my baby boy who was almost 15 years old went to doggie heavan on saturday. i am so sad and depressed. c.c. was my best friend who stood by me through everything. c.c. gave me purpose and i rescued him when he was one year old, from the humane society. then he rescued me from the world, for the rest of his life. he was a 6.3 lb. apricot poodle. he had bad cateracts in the last couple of years and became totally blind right after last christmas. i never gave up on him with his blindness. i assisted him and took care of him. he was slowing down alot and not wanting anything to do with his brother richie anymore. i realized recently what the difference between existing and having quality of life is. c.c. was just existing and holding on for me. he was depressed, scared and lost all of his confidence in himself. my dear friend chris, told me that a dog is supposed to be and feel like a dog. c.c. was not comfortable. also, c.c developed a tumor behind his eye, that was causing the eye to buldge out. the vet said i needed to remove the eye, but putting c.c. through surgery at 15 years old was not something i would do. i had to come to terms with c.c. and god telling me c.c. is ready for heaven. this was the hardest decision, because i did not want to let go of my best friend. i had to realize what c.c. wanted and what was in his best interest. god forbid. if c.c. would ever suffered or died when i was not home! i was mixed about being there with him during the going to sleep procedure. i forced myself to get over that and take care of c.c., by being with him and giving him the respect, love and comfort he always gave me. i held him and he died in my arms. i am in unbelievable pain, yet i know i was a loving and special mother to this little angel. thank you c.c. for your love and attention and companionship. you lit up my life, little boy. god bless you. you are now free and playing and can see. i will see you later baby. millions of kisses and hugs to you. wow, this hurts!

Dear Richmanlopez,
Sorry you have to be here! You couldn't be more correct--that what you are dealing with now is one of life's hardest challenges! Our lifespan and our pets lifespan are disparate. And yet we invest our love into them anyway..even with this knowledge that they do not live close to the same amount of years as us.
I think you have named yourself aptly as "rich" because you so clearly understand what a gift your precious cc was to you. Many people never have an experience like you have had. Many folks don't have that type of commitment that you have displayed. You are correct that what you did in the end for your pet was the least you could do in exchange for all the loved cc lavished upon you. You can be proud of how you conducted yourself in the end..steeling yourself to do what you had to. To be there for those final moments had to be your biggest challenge to date---and you did it!! Don't think for a moment that cc didn't know you were there--he did. You made his trip to the rainbow bridge something he didn't have to fear...because YOU were there with him.
You are not only a rich person but a kind one. A rare person who found so much room in her heart for a tiny friend. CC will continue to be in your heart forever now. And you are totally correct that cc is 100% whole, young and happy at the rainbow bridge.
When you get a chance maybe you can post a photo of your beloved pup. We would love to see this sweet animal who stole your heart. In the meantime know that we are thinking of you and that you are among friends here. You were such a faithful friend for many years to cc..it stands to reason that it will be awhile before you will be able to feel "normal" again. We are here in the meantime. thinking of you!

Love,
patti

We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.” From “The Once Again Prince” by Irving Townsend
Divine Spirit, hear and bless
Thy beasts and singing birds:
And guard with tenderness
Small things that have no words.

It takes a lot of courage to make that decision. You and c.c. were very blessed to have had each other. You saved him from the shelter and provided him with a good and loving home. You took care of him when he was blind. You took care of him when his quality of life was no longer good. You stayed with him when he passed into the new part of his journey. You could have done no more for your friend.

It always comes down to love - the fact that you both loved each other. He knew you loved him. You knew he loved you. The pain that you are feeling has such depth because of that great capacity to love that you both had. And it does hurt like crazy now.

It is tough now to think about the good times because the final time in his life is so fresh in your mind. In time you will remember c.c. as a pup, as an active adult, as a middle ager, and as an old fellow. All of those parts are as real as the final months of sadness and illness. They will return in time and comfort you, but you have to get through the tough grief part first, and it is very new.

Please know, though, that he had a wonderful life with you. You gave him that. And you also gave him a good end. We can do no more for our fur-friends.

Please accept my condolences for the loss of your beloved c.c.

Dee Dee

Everyone here has pretty much said it all and I don't know what else I could add to it but only that C.C was very lucky to have you. Although I've never had to make the decision to put a beloved pet to sleep but just from reading what others have wrote about it I know it has to be a very hard decision. I feel each and everyone's pain for having to make that decision. I cry when I read about it. My 17-yr old furkitty passed in June and I know I am lucky that I didn't have to make that decision but I'm sure if he hadn't passed the way he did I would have had to make that decision.

Please except my condolences in the loss of c.c.


Wanda

you people are so precious. i cried with each of your loving and caring responses. thank you friends for your support. i needed to hear what you said desparately. i feel so alone.

thanks, samantha

samantha, we're here. You can email me or pm me direct if you want. You're not alone. Each and every one of us here (in different degrees) has gone through what you did...so you are not alone. You may be alone without cc's physical presence..but cc is still with you...really--it is hard to grasp that in the beginning..especially because of all the quiet. we all have been in that kind of aloneness. It does feel so isolating! so don't hesitate to contact me if you want.. here is a hug for you
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{samantha}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Love,
Patti

Samantha,

How are you doing? I just read about your beloved c.c.! I am so sorry.

You have come to the right place for comfort, support, and reassurance.

The others really said it all. Remember, as Patti said, that c.c. is whole and happy. He will never know any physical or emotional pain. You took that on for him. He is still all around you--as a spirit. And when it is your time, you'll be fully reunited.

Thinking of you. Write any time.

Love,

Kathy

Hi Samantha,

So sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved c.c. He obviously had a wonderful life with you. I too beleive quality of life is very important. And what a great hero c.c was for hanging on long enough for you to gain the strength to do what was best for him.

I'm proud of you and I know c.c. thanks you from the bottom of his heart--he knows the decision was made out of love. Setting them free is the final act of love we can bestow on our pets. God Bless You.

__Jim