okay, did this have to be for humans?? I didn't see that rule anywhere so I am gonna post about my heartache that I am still experiencing from losing my precious baby-girl cat, Madonna. She died from liver failure one year ago this week. She was that one animal that I still have a hole in my heart for. If she was here, while I am dealing with this family crap & AD granny everything would a lil easier. She would always sit on my chest, when i laid down, and lick away my tears when i had a stressful day. She always knew when I had a bad day and always gave me a reason to live and keep on going. I knew i had to live and keep on going because i had to get home to feed her and change her litter!! I held her in my arms as they put her to sleep and its been a rough year of dealing with this move to ohio, dealing with the granny's AD and dealing with such a big life change. Madonna, you were my Angel and I hope you know no human, animal or object could ever replace the unconditional love you showed me. Thank you for blessing my life and I hope you are watching over me as this family slowly drains the sanity you helped me keep in tack the 8 yrs i was blessed to have you in my life. ok, tears flowing now and i dont want to mess up my computer. Anybody else miss a pet loss more than a human loss?

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Is it that we sort of play God when we decide when they should go?

Val, I think you hit that proverbial nail right on the head! It's the guilt. The "wanting to keep them even though they are sooo sick" kinda' guilt. The "not letting" them cross over The Rainbow Bridge kinda' guilt. We had to put Ringo down; we held on to Magen for wayyyyy too long; we were most definitely spared that decision with Barrett. Thank God!

A big ole HI to little April!!!!!!!!!

Hi Angel. I mentioned in an earlier post that I think the hardest thing I've had to do was to take Prince to the vet that last time. When Brandy(our red Dobie)died the vet said she did us a favour. Is it that we sort of play God when we decide when they should go? I got over Brandy easier(not really easy)because I didn't have to make that decision AND because the night she died I had a wonderful vision of my Dad and Brandy. I honestly don't know what I would do if something happened to our Sandy. She is such a part of our lives. I am so glad you have a new puppy in your life. She sounds like she has Sandy's personality-friendly, lots of hugs and kisses, quiet most of the time-(Sandy is lab cross too).Has Granny met her yet? Give April a kiss from Sandy . Gypsy

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Originally posted by OCSurfCity:
No, Janie. my dogs were named in order. When one died, I got another - well, I should say pairs like Zeus and Apollo (from Magnum PI) and Siegfried & Roy. There were German Sheperds, Huskies, Akitas and cocker Spaniel. The bigger the dog breed, I noticed the lived on average 7-10 years. Mine had health problems and I had to put most of them down.

awww, i know i shouldn't compare these two things...but i swear putting down my animals is almost as hard, if not harder, than the deaths i've had in my family! I mean, the human deaths i've had (whether they were unexpected or from a long illness) hurt BAD...but why is it that i can get over the human deaths and move on and accept it but my animal deaths i still have to pull over and cry about???? The holes in my heart from losing humans eventually filled and I was glad to know they were with God now but the animal deaths still have their holes wide open in my heart. And I feel so awful for feeling that! But thanks for sharing your story. Oh, and my dad got a puppy yesterday!!!!! yeeaaaaaa!! And i got to name her! "April" is the new addition to our family. A black lab mix that is already house broken and comes up to me with lots of hugs and kisses which makes the AD days with the granny almost bearable!

No, Janie. my dogs were named in order. When one died, I got another - well, I should say pairs like Zeus and Apollo (from Magnum PI) and Siegfried & Roy. There were German Sheperds, Huskies, Akitas and cocker Spaniel. The bigger the dog breed, I noticed the lived on average 7-10 years. Mine had health problems and I had to put most of them down.

Steve, I'm "assuming" you didn't have all 10 doggies at the same time? We now have three cats, and in the past have had both dogs, cats, horney toads, parakeets, and I even have a "Sally" outside right now, as we speak. ("Sally's" last name is "Mander", by the way.)

She is such a beautiful green, drinks at my bird/squirrel water feeder and occasionally puffs up her (his?) throat into a big red blob. I'm still waiting to get a picture of this awesome creature!

Except for the Dachshund ("Ringo") that we took in after my parent's passed away, our last "chosen" dog was Magen, a German Shepherd. When she passed, we had her body cremated (after many tearful decisions) and Magen now sits on top of the desk in our front foyer. My husband touches that box every night as he is walking down the hall, to the bedroom, to retire for the evening.

She was "his" dog and I never interferred with that bonding and love.

Our little buddies, our dogs, cats and other animal friends, can be way better than your own siblings.

Your animal gives you unconditional love. They know when you are happy, when you are sad or when you are upset too.

All of my dogs who are now deceased (all 10 of them) will be buried with me when I die. I cannot imagine Heaven without my beloved dogs whom I loved more than some of my siblings. Yes, I paid $400 to have them cremated but it was money well spent.

