I do not wish to share this post.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss of Abby. Such a precious and it's always tough to lose such a close companion.



All I can say is "one day at a time'. As devastating as this loss is, there are no quick fixes. You've been there before with your 2 other buddies but time has passed and perhaps you have forgotten most of the pain. (similar to how mothers forget the pain of giving birth, maternal amnesia) At least you have found a good place to share your grief with people that understand have been through the same experience of losing a fur buddy.

There are no magic wands that can be waved to take away the pain. If it helps, think of the grief and tears as tribute to your ever faithful companion. You'll have to ride out the emotional roller coaster with the rest of us. It's not a fun roller coaster.

When my dog Ava passed away almost 3 months ago, I thought I was going to die (emotionally, some of me has died) and I didn't want to go on without my beast. I cried for almost a week straight (and I'm a guy). It's difficult to say it gets easier to deal with especially when the loss is so recent and fresh, but it does get easier to deal with with the passage of time. The tears came less frequently as the weeks passed, but they have not gone away completely. I know people that have lost their pets years ago, but if they talk about them any more than a sentence or two, their eyes begin to well up with tears.

I hadn't heard of the 'Rainbow Bridge' until I came here to LS. To me, the concept has been a big comfort to me. Abby is there now, with all our lost pets, back in his prime, running, playing and waiting... Waiting for the day that you are re-united when your time here is done.

Dear Abby's Mommy,

First let me just tell how sweet Abby looks. I can see how see stole your heart. I know how you felt I felt the same way when my Stymy died. I had to put him to sleep because he had cancer and there wasn't any more they could do. I just wanted to die with him. He was everything to me, I don't have children and to me he was my child. But with time I got through it. So I can tell you time does truly heal.

Second, your Abby was truly a very lucky dog to have parents like you and your husband. And I am sure she knows it. Remember only their body dies and spirit still lives on.

I will say many prayers for you and your family for strength to get through all you have endored and all that will be coming up. I will also say a special prayer for your sister, sounds like she need you now.

You came to a great place to help heal. I love the people here they have helped me more then they know.

Something that help me in the first days after Stymy passed was I did a few things special to him in his memory. I wrote a few thank you letters and I did a memorial in my house with a few toys a picture and a candle. I wish you all the best.

Love and belief,
Vicki

Dear Abby's Mommy,

I am SO sorry for your loss. We all know how painful it is, and you have come to the right place for comfort and support. Like Vicki stated, I don't know how I would have gotten through the first few weeks without the support and wise words from these people. It's going on 8 weeks since I lost my Rachael, and some days it still feels like yesterday. Like Gort stated, there is no quick fix. Only time will heal your pain. Tears are healing, and writing out your feelings seems to help too. Like Vicki, I wrote letters too. I wrote a letter to my vet and the staff thanking them for the almost 12 years of excellent medical care that they gave my Rachael. I thanked my vet for helping me to end her suffering. It really did help me feel a little better. I wrote thank you letters to my co-workers and friends for showing concern when I first lost Rachael. I also wrote a tribute to her in the Tribute section of this forum. It was hard to write a letter to her, and I cried my eyes out while typing it, but it really helped. Over time (and everybody has a different time table) the tears will come less often. I don't cry everyday now. There are still "triggers" that will spark a tear, but nothing like that first week. I NEVER thought I would survive without her.

My husband and I never had children, so our lives evolved around Rachael too. We did everything for her, around her and about her. We also took trips with her too. She just loved the water and going out on our boat. We even named our boat after her! Suddenly when that stops and they are gone, your whole world feels like it has been turned upside down. On top of this terrible loss, you and your family are dealing with other tragic situations. I honestly believe that God doesn't give you more than you can handle. There must be something very strong in you right now. Look how strong you have already been, by helping your precious Abby end her suffering and pain. I still have days that I can't imagine how I found the strength to have done that myself! I have learned alot more about myself and have become MUCH more sympathetic to the pain and suffering of furbabies. Since Rachael's death, I have started making donations to animal shelters. I have started sponsoring fur dogs in shelters that are passed over for adoptions because of health problems. So, I feel I have learned something and become a little stronger now. As if my sweet Rachael hadn't already taught me SO much about life already, she taught me even more with her death.

