I just lost my Lucymae 3 weeks ago today. She was a pitbull beagle mix. Sounds strange I know but she was adorable. We had to give her over to God. I always promised her I would never let her suffer and that she would die peacefully in her own home with me and daddy by her side. I got to keep my promise.

Before they gave her the final injection I whispered in her ear "Mommy loves you" and she stopped breathing a few seconds later. I was hysterical. Just typing this brings deep pain in my heart. This is part of the healing process for me though.

You tell your friends and family and they don't truly understand the bond that I shared with Lucymae. She was my soulmate for 16 years. I miss her so much it hurts. She slept on my bed with me and layed on the sofa with me and now those spots are empty.

I'm angry at the people who take it so lightly like they don't care. I have no children. Lucymae was my child and part of my family. I am grieving more for her then I did my own father.

I been through a lot of tough times and she was always there for me and I for her. If anyone is interested please visit her memorial at www.pets-memories.com and type in Lucymae. Please light a candle for her on the website. It is part of the healing process for me.

To all who have lost a cherised friend. I am so sorry for your loss. I can truly say I can empathize with you. The grieving is excrutiating but is necessary to heal. Be gentle with yourselves and allow yourself to cry.

Sometimes I want to cry but I can't. It's locked up inside of me and sometimes I can't get it out. I go to her memorial on-line and listening to the music and seeing her pictures make me cry.

We plan to spread her ashes in the spring on a sunny day at her favorite park. I know she's up their in heaven with all of the other furry friends.

I hope someone responds to my posting. I feel so alone in all of this.

Lynn

Don't feel alone, LynnMiller. All of us here share your pain. Don't allow those who say "It's just a dog" to belittle your grief for your beloved Lucymae. You know, and we know, that she was so much more than just a dog. Remember her warmly and hope to one day be reunited with her again. I hope that you are soon able to find some measure of peace, and offer you my sincerest condolences for your loss. Best wishes.

Hi Lynn,

First, let me thank you for telling us about the memorial site. I went on there and lit a candle for Lucymae. I can tell from what you say about her that she was a special dog who was very much loved and well cared for, and I couldn’t go without lighting a candle in her honor. I’m going to bookmark that site and put something up there for my dogs. Believe me, we all understand what you’re going through. Some of us have had more time than others to grieve, but we never forget how much we loved our pets. My dog Zena had to be put down on October 20th, so it hasn’t been that long for me either. I’ve done a lot of crying and have gone through a stage of what felt like shock, and I still am using methods to help me cope. I totally get grieving harder for a pet than we do for a person. Pets are like our children, and losing a child isn’t the same as losing a parent. The pain will ease after a while, but we will always carry them in our hearts. Just know that you’re not alone in this and that you have my deepest condolences.

-Laura

Lynn,
Just wanted to say again how very sorry I am. I honestly can't imagine how hard it must have been to say goodbye, but you unselfishly kept your promise to Lucymae. She was able to have the gift of hearing you tell her how much you love her. I know the pain is unbearable, that sweet Lucymae was your child, and the pain of losing a child, a loving and constant companion, is overwhelming. Know that Lucymae will always be in your heart, as will the memories and everything she taught you along the way.
Going to go to the site and light a candle for Lucymae now. What a lovely idea. Thank you for sharing.

Hugs,
Kelly

Hi, Lynn, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Lucymae. Losing a 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 companions at great sacrifice to ourselves so that they can be restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels. How blessed you and your beloved Lucymae are that she was able to transition home to the angels in the place she loves the most - - her home surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells, and embrace of all she loves and who love her.

Lynn, this grief adjustment journey is one of the hardest experiences you will know on this side of eternity. Clinical professionals now recognize that the physical loss of a companion is as painful, if not more so, as the physical loss of a human family member or friend. In our relationships with other people, there are expectations, and when these expectations are not met for whatever reason this may either not have an effect on the relationship at all - - or can eventually lead to dissolving the relationship. When our companions come into our hearts and homes, our lives are changed for the better. They literally become the center of our universe for they are totally dependent upon us for their every care - - feeding, grooming, medical, and emotional stability. They give to us their unconditional love and undivided attention, and we in turn surrender ourselves to them without reservation or fear of rejection. Our companions accept us for who we are - - not what other people expect us to be.

