My wonderful 'pup' passed yesterday

[salin]

She was with my mother as her breathing became very labored. Over the course of a couple of hours - it escalated so quickly that when I got the word (I was more than an hour away) - it came down to touch and go as to whether or not I could say goodbye. I tried to get there in time. My beautiful Golden began to struggle to breath - her lungs were filling with fluid. I got there - ran up the walk to the house - opened the door... and she died. Her last breath was drawn as I opened the door. Twenty feet away. Seconds. I lost the chance to tell her, while she was alive, how much I loved her.

She could always tell a storm was brewing more than 20 minutes before we humans could 'tell'. Many times she would try to "shepherd" me to the house before a storm - and before we were aware a storm was brewing.

It is almost as if she held on as those last breaths became more and more impossible to make that she was holding on. Not to 'hear' my last words to her - but to unselfishly know that I was 'safe'. Selfishly I wanted to be with her at the very end. But instead she unselfishly seemed to just struggle to make sure that I was 'safe'.

I already miss you, my dear pup. Thank you for your twelve years of curiousity, joy of life, enthusiasm for play. You were loved by your 'two Moms' (my mother and myself). You are missed - greatly.

:cry:

Thanks for letting me share my lament.

[Swede]

1. So sorry to here that salin.

They really are our best friends.

[salin]

7. they give so much more loyalty

than we are capable of returning. How many times do we sit and pet our dogs - love them - while we are reading (or watching something) and suddenly get disttracted by the content of what is in front of us. In the big picture I know that she loved life - and had a happy life (free run, for many years, of an acre of semi wooded land - oh the joy of sniffing out the wild animals (squirrels, rabbits, deers, etc.) But at this moment I am thinking about being distracted this weekend... all of the time I was doing other things rather than being with her - ala reading a book - with a hand on her side as I read. Am sure I will quickly move past this moment (regret) and to the place of warm memories (she gave me so many of them). But at this moment - I just feel a bit of a hole.

[enigmatic]

2. I'm so sorry, salin

My deepest sympathies..

[Madrone]

3. Awww, salin.

I'm so sorry. :cry: My oldest, and first ever cat has kidney failure and we're pretty much on borrowed time. If I stop and think about it I get very upset. I understand how you're feeling... I'm sorry. :hug:

[Heidi]

4. I'm sorry to hear that, salin.

You should go ahead and say your last words to your pup now. She can hear you. :hug:

[jukes]

deep condolence

so easy to love them, so hard to lose them.

:grouphug:

[salin]

9. Isn't that the truth...

:cry:

Thanks.

[Pithlet]

5. I'm so sorry, salin

:hug:

[arwalden]

6. Sorry To Hear The Sad News...

... it's always difficult to say goodbye to our furry friends. I'm sure she knew you loved her without your having to say it. I hope you're able to find comfort from your friends and family and in sharing stories and memories from happier days together.

xo, Allen :hug:

[salin]

13. grow fir

*lame attempt at humour* (per grow trees, fir and fur.)

Was with my mother last night - with some family around. Will be back down 'home' over the weekend. Hopefully the transition to wonderful warm memories (she gave us many) from the emptiness/seeing her everywhere (eg any where you look, you see her shadow as she was always in that space) will happen quickly.

Two weekends ago, when I was there - I took out a camera to try to capture pictures of how puppyesque she could look ... never did capture that "look" but did get some nice pics. Those will help in the short term.

Thanks for your words of kindness.

[leftofthedial]

8. I'm sorry, Salin

Dogs are the best and you had a great one. Treasure the memories.

[MuseRider]

10. Oh salin

I am crying with you right now. I am so sorry but you know she knew how much you loved her. It is so hard, they are so special. Take care, she knew and she loved you back.

[Demonaut]

11. Jesus, you've made me tear up....I'm so sorry for your loss

I surely hope there's a dog heaven, chasing rabbits in green fields and always a full bowl of food and water

[salin]

16. what a beautiful image

she loved to run and sniff. As she grew sick this was more difficult. To think of her tearing around in joy - unencumbered by her body that began to berak down - is a wonderful image.

[Wapsie B]

12. So sorry to hear of your loss.

I know how it is to lose a dog. It was heart wrenching in our house. My deepest sympathies.

