugs,
Stephanie

Michelle and Stephanie,

Thank you so much for responding to my words about Eddie. I really do appreciate it. I know that so many of you are grieving over a furbaby that's no longer with you so it warms me that you've taken some time to read my post and send me your kind, supportive words. Tonight, Halloween was tuff. We're so used to dressing Eddie up and having him nuzzle his little nose into the door when the trick or treaters ring the bell. No way he was missing that. I miss everything about him but find myself getting a bit better everyday as I knew Eddie would not want me to be sad. I have attached another picture of my little love. The little white eyebrows and muzzle melt my heart.

Love,
Eddies Mommy

Dear Eddies Mom,

We work in people's homes doing exotic wall finishes, painting and artwork. Sometimes we are on a job for a week or two. Buck (my Husband) tells me that years after we have finished a job I will remember the pets names even if I forget the customers names . Eddie is one of those puppies I would have never forgot and hugged each morning on the job. He has such a beautiful soul. He's also got a great smile! I get tears just looking at him.

I've been working on the computer all night for an upcoming legal case. This was such a happy note to end my evening on. Even though he is gone from this life know that he is still continuing to make friends and spread joy when you share his pictures. In that way he will live on forever. You were so very blessed to have him in your life.

Thanks so much for sharing him with us.

Michelle

yes, Eddie, angel-boy
looking at your picture makes me laugh and cry at the same time
Eddie, you made a lot of people happy
who can say that at the end ?
(i am working in a hospital, and i do know the names of the pets of our clients
so i am saying once in a while....how is your dog doing?
your cats are doing fine ?
well, i am working at a human-hospital, and not with a vet)
Eddie, your mom is missing you
i am so sorry
eva

Oh, more great pictures of my friend Eddie... (he's a dish)

You've got me a little choked up here -

I have a girl, fifteen and a half, and my angel dog Milo, who's been instructed to go meet Eddie, oh, and naughty Mouse (he's two) and we all join you in mourning your boy (and a pile of cats also add their condolences, they're no less important, they just aren't as demonstrative)

So sad for you.... Sharon

Sharon, Eva, Michelle:

Ahhh thanks ladies. this site is really helping along. i really want to believe that eddie is up there playing, with your past furbabies and all the others, jumping, swimming, all that good stuff he could no longer do at the end.

The weekends are so difficult. how do you get thru the weekends? it's when we spent the most time with eddie. i've cried twice today, once while visiting his gravesite in our backyard and the second time, when i went into the garage and watched my husband etch eddie's paw print into his gravestone. just lost it. we have out of town guests and we took them to half moon bay for lunch. eddie loved the water there so it was so tuff not to think of him all afternoon and witness all of the other owners and their dogs. we all felt so sad.

uggh. just miss him so. thank you for your replies, so terribly touching. i can't thank you enough.

eddies mom

boy i hope someone reads this today. i just hate mondays. probably, because the house empties out and i'm left here alone without my family or eddie. the emptiness just echoes and the backyard is empty. eddie is in the backyard, my husband is working on a beautiful etched stone with his name and paw print but i try and limit my visits there to twice a day, otherwise i'll cry too much.i try and only cry 2x/day-that's the limit i've set myself.

i look in the yard and i see the squirrels running along the fence, they used to just drive eddie crazy and when he could still run, he'd jam outside as if he could catch them. they were the enemy. now, i see them out there and i wonder if they wonder where he's been. where'd the chocolate lab with the white eyebrows and white muzzle go.? sometimes we see them on his grave and my husband chuckles and says "they're messing with him, i think they know he's there."

i was just hoping there was another sad soul out there reading online for support that might read this post and help me out of my monday blues funk.

almost 3 weeks now and still longing for him. thanks for listening..........

~eddies mom

dear eddies mom
i am reading your post, but i cannot help you, but saying
i do love eddie, he has been such a great dog with so much loving eyes
i can only say, that i am very sorry
and quite a few who are posting in LS are so much better writers,
so, i am going to work
i like it, and it keeps me functioning
i am having my Jimboycat, now 12 years, i love him alot
and he is supporting me, an indoor cat, in a big city, nothing else possible
the windows of my appartement are all fenced.
he is able to look out of the window, at people, at cars, and then to catch the sight of a few birds, thats all there is.
if i would let him out, he would be killed by a car in a minute
i am sending to you all by best wishes
eva, with her boycat Jimmy Klinger

dear eddies mom
i just wanted you do knwo, that i read the post where you need help
and the help, i can provide, is a small one
saying, sorry.......
but it is meant from the bottom of my heart
sincerely eva

dear eddies mom
please send something to smile
(like the cool Nickels with his sunglasses)
eddie, in another birthdayoutfit
eddie in any outfit, ore without one,
he looked like just a beautiful, big, intelligent, empathetic, good friend you can count on till the rest of your live
a lot of kisses for eddie
eva

Dear EddiesMom,

Sigh. So sorry for what you're going through... I promise, some day it will get better, but probably not for a while... .

I found writing about Milo, yes, writing,blinded by tears, actually helped me; maybe it helps you too?

I LOVE Half Moon Bay and am not surprised in the least how fond memories would be there... As I write, I am looking at photos of Mr. Milo who loved the beach too, (but never made it to the West Coast...)

Take Good Care of yourself and please fiind some solace in the lovely life you guys gave his sweet self...

Sharon

Mondays can be dreadful....

Eddies Mom, I'm sorry for your loss. I understand completely the emptiness that you feel. It is so hard to continue on with life as if everything is normal when we know in our hearts that it is not. Our everyday lives as we knew it is now obsolete. I had a hard time with my "new normal" so I wrote a post how do you adjust to life? On the death and dying support board. Alot of the reply's helped me alot maybe it can help you some to. I wish you well. Take care k9pal

Katzen, Zoo, k9:

you guys are so great. i really needed to hear from others yesterday. what a bad day. uggh. katzen, i completely understood and needed to hear your empathetic words. 3 posts, wow what a doll-- thank you. k9 and Zoo, i have read your stories too and as sad as i am for all of your losses , i'm thankful i have you and everyone here on this board that get it and are going thru it. it's just so hard letting go. i wanted you all to know that my dot and i met a woman with two black labs this weekend, one of them obviously nursing. she said she was in need of some puppy holders until she hands her puppies over to canine companions so i'm going over there this afternoon to hold some puppies and on friday we're going over as a family. what do you guys think of that.? baby steps. it really does help to pet other dogs right now. i know my eddie would be happy to see the smile it brings each of us.

yesterday was a really bad day, today, though i'm teary, i feel better thanks to you guys. katzen, here's a photo of my sweet boy at last years's 14th bday. so many hats......

take care all of you-
eddies mom

PS: k9, im gonna go read that post you mentioned. we each miss our routine with eddie.

thank you for Eddies photo
eva

My sympathies for your loss, how hard this is, it's been a year for me and I am doing much better but this grief is intense at first. The first 3 days, the first three weeks, the first three months, the first three semesters, then that mournful first year ....A cliff to come down of then a mountain to climb, during which time we transfer the physical side of love to a newer spiritual one. We sort of renovate our hearts, create a special room in there for our lost love. I really feel that my soulmate lives in me now. I hope so anyways, especially because he would have chosen that because he is free now. There are all kinds of theories about the afterlife and none of us knows. Rudolph Steiner had this theory that some animals who are especially intelligent have achieved their animal stage (after having gone through mineral and animal) and move on to become humans. Apparently while they wait, which can take years, they are drowsy and content, sort of like the stage when you are still asleep but semi conscious.
So perhaps, and there again this is just a thought, but perhaps your Eddie is smiling from within you, hope this is what you will feel. Courage and hugs, Toonie

Wonderful pictures! takes me back to my dog days. Those eyes...you can just see the intelligence and also the communication. You might consider a puppy. Many years ago the first dog that had to leave me, I was devastated, but I came back from the vet to a small German Shepherd puppy who was anxious for attention. It was the distraction I needed and was so easy to hug too! She was with me for the next 10 years until cancer claimed. She managed to beat it for 5 of those years so she did have 10 very good years. When she left, I searched the classifieds and found a black and silver Shepherd puppy needed a home, so I called and meet the person halfway between my home and hers. I immediately went to the vet cause she was full of fleas and they were not allowed in my home. Also, a thorough checkup. She was with me for 12 years and when she left, we were going to move out of State so we decided no pets until we were in our new home. So....a feral mommy cat decided we had a nice quiet backyard and voila! 5 kittens! Well, we wound up keeping 3, catching that mother and getting her spayed. That was in 1991 and Little Guy who I just lost was the last of those 3 kittens. I don't know of anyone who has regreted getting another. I'm ready to and not ready to so until I am sure I am 100% ready, I will wait. But this forum is really heaven-sent and I thank Tribble's family for doing this. Eddie looks so sweet and huggable! We never forget..the question seems to be how long before we can accept it? I don't know the answer to that one. Take care..others are thinking of you.

katzen, toonie and lovethem,

thanks guys for your input. Toonie, i absolutely have to beleive that eddie is in heaven, feeling free and is happy and watching over me. i do feel his little spirit inside of me, throughout the house and i do see him running across the yard and peering through the gate when i get home. it's stuff like that that keeps me going. Lovethem, i'm lonely. eddie was my baby and i miss him, my role in his caregiving and his presence in my house. a new puppy would be so great, i do believe the distraction would be good for me and the hole in my heart would mend quicker. i volunteered to puppy handle the other day- 4 puppy labs, 2 yellow, 2 black. it was so awesome being close to them. one of them fell asleep in my arms. i was holding it like a baby. but, as a family, we agreed out of respect to eddie, we'd wait. my husband is thinking in the spring. i am afraid if that void isn't filled before them, i'll continue to wake up in tears, like i am now and continue to cry throughout the day. no dog will be eddie, but i just can't keep going on like this. logically, i know it was his time, but my heart just can't accept that he's gone. eva, this photo is for you.

thank you always for your support.
eddies mom

Yes, I do believe the puppy you are thinking of would definitely fill your arms and chase away some of the shadows of loneliness. Spring does seem far off when you are hurting everyday. Just remember Eddie would never want you to hurt. He would understand whatever you and your husband decide to do. the important thing to remember is you are not trying to REPLACE Eddie.....that just can't be done! You are just trying to help yourself heal as best you can. Looking at his pictures, I don't think I would be wrong to guess he would love a new puppy as much as you. I replaced my babies when I felt it was important for me to do so, to help me face each day. I loved your story about the lab puppies you were holding. You'll never forget Eddie and you won't love another the way you love him but you will love another for themselves. Whatever it takes to put a smile back onto your face will be the right thing. It is much nicer to look at a picture of our special friend and smile at a good memory it brings rather than crying until exhausted. Missing him will be much easier to bear with your loneliness distracted by a little one. They demand attention which helps you too. What Eddie would want is for you to be happy as you can be without him being able to be with you. That's called unconditional love. Again....talk it over with your husband and as I said before, remember you are not trying to REPLACE that wonderful friend, but only trying to make his being gone more bearable. There is room to love another and sometimes that is the only cure for an emptiness that overcomes one. Take Care

Dear Eddies Mom,
Thanks for the new pictures. I get emailed when there are new entries to your thread and Eddies pictures always add a smile to my day. Lately, sometimes that's the only smile.

Everyone is different when it comes to the question of a new baby. When I lost Nickels we thought, O.K. no more kittens! We're getting up in age and we worry about our health. That's could be a 20 year responsibility to take on. We really stuck to our guns, though who can resist the kitties at Pets Mart and other pet stores? I always have to look. We were really stubborn so God, Nickels, Bucks Late Wife that loved boy kitties, SOMEONE, purposely sent Frankee into our lives. All I can tell you is he is the biggest blessing we've received in a long time. His little feet don't touch the ground much because one of us is always hugging and kissing him. I always tell Frankee that he's the most special kitten in the WHOLE world, but I CAN'T tell him that he's the best kitten ever. I always tell him about Nickels and Shiloh and Boo, my other 3 boy kitties. I've been incredibly blessed to have a fourth! I realize Frankee is just as special in his own ways and a beautiful addition to my memories of the other 3. I can't imagine life without Frankee after two months!

When your ready you'll know. I also feel you won't regret your decision when your ready to make it. And if you don't get at least 5 smiles a day from the new baby, well, I'd just like to see you try not to

Thanks for the Eddie pictures. Love them both! I love dressing the babies up. I think they like it too, well sometimes Our yellow lab used to retrieve boulders from the bottom of the river that we would throw out as far as we could. Labs and water!

Michelle

Oh EddiesMom-
So much.... First of all, I know the feeling-first it's the idea, then the itch, then, eventually, it becomes a pang-like a hunger pang. You want a furbaby! I am going through the same thing. I still don't feel ready-but that's just me- but I do feel like it will be REALLY SOON! I almost took a little kitty into my home and then it fell through. I was ready-a cat would be different from my puppyboy. But-it did not work out. But, a dog... I'm almost there.

In any case, I love the new pictures of Little Eddie- Wow-do I feel like I could see him from so many angles! What a beauty! He is absolutely beautiful!. Labs are, in general. But Eddie has so much personality in that face! I love him so much. I know that a personality like that continues to live on. I hope that he has met my little Duffy. What a beautiful pair they would be!

Lots of hugs,
Stephanie

lovethem,nickels,forduffy:

thanks for the posts. you really know how to make me smile/cry(in a good way)yes, i am now convinced this hole in my heart can only be filled if there is a new little pup in this house for me to love and adore. i must agree, eddie would want me to move on. i still cry everyday. i think my husband is coming around, he told us the other day that a puppy would be a great gift for the family for xmas. we will definitely do rescue, just like we got eddie. i just memorialized eddie throughout the house, a couple of 8x10 matted frames and a couple of 5x7's. all different poses, some of which i've posted on this site. my hubby was afraid it would bring on sadness to see him all over but it's just the opposite, puts a smile on my face.

lovethem, nickels, forduffy, your words have soothed me and i feel so fortunate to have you here on this site, cuz you've been there and understand the loss. eddie was so special, the emptiness after his loss is overwhelming.

i hope eddie meets your furbabies on the otherside. he would be the social one, with the party hat, hosting all of the doggie/kitty meet n greets.

warmly,
eddies mom

Eddies Mom, Your pictures of Eddie breaks my heart. He looks so much like my Max except he was brown and Max was yellow. His face structure and expressions are exact. The pic w/ Eddie w/ the B-day hat on I have one of Max like that but without the hat. The way his head is positioned, the smile and the way his ears are flattened against his head. Then the one where Eddie was being washed his expression w/ his head turned. That is what Maxes face looked like when I put horns on his head last Halloween. Thank you so much for sharing the pics. Take care k9pal

EddiesMom: I am so glad to hear how you are feeling about a new addition and especially what your husband has said. About the pictures of Eddie, I have had over a dozen animals in my lifetime so far and when I would lose them, I really could not look at their pictures for a very long time. But, for some reason, with Little Guy...maybe cause the house is really empty for the first time...I made it a point recently to put his pictures in every room he would be in and just like you said...at first I was afraid it would make my grief worse...but it has been the opposite. Looking at him so healthy and contented makes me feel good. we did have that feeling for 16 good years. I touch the picture and tell him I miss him but I find comfort in surrounding myself with his pictures in the home. So I understand what you are saying about Eddie's pictures.

I look forward also to seeing some puppy pictures...maybe start a New Beginning section when the time is right.

Because I know how much you love Eddie....I feel I can guarantee you will never regret your decision to bring the new one into your home. They become a part of our hearts immediately and we are fortunate as animal lovers, we are given a lot of room there so we can share our love so one who does not have it....will now be loved in their own special way. Keep in touch.

eddies mom
every time i look at eddies avatar it makes me smile,
thank you for sharing eddies photos
so, maybe, xmas is the date with a little puppy ??
that is great !
don`t forget us, we are waiting for posts, pics, etc...
though i keep eddie always in my mind
sincerely eva

Eva,

Thank you for checking in. Yes, I took a bit of a break from posting. My family is finding this holiday season especially hard. Eddie loved Xmas and we loved to spoil him. We were decorating the tree on Sunday and my dot found eddies xmas ornament and my poor husband fled the room in tears. The holiday season I'm sure brings sadness to many of us who have recently loss a furbaby. It's been 7 weeks since Eddie's passing and it seems like an eternity. Does it feel that way for many of you. We've made a beautiful memorial for him in the backyard with plants and my hubby finally finished engraving Eddie's stone. We're going to each write a message to him on the back before my husband seals it. It warms us that he's out there, we know looking over us. OOPS..the tears are flowing now. Uggh. As far as getting a new dog, well yes, we are looking mid January around my husband's bday. I thought it would be a good gift to let him pick a dog (the breed) and name him. We're looking at rescue of course but have decided against another lab. We just couldn't bring ourselves to do get another before Xmas. It seemed wrong.

Per your request, I have included a photo of Eddie last xmas surrounded by his bubbies. We have this photo framed in our home. The red and white pacifier toy is one Rob's dad gave Eddie and we buried him with it. He definitely had his favorites.

Thank you for thinking of us and I hope you too are able to get through the holiday season okay.

Take care Katzen,
Eddies mom

I love your Eddie. He is a doll. It is heartwarming to hear that other families adore their pets as much as we, my husband and I, do. I cannot bring myself to even look at pictures of my little lost Annie yet, let alone post them. But I love looking at yours and am sorry you too will be missing yours this day and the next and the next and .... like we do.

annie's mommy

Hi Eddie's Mom,
Yes- I lost Duffy almost 3 months ago and I feel like I haven't seen him in decades. I miss him so much. We have not started decorating. I don't even feel like doing it this year. I do want to go through the Christmas stuff, though, and find Duffy's stockings and toys and just hold them for some time. I feel like taking off for this season and waiting until next year.

I wanted to tell you that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pictures of your baby, Eddie. I feel like I know him. He's just so gorgeous. The memorial sounds beautiful and well deserved. He is so loved and that is great.

I wish you a peaceful holiday season this year and know that you are not alone. We all look forward to the prospect of one of our own here on the forum getting a new baby. When you are ready, I wish you lots of luck and I can't wait to see pictures. I am not ready just yet but I promise the same.
Hugs to you and your family.

Hi Eddies Mom,

Eddie was one of the most special pet souls. He just can't take a bad picture. Most of us have to practice in front of a mirror but he is a natural. I would have loved to have known him and given him a big old lab hug! You were so blessed. I wish I could hug and cry with you. Precious Precious Puppy!

Thank you so much for the pictures. I keep checking in to see them. They are so healing for the rest of us. Thanks for helping us all with Eddies pictures. My Kitty Nickels LOVED big dogs, which is really strange for a cat, but I know they are playing together. We'll meet one day and wonder why we were so sad.

Bless your heart. Your in my prayers and I'm looking forward to other pictures. Precious Boy!!

Michelle

dear Eddie`s Mom
i just want you to know, that i will never forget Eddie
i look at Eddies photos, and he warms my heart and he makes me smile
i do hope, that you and your family managed to have a good holiday-season

you know, LS is a wonderful place to surfe around, read, cry, post, hold on to a few of the posters and her pets,
but there are just so many, many, and i am crying so much...

so, what i am trying to do now, is to read the new beginnings, the tributes, and the cybershoulder, "flirting" a little bit, omg, the administrator said,
there are a lot of other forums to do that, anyway
you let me know when you have something new to tell , sometime ?

thank you for everything,
yes, now is the time to buy a digital camera and post all pictures from my beloved cat Jim, he is such a nice guy, i need him so much, now he is 12 years of age,
he is so devoted, what would i do without him ?
how can i live without him ?
best wishes Eva

Katzen,

Thank you so much for your post and thank you for keeping in touch and honoring my sweet "eddie" with your thoughts. Ya know, not a single day goes by that I don' t think of that sweet puppy, that amazing soul. We knew the holidays would be difficult as Eddie loved Christmas so much and we spoiled him so. But, in December my hubby and I decided that for his birthday in January it would be time to find a new rescue dog to love.

As for Eddie, he has a beautiful memorial in our yard with an amazing stone tribute. He lay underneath a mound a top a small hill in the back covered with flowers and trees. It's just beautiful.

I have needed to step away from the site and look toward the future with Eddie always in my heart and thoughts. I cry as I type.

Come see my "new beginnings" post and please, please get some photos of your sweet Jimmy boy up.

Here is one last photo of my Eddie, always the party boy!

~Best,
Take care Eva.
Eddie's Mom

What a beauty....this picture makes everything right!

I’m very very sorry for you loss, we recently lost our family member last Saturday, a very beautiful lab.