it will be three weeks this tuesday that i lost my good freind dinger a bordercollie i got from the pound a little over six years ago im not sure how old he really was they guessed five years when i got him so was at least eleven mabe older he started acting a little weird on sunday wouldnt really eat much still drinking though and he had kinda of an oder to him so monday i called the vet and him an appointment for tuesday monday he started acting better more like himself eating again followed me around while i did yard work like he used to seem like himself and i told him he was still going to the vet tuesday so i could get him checked out i figured the oder was &%^ glands he had problems in the past so monday night when my wife got home she couldnt get him to come in the house she said he just laid there looking at her wich was kinda normal he never woud listen to her if i was home anyway. got up for to go to work tuesday and noticed he wasnt in the house so i went to the door to and called him he didnt come so i flipped on the light and was layinguot by his tree called him again he lifted his head up i was almost a little mad he wasnt going to come see me before i left so finished getting ready and checked on him again and there ha was a the door so i fed him and patted him on the head told him id see him later like i always did and left and just had a bad feeling later that morning so when lunch came around i went home to check on him and when i got there i found him laying by the door in pretty bad shape to make a long story short i went in the house to call the vet and then when back and set next to him he deid before the vet ever got there i feel so guilty about this i shouldvestayed home tuesday and i really dont know what happen to him and i keep blaming myself he was so loyal to me and i let him down i miss him alot and keep thinking of the what ifs and coulda beens

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I understand what you are going through with the guilt. I, too had a similar situation and I am engulfed with guilt.

I am not a seasoned and well spoken person like these other guys, but they will help us through this. It is a most devastating feeling.

Thank Gd you had the last time for the loving pat on the head and the goodbye..., but I understand that does nothing for the grief.

I lost my precious buddy, Little Bit, last Thursday because I called him to me and he obediently came..., but he ran into the path of a car. Yes, I feel very guilty. And as the wonderful people here told me, I am not guilty of anything but wanting to see Little Bit and hold him before I went to work. My head knows that, but my heart doesn't know that yet.

I pray for healing every day, and I will pray for you too...

The people on this site are wonderful..., they can't bring our beloved companions back, but they have suffered the same horrific and almost unbearable loss as well.

Please keep coming here...

I'm so sorry for your loss... I totally understand the guilty feelings you're having; so soon after losing a pet it's very common to start beating yourself over the head with "what ifs", but what's important is that he died with with you next to him under his favorite tree... you rescued him from the pound and in his eyes you were his hero.

You gave Dinger a good life and he died with his person... we should all be so lucky. As Greenbeagle said you've come to the right place for support and healing; we share a common bond here; the love of animals and the pain of losing one. Here you'll never be blamed or judged... just supported and nurtured as you grieve. We're all a family here; a family bound by the love of our animals and the pain of their loss.

Welcome to the family... you're in my thoughts and please let us know how you're doing.

Hi, ding, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the loss of your beloved companion, Dinger. Losing a beloved companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we have been blessed with the privilege of their company. There is never a "good" way for us to lose their precious physical presence with us, for guilt is a "built in" component of this grief journey and is one of the hardest emotions to reconcile.

Ding, your precious Dinger went home to the angels in the environment that he loves with the comforting presence of the one person in the world he loves the most - - you. And I do say "loves" because his sweet Living Spriit is forever with you in your heart and memories, still walking beside you keeping you company through all the days of your continued journey on this side of eternity. For love has no boundaries of time and space, Ding. It is eternal.

A very important thing for you to remember and focus on during this grief journey is that your Dinger knows you would have moved heaven and earth to take care of him. You already had a vet appointment set for him - - so you always tried to do the best for him at all times and in all circumstances. When we accept the blessing of a companion into our hearts and homes we unfortunately do not have the knowledge of foresight as to how long we will have the privilege of their company or the circumstances under which they will precede us to the angels. Our beloved companions bring to us their unconditional love and undivided attention, and we in turn, surrender ourselves to them completely - - the part of ourselves that belongs only to them. And this is one of the many reasons why losing their physical presence is so very painful - - both physically and emotionally.

Ding, this grief journey is a one day at a time journey. Three weeks is, unfortunately, just the beginning of this journey. There are so many emotions highs and lows ups and downs and turnarounds in this grief journey it can almost sometimes make you feel like you're losing your mind. But it is a journey you will never have to travel alone. Each of us are here for you for as long and as often as you need us. I hope you will feel our individual and collective encouragement, support, and comfort reaching out to you to help you through your deepest sorrow. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Ding, and please do let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi,

I'm so sorry about the loss of your precious Dinger. Dinger was clearly very loved, and I'm sure he knew how much you loved him. Feeling guilty is normal, but please try not to dwell on these feelings. I'm sure Dinger is looking down on you, not wanting you to feel guilty. He is in a better place, playing, free from any discomfort he may have been feeling. It's going to take time, and a lot of mixed emotions, but you will start to feel better eventually. Please let us know how you're doing, and we would love to see a picture if you're feeling up to posting one.

Thinking of you.
Cheryl x

Dear Ding

I am so sorry for the loss of your darling Dinger. It's so plain to see how much he is loved and cherished. I am so glad that you went home and were with Dinger, that would have meant so much to him, and in time to come it will bring you comfort, that he was at home and with his loved ones.
Thinking of you.
Hugs Jan and my Angels and Pixie

thank you all so much for your kind words as for how im doing im still up and down ive made myself go in into the backyard where was hard at first but is getting better and i did talk to the vet about what happen he said most likley he had a tumor that became ulcerated that was the seeping i was seiing and thinking &%^glands but mostl likley ha had cancer of some sortand heres a pic of him hes th black and white one

Thanks for sharing that wonderful picture. He's so cute and expressive

Hang in there, Cheryl x

Hi, Ding, oh I recognize Dinger - - what a handsome lad. My Samson is a mixed Lab / Border Collie - - he joined the angels in March 1998. When he was a baby puppy he looked more like a Lab, but when he grew into his manhood he blossomed into the most handsome Border Collie physical body always with a happy disposition, unless circumstances required his protective, herding nature.

Thank you so much for sharing this picture of of him with us. Please know we are here to share your memories, for in sharing our memories we are keeping our precious companions alive in our hearts.

Ding, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please continue to let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi ding...,

What a cool looking guy he is.

I so understand about how incredibly empty "outside" can feel without our buddies walking around, or just being there. It's amazing how enormously empty everything can be without them in their usual places.

Thanks for that picture.

well its been almost a month now and i really dont feel any better about this at all i really miss my dog mabe its because his death was sudden and unexpected and i pray to god he knows i was with him when passed and how much hes missed

Hi Ding

Your Dinger will know that you were there for him and that he's loved and missed. He will be wanting you to be ok and not hurting , but he will understand, that you are going to be hurting for some time. Please take care of yourself, Dinger will want that.
The photo is wonderful, he sure is handsome.
Thinking of you and your family and your darling Angel Dinger.

Hugs
Jan and my Angels and Pixie.x