[havocmom]

14. Oh, salin! Your heart must be broken in two.

Know we are sending strength to you, me 'n my 90 Pound Hound.

Talk to her when you need to. Her soul will hear you. Love does not end just because the vessel wears out and breaks.

Here for ya in the coming days, weeks, months as grief hits you. Vent all ya need. Tell us tales of your wonderful friend when you can.

Hit us up anytime you need some group hugs.

Gentle dreams of better days, my wish for salin.

havocmom

[Gloria]

15. Oh, I'm so sad you weren't with her...but I think she knew you

were on the way and with her in spirit.

My three are sleeping safely tonight but I'm shedding a tear for your sweet Golden.

[serryjw]

17. I know..You know that she was loved

I am so sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace and meet Einstein when crosses the Rainbow Bridge. I'm sure they will be fast friends.
Namaste

[salin]

19. What a beautiful thought.

[serryjw]

22. Don't you know......

there is a 'blue' area on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge where all the dems furrbabies get restored to health, play together....and awaiting the time when we are all re-united........

[salin]

18. Thank you, for sharing words

of warmth. They are appreciated.


:grouphug:

[salin]

20. So why come to the lounge with this?

because there is warmth and caring.

Indeed, when I got stuck in highway traffic - and grew more frantic - but still had an hour to drive .. (after hearing the words that she might not make it another hour)... a wonderful friend - through DU - talked me through the drive. Calmed me down (In just ten minutes I was behind a school bus, a truck towing another truck, and every slow vehicle on the south side of Indianapolis... just drove me that much more crazy.)

Got me through the drive. One of the longest drives I have ever made - though I have drove the route more than a thousand times.

[faithnotgreed]

24. good thing this post was from you! for a second i was wondering

who would write that subject line glad it was you!

its wonderful you have such a beautiful bond with your little one
and im glad you would share this with all of us

warmest wishes salin and heres to your "pup"

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. I'm so sorry for you.

I believe she knew you loved her, the fact that you weren't there at the very end doesn't take away from all the love you had given her (and she you) over the years.

:hug:

[Robeson]

23. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

[Fridays Child]

25. Awwww, damn.

Sorry, salin. I know how bad that sucks. :hug:

[progmom]

26. Salin - I am sobbing with you right now.

I lost my Abbey, a golden/lab mix a year and half ago.

Your post really moved me.

I am so sorry.

:hug:

[Maddy McCall]

27. Oh, Salin. I am sooo sorry.

A big hug to you. :hug:

I bet your pup knew you loved her. She cared for you as if she knew it.

:cry:

[AbbeyRoad]

28. I'm sorry for your loss, salin

She sounds like she was a sweet dog.

I've felt the aching grief of losing a dear pet when my childhood dog died one Christmas break when I was home visiting from college. I have an eight year old female black lab now, and occassionally the fear of experiencing that pain again breaks through and I have to push it away. It's so difficult to lose a friend who gives so much joy and love so unselfishly.

[Left Is Write]

29. I'm sorry, salin.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

30. My dear salin,

My eyes and heart are full of tears for your loss...Here's a poem that might help, or it might make you cry some more...but I think in the long run, it will help:

I explained to St. Peter,
I'd rather stay here,
Outside the pearly gate.
I won't be a nuisance,
I won't even bark,
I'll be very patient and wait.
I'll be here, chewing on a celestial bone,
No matter how long you may be.
I'd miss you so much,
If I went in alone,
It wouldn't be Heaven for me.
Author unknown

My deepest condolonces, dear sarin...Please take care.:grouphug:

:pals:

[Kire]

31. Was she really only a puppy?

That is so sad.

My condolences.

[salin]

33. A puppy, in her own mind.

at eleven, slowed down by a stroke - this amazing girl stumbled a little but still took with joy the opportunity to "tug of war" - or get responses from her making of the special "beep beep" toy to sound off. Two weeks ago - I tried to capture her puppylike moments that she gave us if we ate and there was bread involved. Got some great pics, but couldn't quite capture the essence of her puppy like excitement over the prospect that she might get some kind of bread product. For whatever odd reason she loved any bread product (regular bread, cracker, bread stick, etc.) more than almost anything else. If you opened any container, holding any kind of vread related product... she was there - even if it was something and some packaging that wasn't familiar nor had a familiar "sound". She just knew - and came to beg. And in a way that never changed from the time that she was a pup. We refered to those as her puppy moments.