I have been dreading Christmas now without her. I didn't know how I would handle unpacking her personalized ornaments, stockings, picture of her with Santa, etc... Then a new dear friend that I made through this forum, suggested that I put up a second special tree just for my Rachael, in her memory. I just love that idea! I plan on putting up another tree this year with all her special ornaments and toys, just for her. In time, you will find something that will help you heal. Your sweet Abby may be gone physically, but her fond memories and spirit will live with you forever.

My prayers are with you and your family,
Cheri

I wept as I read your cry for help and I am so sorry you lost your beautiful Abby and I can hear how the pain is so terrible for you. I believe the pain is made much worse for you with your dad being so ill and your sister being attacked. With the grief of all 3 it would surely seem that your world has fallen out from under you.

Maybe it seems and feels to you as though God has left you but He has not. You have stated that you are christian people so I feel I can say to you call upon Jesus to give you strength to go on when it feels you can't take another step and your heart is broken and shattered beyond repair.

Then when the tears fall, whisper His Name and let Him wipe them away and bring you comfort that He alone can bring. When you are so broken and can't speak the words to Him your tears will speak for you. The Bible says He bottles all your tears you have ever cryed and what a comfort to know He cares about us so very much.

I take comfort in my favorite verse in the Bible Rev. 21 verse 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away.

I know it does not stop the pain that we feel now oh but one day we will be with our loved ones and death, pain, sorrow and crying will never touch us again. We are all here to offer comfort and to share your pain and help in anyway that we can. I have been more blessed by my wonderful new friends here than they will ever know.

Sometimes I am afraid to say very much about God on here because I would never want to offend any one but it is He who gives me strength, and the love and compassion that I have. He has brought me through many troubles and horrible pain in my 51 years and I could not go on without Him. For you Abby's Mommy I wish God's blessings, healing and peace that passes all understanding upon your life. I have and will be praying for you.
Ann

Oh I am so sorry, what a bueatiful little baby. I am hurting to, I have lost my most precious boy too, he was with me for almost 10 years and a part of my life, everything I did these last ten years was for him and with him, I am alone without him. I wake up for him also, I cant sleep in my room the pain is intense. Us beleivers....we have bad things happen in our lives here on earth too, heartache, loss, that is just the way it is here. I always loved the story of the Father and the Child on the journey, she has to travel with sorrow and joy, because while on this journey here sorrow will take her to the heart of God and joy will enable her to continue. I love what Ann wrote about God bottling our tears, since I have lost my Moose Dog I have cried a river. I continue to pray and ask for restoration. And like Gort said, there is no other way except through it, just has to be. Pamela

Hi Abby's Mom,

I'm truly sorry to learn of the loss of your beloved Abby. Thanks for sharing the photo, she was a beautiful dog and I know you miss her terribly. Sounds like she had a wonderful home with you and your husband. Our time with our pets is never long enough and it tears our hearts out when we lose them.

There's not much advice I can give you that the others here haven't already said. You're in the first stage of the grief process and it's a long hard road. All of us here have been there, so please know we fully understand and share your pain.

I'm sure what you are feeling right now is a sense of complete disbelief and the thought of not having Abby's physical presense anymore seems unbearable. When I lost my little buddy, I felt as though I wanted to die too. I was so devastated that I thought about digging him up so I could see and hold him just one more time. I never thought I could learn to live without my little buddy, but it's been three and a half months since I lost him and I'm still going through the motions of everyday living. Our lives won't ever be the same, but we were all very blessed to have had our pets in our lives and we do learn to adjust to life without them.

I've come much further with the grieving process than I ever thought I could and I know you will find the strength to do the same. I don't believe I could have made it without my wonderful new friends here at LS. It helps so much to be able to talk about our losses with people who truly understand and care. Please keep coming here and talking about Abby as much as you need to. We're always here to listen.

You're in my thoughts,
__Jim

What a sweetheart Abby was! Sorry I can't offer much advice in getting through the grief, except to say it will ease...slowly, probably much more slowly than you think you can stand, but eventually you'll make it through a day without tears. Maybe only one day, then the tears will return for many more. Memories of the wonderful good times you had together will start to filter in and replace some of the memories of the last painful days or weeks. Maybe you'll even find yourself smiling at some of those memories ... and that's what Abby would want for you.