To Zeus, Apollo, Sigfried, Roy, Hercules, Chase, Fuzz, Sergeant, General and Girlie: Save a place for me in Heaven!!

awww, thank you all for sharing the pet stories. I had to sit in my car today and have a lil cry over this caregiver stress and missing my cat that died this time last year. When i hear "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan I cant help but cry. Its a good song and if someone here doesn't know it then download it or get the CD. I sing it to my deceased cat but it can be equally applied to those that have lost loved ones to ANY illness.

All the nursing home type facilities that I have been in have pets mostly cats but the one where Mike used to have his shower did have a dog. When Mike had his stoke the ICU Dr. had me bring Brandy in-said it was the first time they had had a dog in ICU. Both hospitals in Victoria and the hospital and extended care here all allowed me to bring the dog in. In fact they encouraged it when he was going though a really hard time the last time he was in. The PT also had me bring Brandy in while they were working with Mike.They have a program here where volunteers take their dogs into the facilities. There is something comforting and calming about running your fingers through soft fur. This probably sounds funny but if I wake up during the night I often reach over and pet Sandy(her bed is an old lazyboy chair right beside our bed.)Gypsy

gypsy, how right you are about our pets keeping us going. I know some people aren't animal people and i dont understand this nor can i imagine life without an animal but i do understand if someone has a sick person in the house that sometimes pets arent an option. But if I didn't believe in pet therapy before i'm a beleiver now! The granny never had a cat and was not a cat person and now she just loves having my furballs around....unless she in one of her 'off' days and then nothing makes her happy. But overall, me bringing my cats to her home has made her have a change of heart. And to think.....the aunt that i complain of non-stop on this board tried to talk me into giving her ALL my cats so i wouldn't have them at the granny's house. When this family is driving me to a mental ward, i thank God everyday for my furbabies. Now that one has died and i am down to 2 its funny cuz she still thinks that one is alive. So i've thought of going to get another one since she thinks the cat is still around but i know that would be sneaky of me so i wont do it

I've never had a cat but we always had a dog. As an adult I have had 4, Tippy-I left her with a friend when I took a year off to travel. She got a wonderful home so I gave her to his sister. Prince was lab/shep that I had when I met Mike-I got him when he was only a few weeks old and had him for 14 years. Taking him to the vet that last time was probably the hardest thing I have ever done. Brandy was our Dobie we got when Mike retired-she was a spoiled sweetheart. She died Easter Sunday 2000 she was about 15. Those first few years after Mike's stroke I don't know what I would have done without her. We got Sandy our baby in the summer of 2000. I think she is probably the best of the lot-she has such a friendly happy personality and is so undemanding-spoiled but not as spoiled rotten as Brandy was. Somethimes I think it is our pets that keep us going.I see I haven't updated this recently and there are no picts of Tippy but here are my other family if you are interested. http://community.webshots.com/album/67079156xXHkHM Gypsy

OK Guys, I didn't have a cat but had two dogs. The one was a dalmation, Spotty that slept with me and always followed me around. Coming from an abusive home she was my best friend. Even though it's been like 30 years I still miss her. I then got a German Short Haired Pointer named Lucky and boy was I lucky to have her too. She also slept with me till I got married and moved away. When we moved back to help with my dad a year later my husband accepted Lucky in out bed. Lucky died when my son was about 4 months old but I have pictures of the two of them together and Lucky always watched over the baby like it was her own. After Lucky we were not able to get another dog due to my dad's declining health and then it was my husband and now mom. I do plan to get a cat or dog in the near future. No you are not alone in missing your pets at all and it shows just how nurturing a person you are.

Janie, thanks for your understanding. I was waiting for someone to blast me for posting about an animal and not a human.
To answer your question, I didn't have to worry about getting another fur baby after Madonna's untimely death because I had 3 other lil girls to comfort me already. I actually made my move here to take care of my grandmother with the 3 remaining cats (moving 3 cats cross country was fun ) Then after I was here and caught in the middle of this family drama my oldest baby girl died from cancer last November. So now I am down to 2. One lives in the granny's basement and the other in my bedroom. The granny never had a cat in her life and she now has 2 (one of which is named after her ) The granny loves the cat that is named after her and it is good for her to have something she can focus on that shows her attention and love. However, my other baby didn't take a liking to the granny and pooped in her chair one day So needless to say, she stays out of the granny's sight. God bless our pets. At least in the midst of all this AD craziness and family arguing I can come in my room to unconditional love (as long as the food bowl is full )

That little "broken icon" up there *used* to be a kitty kat.

Angel, your post brought tears to my eyes. I have my three fur babies laying here at my feet as I'm typing. I love them and, yes - they give such unconditional love!! I am so blessed to have had many wonderful pets in my life.

I'm sorry you don't have your Madonna anymore! Did you ever think of getting another kitty? NOT to "replace" Madonna, but to help you along your way and there just may be one out there right now who needs a good mommy.

Angel...

I know exactly what you mean. That was an absolutely beautiful sentiment!

Thank you for those touching words.