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Grief Healing Discussion Groups

LuvDogs

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    3
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Previous Fields

  • Date of Death
    9/24/2011
  • Name/Location of Hospice if they were involved:
    N/A

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  • Your gender
    Female
  • Location (city, state)
    VA
  1. (Pardon my 'goofs' while I learn how to reply without hitting the wrong buttons!) Hello. I just read about your friend who is going to put her beloved 17 year old kitty down and it made me very sad as I know all too well how difficult that task can be. My heart goes out to everyone who will be involved in helping ease kitty out of this world and into the next. For humans who love their furry babies, losing a pet is akin to losing a member of one’s family. Everyone who grieves a pet is experiencing a deep personal loss. The need for extra love and understanding is very real - as the grief is very real. Before he passed away four months ago, my husband and I took in “special needs” dogs, cats, and birds and they became the the center of our lives. For nearly forty years, helping needy animals was the driving force that made us feel that we were making a difference in this world. The same can be said for your friend who is saying good-bye to her kitty today. She made a difference in the life of that little animal! And I believe that will bring her a feeling of peace, as it did us. When she is ready, I hope your friend will consider honoring her beloved kitty by bringing another pet into her life. It would never replace the one that she is saying good-bye to today. Every new pet has an uncanny way of carving out its own place in our hearts and enriching our lives. Your friend is fortunate to have you to help her. She will need to draw on your strength today. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you, and kitty, too. Judi
  2. Anne, thank you for your kind words. It is so nice to know that you appreciate “animal” therapy, too! My house would feel so empty if I didn’t have my dogs demanding my constant attention, my cats that want to be petted, and my birds that sing and chatter (and sometimes squawk!). As much as I miss my husband, I never feel alone. Since we can’t turn back time, I try to look ahead and do what I know my husband would want me to do. And that is for me to take the very best care of our furry and feathered family that I possibly can. I know he would do that for me if I had been the one to pass on. Two weeks after my husband died, I started attending weekly grief therapy meetings sponsored by a local church. I have met wonderful people with whom I can share my sorrow. In that setting, none of us feel that we need to hide our emotions. But I have noticed something very interesting. All the others attending the sessions have children and grandchildren who live near them and they all spend a good deal of time with their families. And yet they are all extremely lonely. I am the only one in the group with a house full of animal friends and, thus, I am the only one who goes to bed at night surrounded by pure love and devotion. I miss my husband terribly and, no doubt, always will. But knowing how much he loved me and all our pets gives me peace and comfort and a feeling that he is still with me. My heart goes out to you and your Champion and Sophie. With older dogs, we never know how long we will have them. I, too, have an older dog with health problems. In addition to our daily routine, I give her extra hugs and love and that makes her very happy. I know you will cherish each day you have with your dogs and they will continue to remind you of the love you all shared with your husband. Those are the good memories! My best to all of you ... Judi
  3. Hello, you wonderful people and dog lovers. Since my husband passed away a little over three months ago, I found this board and have come to it from time to time when I needed to feel reassured that I am not alone with my sense of loss and sadness. When I saw the posts about dogs, I knew I had to share with you our love of dogs. My dogs have been my greatest security and support since losing my husband! They get me up in the mornings and keep me going all day. For more than thirty years, my husband and I rescued special dogs (and some cats) from our local shelter that were in danger of being put down. In fact, some were just moments away from euthanazia. In recent years, shelter personnel would contact us if they had a "special needs" dog that had no hope of adoption. As we had no children, our animals were our greatest joy and comfort for the nearly forty years that we were married. Last summer my husband suddenly became very ill and required surgery. Complications set in and for almost two months, my husband was hospitalized. On two occasions I brought him home but both times an emergency occurred and I had to call for the ambulance to rush him back to the hospital. The last time my husband came home, it was for less than 24 hrs. While we waited for the ambulance, I sensed that my husband knew that he would not be returning home ever again. He picked up one of his beloved dogs and hugged that dog so hard and didn't want to let go. I knew that my husband was saying a final farewell to his furry family that he loved so dearly. It broke my heart. I still cry when I remember that day. After my husband passed, he was cremated and his ashes, along with the ashes of his favorite dog, were scattered from an airplane over the family farm where he was born. (My husband was a former military pilot and, in addition to his love for his dogs, flying was his other passion.) My husband and his beloved dog returned "home" together on my husband's birthday. I find great comfort in knowing that my husband and his best friend are now together on the land from his childhood that he loved so much. As sad and lonely as I am at times, that always makes me feel better. I just wanted to share with you how much our love of dogs has helped to ease my grief. A special hug to all those wonderful animals who make life better for all of us!
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