Hi this is my 1st post, I was searching online for stuff to help me make sense of yesterday.
I had to take my beautiful friend Shaney to the vet to have him put to sleep and it's eating me up.

He was 15 and half, and my faithful friend, my beautiful Rough Collie. I got him as a puppy when I was a young man and suffering from agoraphobia. He got me out of the house again, as someone had to walk this cute little fuzzball that had come into my life. If it hadn't been for him I don't think I would have gone out again.
He seemed fine on Friday, his poor old back legs have been getting stiffer for a long time, but he soldiered on. He wasn't on any meds as he had stomach and kidney trouble in the past, and twice before we thought we lose him when he way younger. But he just fought through it all, and I thought he would always be there. He never showed pain, never whimpered nor cried, he just got on with being my friend.

On Friday I guess the only things he did differently were things he did when he was younger; he stood nose to nose with me and just stared into my eyes,like he used to do when he was a pup and later when I was sitting on the couch he rammed his face under my legs to lift them over his back,so he would be snuggled between my legs and the sofa like he used to before his hips hurt.
He just seemed the same old pal.

On Saturday he didn't get up to greet me in the morning, but he lay there looking happy enough but I knew something was wrong with him. My wife and I tried to help him up but he couldn't seem to take his weight, so we let him at rest.
We phoned the vet and I told me wife, "I think it's his time". I lay on the floor with him staring into his eyes, and stroking his face as we waited the hour for the vets appointment. I can't explain it, but I saw something in his eyes. Something that made me say to the wife, "he knows it too"

But still that spark was there, his eyes were alert and loving, soulful and pure as they always were. We took him to the vets and even being carried in, he was looking around himself as he had his ears scratched. As he was being carried in, he barked at another dog! Still trying to defend me and warm off others even then.

The Vet who was wonderful, and has been our vet since Shaney was a puppy, well he examined him, when we put Shaney on the ground he couldn't support himself, and the vet said his legs were far gone and he couldn't fix him, only make him comfortable and buy some time, but there is no dignity for him in only being able to lie there.

I said again, " I think it's his time" and the vet said its the hardest decision you will ever make but its the right one.

It was so difficult, so so difficult, as once he was lying on the ground he seemed like him old self again. I held his face and looked into his eyes, and the vet asked me if he could continue. I nodded, and he injected the solution into my friend. I stroked his face, and looked into his eyes and told him he was a good boy, and he whimpered, for the first time in his life I heard him whimper, and it was like a dagger to my heard. I stroked his muzzle, and told his ssshh and it was ok, I was there, and them he was gone.

I gently laid his head on the ground, and gave him a final kiss goodbye, and I reached out and tried to close his eyes. When I touched near his eye, when he didn't blink, it suddenly made it real, and it sounds crazy but I didn't want to hurt him. When he was with me, you know he would pull away if I touched near his eyes or whatever, and now he couldn't. I know that doesn't make sense.

I feel so guilty, I can't help but think what if I got it wrong, what if I didn't see that knowing in his eyes. When he way lying down, he looked so gentle, and loving, and at ease. And I feel so bad about having to walk away leaving him there in the vets surgery when he was gone.
I mumbled something about wanting his ashes back and I left. Shaney would have followed me through the gates of hell without a thought, and this one time, this one journey we couldn't be together. I love his so much, and I can't believe I will never see him again. It doesn't make sense to me. I can't believe I didn't have the strength to close his eyes. I hate the idea of him lying there with his eyes open.

I don't want to be without him. I just want to see him again. He is the one who always made the hurt go away, and now with the greatest hurt of all, he isn't there.

Dear Furface

I send my heartfelt condolences for the loss of your dear Shaney. You made the decision to save your precious Shaney from any further suffering, and you did this because of your love for him. I wish I could find the right words to help you, I truly do understand the heartache that you are feeling right now.
Please come back and let us know how you are, and when you feel able, maybe you could tell us more about your Shaney.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hugs
Jan and my Angels and Pixie x

Hi furface,

I am so sorry for your loss of sweet Shaney. I know no words I can say can take away the pain and grief you are experiencing. It has been a little over 2 weeks since I had to put my 12 year old black lab, Cinder, to rest. It is the most difficult decision to make. The feelings of guilt and the what if's are normal. I experienced them and still do every now and then. But know that you did the right thing in giving Shaney his dignity. My vet told me a few days before we decided to put Cinder down that we wanted it to be a moment of grace for her and it's always harder when you wait until the last possible moment and your companion is suffering.

I can understand how it was difficult for you to try to close Shaney's eyes. My dad and I buried Cinder and it was the strangest thing to be around her not moving. It's a difficult thing to get out of your mind.

As some people on this board can tell you in better words than me, Shaney is still with you and always will be. He's just not in his physical body. He's now with you all of the time, every moment of your day. He'll always be in your heart and soul, it sounds like you two shared a wonderful bond together.

I'm glad you found this forum, it is a wonderful place. Know that you and your wife will be in my thoughts and I hope you are able to have some peace tonight.

Much love.

Cinder's Mama

Hi, furface, please permit me to offer you my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Shaney. Losing a beloved companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we are blessed with the privilege of their company. Euthanasia is the last gift of love we can give to our beloved companions - - at great sacrifice to us - - so that they can be restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels.

Furface, this grief journey is filled with so many different emotions, sometimes overwhelming us all at once. It is natural to "second guess" if we "did the right thing," to question if it was really "time", and on and on and on. Unfortunately, our beloved companions' physical bodies are not designed for immortality on this side of eternity. And as their earthly caregivers we are the ones who are responsibile for ensuring the quality and dignity of their earthly lives. I hope as your deep grief eases that you will come to know beyond all shadow of a doubt that your beloved Shaney is eternally grateful to you for releasing him from his failing physical body. He is now romping once again in heaven's perfect garden without any pain or debility, and he is singing your praises to each and every beloved companion he meets - - my number one kitty son, Eli, my handsome Black Lab, Oslo, my beautiful baby girl, Abbygayle, and all of my beloved companions who have shared my earthly journey through the years.

Please do not be haunted by not being able to close your beloved Shaney's eyes. Your not wanting to hurt your beloved Shaney makes PERFECT SENSE, and please let me try to reassure you that you did not hurt your precious Shaney. It is normal for the eyes not to close.

Furface, I know right now there are no adequate words in any language that can come close to comforting the seering pain that is in your broken heart. This grief journey is a one day at a time journey, sometimes a one moment at a time journey. It is one of adjustment to the loss of your beloved Shaney's physical presence, and it is a very painful journey - - both emotionally and physically. One of the many things for you to remember is that the love bond you and your beloved Shaney shared during his earthly journey is eternal - - it is not limited to the physical laws of time and space. He is and always will be a part of you, he is eternally etched into your heart and your memories. He continues to share your earthly journey just as he always has and always will. He is always a heartbeat close to you.

Another very important thing for you to know beyond all shadow of a doubt is that you are never alone in your grief adjustment journey. You are among friends here who truly do understand what you are going through, and we are here for you for as long and as often as you need us.

Furface, thank you so much for sharing your beloved Shaney with us. Perhaps sometime you would like to post a picture(s) of him - - when / if you are ready.

Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, furface, and look forward to knowing how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear Furface, I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Shaney (he's a gorgeous looking dog in that photo), your vet was right, this is one of the hardest decisions we'll ever make - it certainly gave me pain like i never knew there was before, we break our own hearts to set our loved one free, and that's what you did - you set Shaney free, it is about dignity, it is about quality of life, you did it because you and he shared that enormous love and your lives and all that that means. I know about the guilt feelings, please please try to let them go (easier said than done i know), but you are already suffering immensley, and reading how you write about Shaney I can't believe you would have made anything but the right decision. Hope the world is gentle with you today, Leejaye

Thanks you everyone for your kind thoughts and words. They really have been a help to us. Today we have been able to think and talk about some of the funny things Shaney did.
My wife reminded me of when I took her home to meet him for the 1st time, I patiently (and probably only semi-jokingly) explained to her in the driveway that if Shaney did not approve of her, all bets were off!

Thankfully my big pal took to her straight away, and in fact, he was so gentle with her that she overcame her fear of dogs, and just fell in love with him too.

He just loved her something fierce too. When we would go for a walk, if we strayed too far apart, his instinct would take over and he ran around us in circles, nipping at our heels to herd us back close together so the 3 of us could walk side by side.