What a nice memory to be invoked. Thanks.

[Kire]

37. my cat is eleven

every time she gets sick, I get really scared

she's gotten pretty crabby lately, like a little old lady, but I'm sure that's because I've been having a few rough months, myself

I'm going to go pay so much attention to her right now, she won't know what's going on.

[mvd]

32. Very sorry, salin

:hug:

[deadparrot]

34. I'm so sorry.

I'm sure she's in a better place now, but it still hurts.

[gardenista]

35. Salin, my deepest, deepest sympathies.

She must have lived a good life with you, and I bet you're right, that she needed to be sure you were safe before she could cross over.

And she must have known how much you loved her. How could she not? You speak of her so reverently, and so lovingly. She must have known that she was a very lucky dog, with some very good and loving humans in her life.

Sometimes we are blessed in our lives by the chance to share our time with extraordinary pets. And sometimes I think they are reflections of the goodness in our own souls, as I imagine is the case with your Golden.

May she rest in peace, knowing that she brought great joy to your lives.

[Mick Knox]

36. Very sorry to hear that

Truely.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

38. Aw, salin.

love to you and pup

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. You are the reason I got my golden

here's those pics of your girl that you sent me a while back:







Sorry ..I don't know how to make them smaller..and I don't know how to make it hurt less

[BikeWriter]

40. Mothers and dogs are the most loyal friends it's possible to have.

[Bride of Cthulhu]

41. I'm sorry to hear that, salin.

:hug:

[Tsiyu]

42. So sad

But she knew you loved her. She waited til she smelled and heard you coming home. It's almost as if she was waiting til you were safely there to pass on, as you said.


I am so sorry about your losing your buddy. When you have a special dog like that, nothing can take its place. I lost my favorite dog ever last year, and it was months before I stopped expecting her to be there, stopped calling her name in an absent moment. Dogs are our angels. My condolences on losing one of yours...

:hug:

[qnr]

43. I never know what to say to these. But I know just what you're going

through.

[housewolf]

44. Ohhh... that makes me cry. I'm so sorry...

what an unexpected loss. I can't imagine. I'm SOOOO sorry....

[Vektor]

45. I'm so sorry...

I'm sure she is lying in a nice warm sunbeam in doggie heaven right now.

Condolences and hugs. :hug:

[tavalon]

46. I'm so sorry for your loss

Don't worry about getting there a moment too late, she fully knew that you loved her.

[Piperay]

47. I'm so SORRY

pets are members of the family and it hurts so much to lose them. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

48. I am so sorry *hugs*

[GOPisEvil]

49. I'm sorry for your loss.

:( :hug:

[JanMichael]

50. Oh, it's so sad when our friends get old

I am so sorry; what a sweet girl!

Stephanie

[Richardo]

51. I feel so bad for you, salin...

:hug:

I've had to go through it too. She knew how much you loved her.

[welshTerrier2]

52. what a beautiful tribute ...

my deepest condolences, salin ...

[Misunderestimator]

53. Aw, salin.... so sorry...

:hug:

[Andy_Stephenson]

54. Salin I am so sorry for your loss

:cry:

[Beetwasher]

55. So Sorry Salin

She knew how much you loved her, I'm sure.

[Shell Beau]

56. Aww, I am sooo sorry!

It is a gift when we are blessed with such a great spirit! :hug:

[jswordy]

57. I completely understand and you have my sympathy and support

I love my dogs more than words can convey.

[Pool Hall Ace]

58. I am so sorry.

Pups are wonderful. :grouphug:

[MissMillie]

59. She knew that you loved her

Really, she knew.

She was lucky to have you.

[Beausoir]

60. Wow. That hurts.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Your story moved me to tears.

How lucky you both were..to have each other.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

61. I am so sorry, Salin

She knew you loved her & she loved you too.

best

[UrbScotty]

62. Many hugs to you

:hug:

[Mutley]

63. Oh I'm so sorry!

:hug: :hug:

Thank you for sharing this story.

[undeterred]

64. Reading that brought tears to my eyes.

Remembering the last dog I lost, fearing the day I will lose the one I have now.

I'm sorry. There's no pain quite like it.

((((( salin )))))

:cry: :hug: :cry: