Went all over with us. After moving to England, he traveled all over with us again. Then we all moved to Hawaii, then to Austin where his spleen ruptured and he was gone. I cried for a month. I only stopped when I finished a photo album of him in all the places we'd taken him. Then I could see all the love he'd had for 16 years and that he'd had a full, happy life. Then I felt better. The life he'd had made me happier than my loss.

In the poem, I described all the doors he'd waited at for me, knowing I'd come through whatever door for him. Then one day, he went through a door. But...he didn't wait for me.

inner clocks. They know when you leave and they know when we return. Another dog I had died. Moxie, a Chihuahua in one morning had a great time retrieving her ball, back and forth. I was on my bed and on my laptop. Behind my house dogs were barking. I heard a horrible dog cry that I thougt was coming from there. I cut the sound and saw Mox girl's eyes vacant. Christ, I gathered her up, laid her on her back and tried to administer dog CPR., to no avail. She was gone. I called my vet and he said it could have been an aneurysm or a masive heart attack. I looked into the internet about sudden deaths in dogs. So many folks had similar stories with no hope to find out what happend.

I know that what you've posted is poignant beautiful and true, but I don't want to hear it. Too too sad. Since I got my beautiful girl I've dreaded the time she would weaken and grow old. I can barely stand to think of it. Some might say I am in denial. Perhaps I am, but I know that time will come and I will deal with it when it does. Until then, it is just TOO SAD to think about. So I will cross that bridge when that day comes.

we will on the most part, out live our dogs and and our cats. I know it is painfull to think of that. But we must think of the worst. Do you have a plan if you, god forgive, you die and leave behind your beloved furr baby? Think about it.

So many painful memories here of the passing of many kiddos. Then, I remember the joyous times, and the love they brought to my life.

So gut wrenching that their lives are so much shorter than ours.

You can feel the connection, so strong and deep. Beautiful.

Maybe I should.

Thanks.

I joined a Yahoo group about senior dogs. Don't know if it still exists. Anyway they gave ways to help our senior dogs. Like rolling up a towel to be placed around the belly to help going down steps to do their "business". Then there was also using baby diapers.

I would lay on the floor and feed tasha vanilla ice cream.
As tasha declined (I at the time worked at a facility for psychologicaly troubled adolescents on the overnight shift), I would leave for work, and lay down a shower curtin for tasha and her baby diapers. In the morning I would gather up the sheets and launder them.

Then one morning as I returned from work, I gathred up tasha, placed her on my bed and prepared to launder the sheets on the floor. Then, out of the blue, tasha sat up on the bed and her eyes were vacant. I knew it was time. I freaking knew it. I called my vet and took tash in. It was heart renching, but I stayed as he injected the fatel shot. I stayed for a while with tash.

I still have her cremains today, thinking to either scatter her remains in the Lake Ontarior that she loved to swim in or scatter them in The Mount Hope Cemetory in Rochester, NY.