That's how it was with him, he was so indulgent and gentle with my wife, me? I got the rough treatment! He would gently nibble a treat from her fingers, with me I got the flashing teeth and the slobber! She got a gentle game of tug o war, me? I got tackled and mauled and dragged around the floor by a trouser leg giggling and laughing the whole time. I think my friends all thought I deliberately tore all the cuffs of my jeans to try and look cool! Yet each of those parallel lines would match up perfectly to my pals canines!
He knew I enjoyed the boisterous playing, and my wife the gentle fun.

And yet he loved his hugs, leaning his weight into you, stretching his head out so he could maximise his contact with you. Sitting nose to nose with me. Pawing at you when you were sitting on the floor too far away. If I lay on on my back on the floor, or the grass in the park, he would try to sit on my chest, it must have been a sight to see a full grown Rough Collie trying to perch on a wheezing, gasping for air mans chest!

I remember when he was 8 and it was nearly Christmas and he had been ill, I thought I would get him a coat to try and keep him dry on our walks, so as he stood in the hall waiting to go, I let him examine his new waterproof coat, and then a knelt down and put the coat over his back, as I clipped the buckle across his chest, I was suddenly aware of the rumbling in his chest to let me know he wasn't happy...."no coat huh?" I said as I pulled it off of him again. .

Yet this is the same guy who two days later I came home to find him happily, peacefully sitting with toy felt reindeer antlers on his head watching my wife wrap Christmas presents! I kind of laughed and he looked at me with a "yeah?" expression on his innocent looking face. As my wife sweetly pointed out Shaney and his antlers like I hadn't noticed. Yeah laugh it up guys!

He knew how to play to the crowd that's for sure!

Last night I slept a bit better. Although I woke with a single, young, powerful bark ringing in my ears. It was comforting and moving all at once.

Thanks again for letting us express our feelings, and sharing your kind thoughts in return.
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Dear Furface,

First, let me offer you my deepest sympathy for your loss of Shaney. As there are so few words that are even adequate in describing our sorrow, love and support for you and your wife, there are eve fewer words that truly help you through this journey. But, please know that there are many, many good people on this forum that understand what you are going through, have walked the walk you are taking now and will always be with you - always.

Shaney looks like a beautiful, handsome, terrific boy! Full of mischief, fun and love all at the same time. How fortunate you three were in having each other! No other combination would have worked as well.

I lost my Trevor just over 2 weeks ago. He was a very special, special needs little boy, who had been abused and had severe brain issues because of it. Although we were together for only 2 years and 2 months, I love Trevor more than anyone in the world. Visit his grave every day (along with his 5 brothersin the same cemetery. People are beginning to talk about that strange woman who sets up her portable chair, umbrella for the sun and huge bottle of water and sits there singing "You are my sunshine..." among others. I don't care. These boys and I are always together and always will be.

Furface (and Mrs. Furface), each day will bring a different combination of feelings and memories of Shaney. Don't try to anticipate what you will feel and/or do because Shaney will make sure that you are wrong! Yes, I believe the physical bond ends with the passing of our incredible companion(s), but the actual bond that formed the first time you saw each other NEVER breaks. It changes to another form (call it spiritual or whatever) and I think that is one of the hardest things to learn and understand. We are so used to a physical world around us, that the realm of the spirit or the unseen can be quite a challenge. I still want to be with my Trevor, every minute of every day. I don't want him back on earth suffering like he was, but I wnat to be with him - period. I am just now coming to the realization that I cannot do this physically, but I CAN learn to do it in another realm - for me I call it spiritually. My sister told me last night that she believes that Trevor is another White Buffalo and I believe her. But it doesn't matter what I believe. It matters what YOU come to believe and cherish in your heart and soul with Shaney.

Your Shaney was an intelligent, compassionate, giving soul in the handsome body of a Rough Collie (and they are so wonderful!). You are all still together and will be for all time.

I wish for you, today, a ray of sunshine and more happy memories of Shaney and "the good ol' days". I am here for you at all times, any time. Thank you, so much, for sharing Shaney with us. We'd love to hear more when you are ready.

Blessings...................
Bobbie

Dear Furface

What an extraordinary dog! You can tell just by looking at his pictures that he is one of those special spirits who come to earth just to find their one-and-only soul mate, live with them, loved and be loved by them. And then for some reason whoever made this universe has decided to make their life spans on earth shorter than ours so they leave us (in physical form) and in proportion as we have loved them and they have loved us, our spirits are shattered and our tearrs flood the world.