The good news in the midst of all this pain-filled grief is that the love bond you and your beloved Lucymae share is eternal - - it is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space. Your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit continues to share your earthly journey as she always has and always will. She is beside you now comforting you and gently guiding you to the moment in time when your heart will finally be able to smile when you think of her. And like Lucymae, each of us here know this is just going to take time - - one day at a time in your own way and in your own time. 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.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved Lucymae with us, Lynn. Perhaps sometime you would like to share a picture of her in this forum - - but only when / if you want to. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Lynn, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing the wonderful picture of your beloved Lucymae with us in your newest topic. She truly is a sweet little girl. You are forever blessed to be her Forever Mom.

I hope today is treating you kindly, Lynn, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear Lynn,

I can't say much more than what the other nice posters have said, but I want you to know I am very sorry for your loss of Lucymae. She is a sweetheart. Thank you so much for the memorial website. I lit a candle for her......God Bless..

(((((HUGS)))))

LoveMyMickey

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing in your most recent topic "mini breakdown." Indeed, because of the excruciating emotional and physical pain we experience during our grief journey it is very normal for us to experience a breakdown. Our lives are changed forever - - and the process of rebuilding our lives into a "new normal" is sometimes more than what our hearts can bear during the deep grief. I am so sorry your friend was not responsive to your need for comfort and support. Unfortunately sometimes the people we think we can turn to in times of great sorrow are not able to offer us the comfort and support we need - - for whatever reason. I'm so glad you have found this forum, Lynn, and hope you are receiving the support, encouragement, comfort, and hope you need during this time of great sorrow.

Thank you so much for sharing your beloved Lucymae with us, Lynne. While other people in our lives have their own "agenda", and some of them come and go like a revolving door, - - our companions remain faithfully by our side no matter what the circumstances may be. Your beloved Lucymae's devotion to you is a testimony of the love bond you and your beloved Lucymae shared during her earthly journey - - and continue to share for all eternity. Nothing in heaven or on earth will ever change this, Lynn - - no matter how much time continues in your earthly journey.

I hope today is treating you kindly, Lynn, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing in your latest topics of "Sad and Disappointed" and that your husband is not being as supportive as you need him to be. It is hard to keep up with your posts when you make separate topics. You can keep with one topic which makes it easier for people to follow your grief journey and respond appropriately.

I am sorry your husband is not being as supportive for you as you need him to be. Sadly sometimes it is the people who are the closest to us both physically and emotionally who are not able to offer us the comfort, support and encouragement we need in times of deep sorrow. Although you may not always receive a response to your posts, Lynn, I assure you that people read your posts and are keeping you close in thought and prayer. It isn't because they are indifferent to your deep sorrow.

Lynn, unfortunately there is no easy way through this grief adjustment journey. There are no fast forward or delete buttons you can press that will speed up the journey or make it immediately disappear. What you are experiencing is very normal deep grief in missing your beloved Lucymae - - although it is very painful both emotionally and physically. With the holidays approaching you may experience your deep sorrow more intensely, and this, too, is very normal. What is supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year" can actually be the "most horrible time of the year" when our hearts are burdened with deep sorrow.

It is important for you to know you are not alone in your grief journey, Lynn. You are among friends here who truly do understand what you are going through. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Yesterday was a hard day. I'm doing many things to stay busy. When the tears come though I just have to let them flow. I stay busy on a couple of support websites to help me.

On Dec. 6th I am going to a candle lighting ceremony for Lucymae. Yesterday I just struggled. I did not want to believe she was gone. It just hurt so bad. I miss her dearly.

I have decided to donate her 2 sweaters and her yellow slicker to a shelter. I can't do it right now. I can't even look at her sweaters and that's ok. I'm going to start donating food to the shelter also.

My other dog Benny has bonded more with my husband. I am spending a lot more time with him since he had a loss also. He is getting closer to me and I to him.

I always walked him alot and take him to the dog Park. A couple of days ago I took him to the dog park and onto Petco. He got a new toy and some treats.

Even though my heart is broken I need to stay strong for me and my other dog.

Hugs,

Lynn

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing. You are very wise to wait until your deep grief has eased before deciding on the items you want to donate in loving honor of your beloved Lucymae. I am very certain that the homeless waifs will sincerely appreciate anything you share of your beloved Lucymae, and your beloved Lucymae will be very proud of you.

