Cricket was a 4lb tiny black Papillon. I got her from a local shelter when I first moved to Georgia. For a long time, it was just us two. She was a little yapper and had lots of energy and was mostly annoying to everyone but me, and she was my baby. Never had any human children so I treated her like she was one. I would hold her in my arms and she would just stare at me while I scratched her tummy. Her favorite toy was a cookie monster that was as big as she was, and she would just drag it around the house with her. Then along came Bip, the 90lb white American Bulldog. He had been kept on a chain in a small yard for about his first two years, and when his owner moved a way, I snatched him up and had him with me and Cricket out in rural Georgia off a dirt road where he has acres and acres to run. They've both had their share of age-related illness in the last few years as they got older together. Then Bip went into the hospital a few weeks ago, at the end of February. He was in for a few days but slowly got better. Then after he got home, within a few days, Cricket got sick and I took her to the hospital. She didn't get well. She had some kind of intestinal infection that had recurred several times in recent years, but couldn't come back from it this time. She also started having seizures, went blind, and lost her ability to use her hind legs. After days of agonizing, I decided to let her go, with the help of my wonderful vet. Bip was a big help, a comfort just to still have him. It broke my heart in days after Cricket's death because he would wander around the house sniffing and scratching doors and behind chairs and in corners, I think looking for her. Ten days ago he started having trouble walking. He's had hip dysplasia and knee problems for years and it's gotten progressively worse. Now I've been told there's something neurological going on but that he is not a good candidate because of his age, his weight (he put on alot when he became more sedentary as his knee and hip problem got worse), and because of his heart. Although I had him treated for heartworm when he was 2 years old, he got over it but it likely caused some lasting heart damage. I am heartbroken, but I've come to read and understand that so many of you are as well. He still may come home again for a while, but he seems to have lost his will since his "wife" has passed on. It has been so comforting to have him with me since I lost my Cricket, I'm afraid I couldn't see his own loss. I am in despair at facing the loss of him too. It does bring me some comfort to have read all of your posts and encouraging thoughts. Thank you all for having been here.
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Hi, Shriley, please permit me to offer you my sincerest sympathies in the loss of your beloved Cricket. Losing a beloved companion is never esay regardless of the circumstances or how long we have been blessed with the privilege of their company. Euthanasia is the last gift of love we can give to our companions - - at great sacrifice to ourselves - - so that they can once again be restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels.

I can so relate to your situation with coping with your precious Cricket's passage from her earthly journey with you and now with anticipating the physical absence of your precious Bip. To lose one beloved companion is heartbreak; to lose two beloved companions in a very short period of time is very traumatic.

One of the many important things for you to remember is that you are not alone in your journey. This grief journey is a one day at a time journey, sometimes a one moment at a time journey. Each of us here do understand what you are feeling, and we are here for you for as long and as often as you need us.

Shirley, thank you so much for sharing with us your precious Cricket and Bip. Perhaps sometime you will feel up to posting pictures of them to share with us. I do hpoe you will be able to bring Bip home again, one more time. Please know you and your precious Bip are in my thoughts and prayers, Shirley, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts. I will put up a picture. I'm not very tech savvy and am working on figuring that out. I am finding it so hard to be alone and removed from the routine things--filling his water bowl and supper dish at the same time of the day; the expectation of him sitting and staring at me with that longing look any time I sit down to eat anything. I did put a picture of him on the "Remembering The Good Times" forum, post #97. Thank you again.

Hi, Shirley, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. It is a very hard adjustment to "not having" and "not doing" for our beloved companions when they precede us to the angels. Each day is a "first" - - the first time not having to feed, not having to give medications, not having to bathe, and then there are the birthdays, holidays, weekends, vacations - - and on and on and on - - that are constant reminders that we no longer share our earthly journey with our beloved companions as we have become so accustomed to.

Hopefully in time, as your deep grief eases, you will know that your precious Cricket is still with you. She is forever a part of you in your heart and memories. No, it isn't the same. We continue to live in a physical oriented existence based on the five senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Our beloved companions, however, have given us a broader dimension through their unconditional love and undivided attention. They have given to us a love bond that is eternal - - it is not dependent upon the physical laws of time and space. I hope and pray that you will be able to feel your precious Cricket's sweet Living Spirit with you sharing your life just as she always has and always will.

Thank you, Shirley, for sharing your precious Cricket with us. If you need any assistance in posting picture(s), I know the L S Administrator will be very happy to help you. I would offer, but unfortunately I, too, am very "technology challenged." Please know you and your precious Bip are in my thoughts and prayers, Shirley, and look forward to knowing how you're doing whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Got that picture up there now. I'm bringing Bip home this afternoon.

Hi Shirley,

I want to add my condolences on the loss of your Cricket. I hope Bip is doing better and will be with you for a long time to come. It is a tough journey when we lose one of our fur children. We have been on this road for 11 weeks tomorrow and things are getting better.

I hope that you find some comfort from the people here who are all going through the grief process as well. We may grieve differently but the pain of losing our little ones has hit all of us.
Please keep sharing how you and Bip are doing.
Joanne

Hi, Shirley, congratulations on bringing Bip home this afternoon. I truly hope and pray the both of you will have a good quality of time to enjoy for as long as possible. And I hope the vet is able to give you a diagnosis as to what is happening with Bip. I know it doesn't stop the ache in your heart, but it does help to answer some of the "whys."

And thank you so much for the wonderful picture of your precious Cricket and Bip. I did see the picture on the other forum you posted of Bip - - and smiled at the look on his face like, "Yeah, what - - it was in self-defense. That cushion attacked me first!!!"

Shirley, please know you and precious Bip are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear Shirley,

Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your precious little Cricket. And thank you for posting pics of both Cricket and Bip. They are both beautiful.

Loosing our animal companions is especially difficult when they become our fur children. I so relate to this. And when they become older, so much of our energy revolves around caring for them. Please try to take it one day at a time and know that you are not alone here.

I'm so glad you are picking Bip up. He will be most happy to be home with you. I hope you will continue to let us know how you are doing.
With healing thoughts and peace,
Juturna

Hi Shirley,

Thank you so much for sharing your precious Cricket and Bip with us. I absolutely love the picture of the two of them together -- what an odd looking 'couple' -- little and large -- but I just know they were the best of friends. They're both so very beautiful

I'm so sorry for the loss of your little Cricket, and even more sorry that you're now having to go through your precious Bip being unwell. Shirley, you love these dogs with all your heart, and I just know you will make the right decisions for Bip, just as you did for Cricket. Whatever happens, please know that Cricket is in a beautiful place, looking down on you both, and awaiting the time when it's Bip's and yours appropriate time to join her.

Take care of yourself,
Cheryl xx

I wish I had the words that would express how grateful I am to you all for your love, support and understanding you have given me in so short a time. After bringing him home, I am comforted to have a few more days with him, but I know that's all it will be -- a few more days at most. I know in my heart I cannot continue to watch him suffer. I look for signs of improvement and my heart leaps at the occasional thump of his tail but most of my time with him is spent laying on the floor with him and rubbing his poochy tummy which I know is his favorite thing. I read a poem/short story online somewhere about the Rainbow Bridge. It really tugs at the heart but gives me the dream to hang on to of romping with my baby girl and boy again, and until then they will be well and happy together waiting for me to come and get them. I have never had very well-developed social skills, so having my Bip and Cricket, I had a little family of my own in spite of my hermit-like tendencies. It will be a new chapter, I guess. I believe God gave me these little angels to keep me company along my own leg of this journey, and at the ripe old age of 51 I understand love better and in a different way. They made it so darn easy to learn it, 'till now. I send you all much love, gratitude, and comfort.

Shirley,

Having read all of the posts I am very sad for you having to say goodbye twice to your two brave and true friends there. It is never an easy thing but as you found during your life with them you do learn much from the all too short years you have with your furkids. Give a head scratch from me.

Ken Albin

Dear Shirly,

Just stopping by to see how you are doing. In your last post you noted how you were rubbing Bip's belly. The process of watching our animal love companions decline in health is so so very painful. My heart aches for you.

It is beautiful that both Cricket and Bip have taught you lessons in love. They have enriched your life.

Please take gentle care of yourself and let us know how you are doing whenever possible. And remember, we are here for you each step of the way.

With peace and healing thoughts,
Juturna

I am sorry for your loss of little Cricket and how Bid is not doing so well. Our pets are so much more.
I recently lost my rescued elderly special needs boston and the two remaining dogs don't seem to notice her gone. But I constantly talk to my special girl, Lily. I still come into the room and say good morning to all three of my dogs although one isn't there in the physical. Lily died Feb, 20, 11.
Nine years ago, my first boston died from lyme disease that was incurable. I have been talking to him for nine years. He was the love of my life. I just call out and tell him that I love him and want to be with him again one day.
His name was Buck. A week before Lily died, I dreamt that I asked her if she ever saw Buck. She replied that he was always in her face. Which is an expression that I never use.
Then she went on to tell me that she used to be good looking, strong and was called Bullitt. interesting dream, uh?
Her body was so deformed even though she managed to get around. I have always thought that she would deserve to return in a beautiful body if she ever came back. And then she told me how she used to be.
I was glad that Lily communicated that to me in a dream.
I am nearly 60 yrs. old and have believed in reincarnation since I was a child and didn't know there was a word for my beliefs.

I am sorry that I misspelled Bip name and said Bid...sorry