Shaney's story sounds so much like my Gretta's. She is the kindest chocoloate lab who ever lived and I can see her spirit in Shaney's eyes. She came to be my family when she was about nine years old - after having been used as a breed dog and somehow ending up on the streets starving. We lived together for three and a half years and, although she had her share of medical issues (some brought on my her nervous first-time mom), she was basically OK except for sslowly developing neurological / ortho problems. At one point she started limping and the vet (the most wonderful vet on this earth) thought she had shoulder cancer but x-rays showed clear - whew! Over the next year or so, she slowed down - we walked instead of jogged our 50 blocks a day, then 40, then 30, ..... I felt so bad toward the end having to drag her out in the frigid MN winter because she wasn't concentrating urine and had to go a lot. Last winter was particularly bad and I could see her struggling so I told her "let's count down 100 days" - by that time it would be a week after valentine's day and the weather should at least gi ve signs of abating. NOT!. We made it to 130 days before we stopped counting. Finally it was beginning to be spring but Gretta was going on shorter and shorter walks. In the evening, all I could bring myself to do was walk her outside and down the block until she peed and then come back.

Like your Shaney, one Saturday we woke up and walked our usual six blocks at what seemed like a normal (slow) speed. By 10 AM it was all she could do to slowly creep around the block. At 3 PM all she could do was stand in one place. And she hadn't peed since the morning. She weighed 65 pounds, so I had to ask my neighbor to put her in the car and I took her to the vet school - the only thing open on the weekend besides those storefront emergency vets. They wheeled her in on a little red wagon and I petted her head and told her it would be OK (of course, I kn aew it wouldn't). She spent the night at the emergency hospital (and ask me how bad I fell about THAT - leaving her alone, in pain, with strangers, probably afraid and very abandoned - "where's my mom?" "what did I do wrong?" "why do they keep throwing me away?"). The next morning the vet called to say that she still could not support herself standing, that they could do an MRI to find out exactly what was going on neurologically and - this was the deciding factor - that she still had not urinated. I KNEW that this meant her systems were shutting down and that it was the end. I asked the vet if this was so, and she gave me not an exact answer but one which didn't take too much interpretation.

I went to the vet school, into a "comfort room". They wheeled her in in the little red wagon, I sat on the floor, they lifted her onto my lap and I cried more than I have ever cried before. I told her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me. Then I told the the vet and the vet student (poor kid, he was crying more than I was) that it was the time. They wheeled her out and put in the leg catheter and wheeled her in again, again put her in my lap and again I told her how much I loved her. I nodded my head and they put in the pink liquid. She breathed deeply twice and then went limp in my arms. She was gone. Fortunately, Gretta's eyes did close, although I know that that is the exception - as with your Shaney. I couldn't watch as they lifted her off my lap - I didn't want to see her limp - and then when she was in the wagon again, I asked if I could see her face one more time and that image is seared into my heart - like the one of your Shaney's eyes open and your not wanting to hurt her by closing them. Oh, Furface, I DO understand. I have a new dog now (Gretta passed on April 10) who is somewhat psychic and tries to get me off the computer when she knows I'm crying. He's a 100# lab newfie so he means business. I got him to lie down so I could continue this message.

Once in a while a dog is born who is a special spirit. I am part American Indian and our special spirit animial is the white buffalo. I truly believe that a few rare animals appear with the white buffalo spirit in them. I can tell from Shaney's pictures that she is one of them.

This has been a long and selfish story, Furface, but I hope that by knowing that at least one person's story is very like yours and Shaney's may ease the pain just a tiny fraction for you today. Please stay in touch. We're a rare breed - as are all our Lightning Strike family.

In peace,

Gretta's mom

You are all amazing. Thanks you so much for sharing your own stories of your beloved friends with me. It is an honour to be able to read and share in each of your own memories. It is also a pleasure and comfort to be able to 'amongst' you right now. I am so glad I found the community.

I do now understand that Shaney is with me, in some way he will always be with me, his soul and spirit. My wife and I were talking about why do creatures so pure and loving get such a short time, and I think that if you took all the other complicated, mixed up stuff out of a humans life span, and let them burn pure and loving with their every breath, the human span would be so very short too. I am not really sure what I mean exactly. Just a strange kind of thought you know.

Today we are up(ish) and down.

Once again thank you all so much.

Hi, furface, thank you so very much for sharing with us how you and your wife are doing, and the wonderful pictures and memories of your handsome Shaney.

