Missing My Sweet Kaylee

[meemo]

I saw this website about a week ago just after I had to have my sweet golden retriever put to sleep.I have been through many changes this past year that have taken quite a toll on me.My marriage ended after 30 years, ironically on our 30th anniversary.This produced the daunting task of having to rebuild my life all over again.In the process of moving forward, my beloved golden retriever, Kaylee was diagnosed with cancer.The cancer was so advanced when it was diagnosed that our vet strongly advised against any treatment due to her age, the low success rate, and the amount of stress, both physically and emotionally, it would take on her body and soul.So onward and upward we moved together into my little townhouse so she could have a little backyard.She was so funny after we moved here as she was used to a much larger backyard and as with most dogs, designate a certain part for their toilet area. It took her about a day in my new townhouse for her to decide that the backyard was far too small to use as her toilet and insisted we go for a walk to the local field to do her business.It ended up we were going for walks pretty much every hour. Smart little girl if you ask me.....in retrospect it was the best thing as it prevented me from becoming housebound.My vet had given me the information to this website and I have found it very consoling the past week. I had a call yesterday that her ashes are ready for me to pick up and my heart breaks just thinking about it.I thought it might be a nice idea to split her ashes up in little boxes with the rainbow bridge poem attached and give one to each of my kids. Even though they are adults now, Kaylee held many of their secrets when they were teens, sneaking in and out of the house!!I have to thank everyone connected to this website as the passing of Kaylee has allowed me to mourn not only her death, but my life as I have known it the past 30 years. I take comfort in knowing that she was meant to be with me throughout this change in my life, and I truely believe that she lived much longer than she should have to because of it. She was truely the reason for me to get up and make it through another day. My heart breaks with missing her, but I know it will ease in time.

[MartyT]

Your description of the role your beloved Kaylee played in your life touches my heart, meemo, and serves as a beautiful example of why we consider these precious creatures as angels in fur coats. May Kaylee's soaring spirit continue to watch over you, and may the love you have for each other live forever in your heart. Please know that you have our deepest sympathy ~ for all the losses you've endured.

[meemo]

Thank you Marty for your kind words. Today is a much better day as I picked up her ashes yesterday.Funny how having her back again can console the spirit.When I came back from the vets with her ashes in the urn,however, my cat began to show very odd behaviour. I had placed the urn on my breakfast nook when I first came home, and she came down to see what was up.As soon as she could smell the urn she began to howl in a manner that all cat owners I'm sure are aware of..a very disconcerning sound to say the least.Her howls became louder and louder..and it was becoming quite apparent that she was upset.So I took the urn upstairs,and put it in my curio cabinet.As I sit here, she is lying right in front of the cabinet..luckily the howling has stopped. I would be curious to know if anyone else has experienced a similar situation with a remaining pet.I had also picked up Kaylee's food and water dishes and had put them away.They had always had their food dishes together. I'm sure that Gwen is experiencing some sort of depression or anxiety over Kaylee's passing, and I'm not quite sure what to do for her. Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

[MartyT]

I hope you will find these earlier threads helpful and informative:

How to Help Sibling Dogs Grieve

My Cat’s Brother is Grieving

Comforting Surviving Pets