The candle lighting ceremonies are always special, and I hope you will find comfort with the other participants who are also experiencing deep sorrow in the physical loss of their beloved companions as well. Please let us know how things go.

I know you and your precious Benny will become closer the more time you spend with one another. Comforting each other in this time of sorrow for your both will deepen your bond. It will not be the same bond that you share with your beloved Lucymae - - but it will be a very special bond that belongs only for you and your precious Benny.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Benny kindly, Lynn, and that you will have a peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you moon bean for your kind words. I will keep you all posted on how the candle vigil goes on Dec. 6th. I plan to bring her picture with me.

Its been about 6 weeks since Lucymae's passing. It still hurts. The other day I just had to get another dog. I was determined. I did not care what my husband said. I had to have a dog. I said a prayer to God that day. I said God if you want me to have a dog today please make it possible. I looked around shopping centers to see if anyone was giving away a dog. I stopped at Petco as they were doing adoptions. I was dissapointed. There were only cats. I'm just more of a dog person. I drove home feeling sad that a dog was not just layed in my lap. I guess it wasn't time. As soon as I got home I got a message from a friend who knew my dog just passed but didn't know I was looking for a dog that day. My friend was at Petco just where I was at. She said Lynn theres the cutest little dog here. I think you would like him. I told her I was just there and there were no dogs. She said they just brought him in. I hauled ass back to Petco and told her not to let anybody take him. He was still there when I got there.

He is an adorable little chilhuahua mix with beatuiful eyes and great tempermant. This was the dog that God put in my lap. I believe it was a miracle. God and my beloved Lucymae knew I needed this dog. It has now been four days that he has been with me. He sleeps right up next to me, follows me everywhere. No dog will every replace my Lucymae but this little guy which we named Luke has eased my grieving.

I know for me it was the right thing to do. I still miss Lucymae very much. I'm doing all I can to rememer and honor her.

Congratulations on your new family arrival. No matter how much we miss our pets, a new addition is always welcome, as they are additions and not replacements, just like you said. I'm glad that this is helping to ease your grief. Of course you won't ever forget Lucymae and she will always be with you in spirit, but now Luke will be with you in the physical sense as well to keep you company and to forge a budding relationship with you. When you get the chance, please let us know how things are going with him. And of course, pictures if possible. :-)

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and CONGRATULATIONS on your new lifetime companion Luke. Lynn, only YOU know when it is the "right" time to embrace a new companion into your heart and home - - and NOW is that time for you. I hope and pray that you and your precious Luke will have a long, happy, healthy earthly journey together. And please know that your beloved Lucymae guided your paths to this moment in time when you and your precious Luke would finally meet - - she is indeed very happy that you now have each other.
Perhaps sometime you would like to share a picture of your precious Luke with us.

Lynn, I hope today is treating you and your precious Luke kindly, and that you will always feel your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit in your heart and memories. Please know you and your precious Luke are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Golden Memories
They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly, in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place no one else could fill.
If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane.
I'd walk the path to Heaven and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us back one by one, the chain will link again.

For my Lucymae.

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful poem with us. Indeed, one day at our appropriate time we will once again be reunited with our beloved companions in eternal joy. For now, though, our continued earthly journey can at times feel more like a burden than a blessing - - particularly during the very deep grief adjustment. But we are blessed with the honor of being our beloved companion's living tribute to their earthly journey with us, and in fulfilling this honor we are blessed with their sweet Living Spirit always with us in our hearts and memories - - always a heartbeat close to us.

Lynn, I hope today is treating you and your precious Luke kindly, and that you and your precious Luke will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you and your precious Luke are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Lynn,

Thank you for sharing that beautiful poem. It really does express so many sentiments and emotions felt when we lose such a precious part of our lives.
Congratulations on the new addition! I'm really happy for you, and for Luke. Of course, as you wrote, he'll never replace your precious Lucymae, but I'm sure he will bring lots of happiness, as you will to him. Enjoy
Would love to see pics.

-Kelly

Here a picture of my new dog Luke. He follows me everywhere and sleeps right up against me. To me this was a God shot. I was grieving hard for three days and on the third day I said "God if you want me to have a dog present when today". It was pouring raining and I was out doing errands I kept my eyes open for any stray dogs and looked outside the shopping areas to see if anyone by chance on that day were giving away dogs. No dogs in sight.

I went to Petco they had an adoption sign posted and I thought I am going to get a dog. All they had were cats. I said I guess God doesn't want me to have a dog today. I drove all the way home about 45 min from Petco. I got a message on my phone from a voice I did not recognize. She said "Lynn I'm at Petco and there is the cutest dog here for adoption". I called her back and was my freind. I said I was just there and there were no dogs. She said they just brought this one in. I knew instantly this was a God shot. I was to have this dog. I said stay and guard the dog. I hauled ass all the way to Petco and adopted this little precious thing.

The ironic thing is my friend knew I just lost my dog but not looking for one till January. Funny how we were at Petco on the same day and she just happend to be there when they brought this precious animal in.

It has helped with my greiving. Luke will never replace Lucymae. I'm sad just thinking of her right now. I just wanted to share a photo of Luke with you all.

Lynn

Hi, Lynn, thank you so very much for sharing with us how you're doing and this wonderful picture of your precious Luke. He is a sweetie!! I know from first-hand experience what your heart is telling you about Luke becoming a part of your heart and home. I know your beloved Lucymae also assisted in guiding your and Luke's paths to the day and time you would embrace one another. May you and your precious Luke have a long, happy, and healthy earthly journey together.

Lynn, I am so very happy for you and your precious Luke. Still, your beloved Lucymae will ALWAYS have her very own place in your heart and your memories - - nothing in heaven or on earth can ever change this.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Luke kindly, Lynn, and that you both will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you and your precious Luke are doing, and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Lucymae.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you so much moon beam for your very kind words and thoughfulness. I so enjoy my little guy.

Hugs to you,

Lynn

It's now been about 7 weeks since my precious Lucymae has passed. It's been easier since I adopted Luke. Tomorrow night I'm going to a candle light vigil to honor my Lucymae. I'm a little afraid of the pain I will feel and I know the tears will flow. Tears are a part of healing so I know it will be good for me.

I still miss hear a lot. No other dog can replace her but Luke has been a God send. He is very affectionate and loving. Just what I needed.

Hugs to you all,

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

That photo of Luke is adorable. I'm glad you're feeling a little better. Lucymae of course will always be in your heart, and she will never be replaced, but I'm happy that Luke has been a little love bug.

I saw a photo on Facebook last night that struck me, as the dog looks so much like my Wolfie. Turns out she's local and in dire need of a new home. We weren't planning on getting a new dog right now, but said that if a dog in need crossed our path, we would think about it. So, we may have a new addition soon, at least as a foster. We'll see...

Hugs,
Kelly

Tonight I went to the candle lighting vigil for my dog Lucymae. it was a lovely service. I lit a candle for her. It was neat to see all the candles that were lit. It made me think of all the animal souls in heaven. I brought her framed picture with me and held it close to my heart. There was about 100 other people or more. It was another great way for the healing process for me. I'm so glad I went. I miss her. I know Lucymae and God gave me my new dog Luke. He is so adorable and perfect for me. Luke is a miracle to me.

Peace to you all,

Lynn

Oh Kelly,

How exciting. I hope you get this new dog or least get to foster it for awhile. Thank you for sharing. Yes Luke is adorable. I love him to peices. I know Lucymae and God had a hand in this.

Peace to you,

Lynn

Hi, Lynn, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing and how the candle lighting ceremony went. I am so very glad you found the ceremony comforting, and hope you were able to talk to some of the other participants and share each other's treasured memories. There is no doubt in my mind that your beloved Lucymae and our Heavenly Father led your and your precious Luke's paths to the exact moment in time when your hearts and lives are now united forever. Your beloved Lucymae now has a little brother to mentor as I know she is guiding him in all the ways he needs to know that bring joy and comfort to your heart.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Luke kindly, Lynn, and that you and your precious Luke will have a very peaceful evening blessed with your beloved Lucymae's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you and your precious boy are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I always look forward to knowing how you're doing and to sharing your treasured memories of your beloved Lucymae.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I went to the candle lighting ceremony in Portland in honor of my Lucymae. The services were very nice and all who lost a loved one lit a candle for our beloved pets. The music was beautiful and made me cry. I brought Lucymae's picure with me and hugged in my arms. It was a very healing event. I am glad they had this type of event and I am so glad I went.

Hugs,

Lynn