I am so glad you are feeling your beloved Shaney's sweet Living Spirit close to you letting you know he is forever with you, forever a part of you. The roller coaster ride emotions - - the ups and downs - - will be for awhile, but I promise you eventually the "ride" will get better.

Furface, there is no way any of us by ourselves could possibly endure this grief adjustment journey alone. Together we find strength and courage and comfort and hope to continue on with our lives to the very best of our ability in a way that will honor the unconditional and eternal love we are blessed to have in our lives with our beloved companions. Speaking for myself, I am grateful to have the honor to try to offer you comfort during one of the most difficult experiences you will have on this side of eternity.

I hope today is being kind to you and your wife, furface, and that you will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Shaney's sweet Living Spirit to comfort and cheer you. Please know you and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hello Furface and Mrs Furface,

Just stopping by to ask how you are and wishing you some relief and peace. I cannot say how much love and power the photos of Shaney convey. Truly Shaney is an exceptional animal. YOu two are exceptional people who were found and loved by this extraordinary dog.

Gretta's mom

Hi furface,

I hope you and your wife are doing well. I love the pictures of Shaney! He looks like a very noble dog. Very handsome and sweet. I hope you guys are finding some peace and comfort this week and know that Shaney is never far away from you.

Much love.

Cinder's Mama

Hi Everyone,

That is really lovely of you to ask how we are. Thank you so so much for your thoughts and kinds words about Shane. Well it's almost been one week since my boy left us. It has been a rotten, terrible week, and I have been through all manner of emotions. Including a lot of feeling angry, but slowly coming around to feelings of missing Shane, feeling sad, but rejoicing in having been able to share our lives with him.

We have talked a lot about how the strange way things worked out: I am off work on holiday this two weeks, so able to just take my time to get back into life at our own pace. And last week, on Tuesday, I decided that as things were slow at work, I would take Thurs & Fri off and extend the holiday, so it meant I was with Shaney more of less constantly on his last two days. Strange timing.

We have both been reading James Herriot''s books as they are a great and wonderful comfort. They have been favourites of mine since I was a teenager, so just seemed a natural place to turn. They are the true (hilarious, uplifting, sad, emotional and delightful) stories of a Vet in the 1940s. So we have both found comfort in reading them, and reading out passages and chapters to each other.

We spent a lot of time today looking through Photos of Shaney, and laughing at some of the antics he used to get up to. Yesterday my wife was learning to spin wool with a little drop spinner I bought her. Thankfully we had collected about 4 or 5 bags of Shanes fur when we brushed him, so she is going to make it into wool and knit a little thing with his fur, which I think it a nice idea.

Initially it was hard to look at Shaney's toys and stuff, but now his things are a comfort, his favourite Lion soft toy is now sitting in pride of place on the fireplace hearth.

I think tomorrow will be tough.

Hope you are all doing well.

Hi, furface, thank you so very much for sharing with us how you and your wife are doing. There are so many different emotions during this grief journey that can overwhelm us all at once. The good news is that one day perhaps when you least expect it you will come to feel a peace in your heart and know that it is your beloved Shaney letting you know he is still with you - - forever with you - - forever a heartbeat close to you.

I too love James Herriott's books. There is one particular episode called "Do Dogs Have Souls". I found his response to Miss Stubbs question about being with her beloved companions in eternal joy very compassionate and truthful.

I think it's wonderful that your wife is going to make yarn with some of Shaney's fur and make some things with the yarn. Actually, there is an industry for such items - - many people who save their beloved companions' fur will pay very good money to have it weaved into a final product - - sweaters, handbags, caps, scarves, etc.. With Shaney's fur I know whatever she makes will be exquisite.

Thank you again for sharing your beloved Shaney with us and how you and your wife are doing, furface. I hope today has been kind to you, and that your evening will be peaceful blessed with your beloved Shaney's sweet Living Spirit to comfort and cheer you. Please know you and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear Furface

These "angel-versaries" as Moonbeam calls them are SO hard. Your heart feels like it's been shot out with a high powered rifle and you're bleeding all over - shock and trauma in the extreme. Important things don't happen by accident. Someone somewhere arranged for you to have two whole days to be together with Shaney as she was preparing for her journey to the perfect world. Furface, I cannot tell you how powerful the images of Shaney are. I've never seen anything like them. Surely she is the ultimate spirit dog - who found you out of all the millions of people in the world, put herself in your path so you'd find her, then you did and you entered the love affair of your life. Even though you are in deep mourning now and maybe can't feel it, she's only a breath away - still guiding you, protecting you, and most importantly loving you and being loved by you. Love is forever - in both directions. The more that's given, the more there is. Shaney is a miracle dog - and you and Mrs Furface have truly been touched by an angel.

I think I can hear the still whisper of Shaney's breathing. She's real.

Gretta's mom

Two weeks gone bye.
I got Shane's ashes back on Thursday. It was kind of tough. I am going to make a wooden pot to put a little tree in with his ashes underneath, that way when I move house, I can take them with me.
Things are better though.

Hi, furface, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. Bringing your beloved Shaney's ashes home is a two sided coin: on the one side it's comforting to have Shaney back home, while the other side is a difficult reminder that he is no longer with you in his physical body. And this is yet another major milestone in your "adjustment" journey.

Honoring your beloved Shaney by placing his ashes in the planter of a tree is a living and loving tribute to him. Thank you so very much for sharing your tribute to your beloved Shaney with us.

Two weeks is a beginning in your adjustment journey. Please know we are here for you for as long and as often as you need us. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, furface, and look forward to knowing how you're doing whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi furface,

Just now being able to get caught up with your posts. I hope you and your wife are doing well. I love James Herriot's books. I'm currently working on getting into vet school and his books have always been an inspiration to me. I love that your wife is using Shaney's fur, that's so neat. Looking at pictures of Cinder always brings a mix of emotions for me. I'm usually crying and laughing all at once. It's amazing to me how our animals can touch our lives so deeply. I hope you and your wife have a wonderful week and know Shaney is always with you.

Much love.

Cinder's Mama

It's a Saturday again, the tough day. And it's 3 am. And it hit me like an express train again. I thought I was doing ok, it's funny how it sneaks up on you again huh? I miss my friend so much. It seems like both forever and the most fleeting moment since Shaney left me. Strangely one of the toughest days.

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful, sweet face! You were both very lucky to have each other.

I know sometimes it feels like you are having a better day and then something unexpected you see or hear or remember seems to bring it all back. I hope that the memories of your sweet doggie will help ease your pain.

Dear Furface, I am so sorry the grief ambushed you, it's 4 months since I lost Mischief and I still get hit by the Grief Express when I least expect it - I know what you mean about it feeling like forever and a blink of the eye at the same time...sending you wishes for a moment of peace and a smile, Leejaye

Hi Furface

My heart is with you and Mrs Furface every day on your grief journey. I cannot say how extraordinary a dog Ms Shaney is. I have never seen such incredible photos of a dog (including mine!!). No question she is an archangel. Yeah, that "Grief Express" thing - I'm almost five months on the horror train, already have been sent a "little brother" by my Gretta, crusing along OK (I thought) and then the nasty traing turned on a dime and rolled over me with ALL its wheels. It's lasted about two weeks and i think it's lifting a little now - with the help of my LS friends, my wonderful sister, Gretta's "little brother" and some grace from above.

Shaney is the queen of the kingdom - no doubt about it. Her beauty - both outer and inner - slowly drew you out of your house and into the world. When you get to the Perfect World and join her, she'll do that for you again. Meanwhile you, her earthly mom and dad, have to do that for each other - with the help and support and love of your LS family.

Gretta's mom

Ms Shaney - How could this world have deserved such an incredible soul-dog as you! Go find Gretta (the kindest chocolate lab who ever lived) and send down some love-rays to ease your dad and mom's hearts.

Hi, furface, the angel-versaries are hard - - the first hour, the first day, the first month, - - EVERY DAY, particularly during the deep grief - - is an angel-versary. Our forum friend Cheryl started a post about her beloved Daisy titled, "Just When I think I'm doing okay" - - and it is so true. This grief adjustment journey is frequently referred to as a horror roller coaster ride - - so many ups and downs, twists and turns, and turnarounds - - so many emotions overwhelming us - - sometimes all at once. Grief can make us feel very alone -- isolated - - with no where to go to get away from it. I am so glad you are here with us, furface, so that we can reassure you that you are NEVER alone in your journey. You always have a place to run to, furface - - to us.

Thank you so very much for sharing your beloved Shaney with us, furface. I hope today is being kind to you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, furface, and am looking forward to knowing how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam