Glad to see your pictures of Falkor. It is hard to lose such a sweetheart. You gave him those extra years but we all know no amount of time is ever long enough. Having 2...losing one. Having 1.....losing one. I was there with my two dogs years ago...Duchess and Gypsy. I was single, age 19, and they were my roommates. I had to put Duchess down at age 3...that was heartbreaking as my vet could not bring himself to do it and sent me elsewhere and I went to the wrong place and had that place screaming at me what a horrible person I was to put down what "looked" like a healthy dog. The right place was expecting me but believe me..that was an experience I will never forget. And so, I had my puppy, Gypsy waiting at home and it was a big help. Of course, in time age became her enemy and with it, cancer. She beat it a couple of times and like Falkor being with you a few extra years....I got 5 extra ones from my girl.
But age and disease is a battle we will never win. It is the price we pay for having them in our lives but as one Mom said that I always keep in mind: The pain of losing him will never ever be greater than the joy of knowing him.
I would never give up having any of my babies in my life to avoid the pain that is always waiting at the end of the journey. Knowing that for the time they were with me....they were taken care of and loved and never abused, neglected, or wanting for anything.
that's the best I could do for them. Of course anything we do for them can never match the unconditional love they so freely give us every day they are with us.
We don't want the pain but we would not give it up if it meant giving them up. For me, a rescue of another has been my salvation from the pain. It doesn't go away but it is bearable, controllable much more than before.
It's sometimes like our babies have lots and lots of "brothers" and "sisters" looking for someone to love and I miss what I got from my special ones so much...I want that feeling or something close to it..again. We each look for help in our own way and only we know what would make us feel better. I'm glad that I figured mine out because it is a help I always need so much when one is taken from me.
Hugs, Steph.....your babies are both at peace. And I wish you peace and healing. I know how hard that separation is.