My 17-year old dog Max left me on November 11. I still talk to him, I still pretend to put his harness on for his morning walk every day. I sit by his chair and pretend to pet him and tell him what a fierce guard dog he is (he always slept through visitors but he liked the credit). I refill his water dish every day.

I feel like I'm crazy -- I know he's gone but I still feel him. He was always the center of my thoughts, my best friend, my joy -- I just can't let him go.

I love you Max, Karen

Dear Karen,

I'm so sorry for your loss of Max. He's such a handsome fellow.

We all Grieve in different ways. After I lost Shiloh, I kept her medicine on the counter and her leash on the coffee table. She's been gone for 3 months and it's only been in the last week that I've put those things away. I still talk to Shiloh because I know that her spirit is with me...just as Max's spirit is still, and will always be with you. Give yourself time and do what you need to do to be at peace with Max's passing.

You're in my thoughts.
Kathleen

yes, it is so hard, I miss my boy so much, I still sleep on my couch, my bdrm I keep closed, and when I walk in there I can smell Moose. I will always miss his presence, and even amoung friends and family I am still alone...the alone without him by my side 24-7.

I'm sorry for your loss, I wish I had something profound to say or share with you that would make your pain go away. But I don't because I can't even deal with mine. So I share your pain instead.

Hugs sharon

Karen, I am at a loss for words and am so sorry for your pain. That is a very long time that you had your Max with you and now to be without him must be so devastating. When we lost Chili Bean I put away her collar, bowls and leash but can not bear to take her pictures off the wall. I wanted you to know you have good people here to walk with you, you are not alone.
Ann

I was found some happiness in reading your note about your dog. I felt crazy doing the same things as the evening rituals as in fixing Esabella's pink pillows and placing her favorite toy by my bed. I too, reach over where she would be sitting as if to touch her. When I walk Coco, I find myself turning around to see Esabella, as well. Isn't it amazing how that special love and bond never ends. Just wish we could hold them again.
Take good care of yourself,
Litebrez

No, you're not crazy, Karen. Do whatever it takes to help ease your pain. We all react differently..there is no right or wrong way to grieve. I still talk to my dog everyday and at times it seems silly that I'm talking to myself. But I'm really not talking to myself...my dog is a part of ME and that's the part I'm talking to. As long as we live, our pets live also. The love and memories will remain forever...nothing can take that from us.

I'm very sorry for your loss and I share your pain. Cry the healing tears and know things will get better.

Take care,
__Jim

Karen, please don't think you're crazy. I still do all the things I did when Ellie was still alive. I still have her snuggler bed beside my pillow on my bed the way it always was. I put her photo into it every night and pretend that she's still there sleeping next to me along with her special Teddy.

I still leave the curtains in my bedroom partly open at night so that if she wants to she can jump on the windowcill and look out of the window for hours on end the way she used to do.

I used to talk to her a lot when she was alive and she used to meoow back at me endlessly. Now I talk to her photo a lot as if it's really her. I say "Oh, there you are darling, I've been looking for you." and then I sit down and talk to her photo. I move her photo about too. If the sun is shining through the window, I move her photo into the sun and say to her, "there you are sweetheart you sit in that nice warm sunshine, you'll like that."

I can't let any of these things go yet. I have started to believe today that I will only be able to let them go very slowly and gently and one at a time, but at the moment I still need them to comfort me.

So Karen please don't think you're crazy, I think we need to do whatever it is we need to do to ease the pain and those things are different for everybody.

Bless you, and be gentle with yourself and your need to feel your Max near you.

With love jilly