Our old “Mom” cat had finally died of old age.  When we and the kids had the funeral in the back yard, a stray female cat was waiting at the prepared gravesite.  After the service, she followed us to the house and demanded to be let in.  We named her “Toonces” after the “driving cat” from Saturday Night Live.  A couple of months later she had a 4-kitten litter.  We gave away 3 of them, but one had such amazing colors we kept her. She was named “Smudge” as she looked like she fell down a chimney.  This mother and daughter became our best and most loving friends.  Toonces died 2 years ago at the age of 21-1/2.  Smudge died a year ago at 19-1/2.  We could not stand to have a house with no animals.  We went to a Pet Adoption fair 3 months ago and found “Sophie”.  A 6-7 year old “Little Orphan Annie” type terrier.  The new love of our lives.  She even came pre-programmed with tricks. (Sit, shake, sit-up).  Pets are one of God’s most glorious gifts.

– Mike from Richmond, MI

Our beloved Golden retriever, Annie, died rather suddenly yesterday. She was only 2 years old, developed vomiting and even with support at a tertiary veterinary service she expired. Don’t have the answers yet bur our heart is broken. Had to share with dog lovers who understand the pain. Vets suggested poison but there really is no place where she would have ingested this. She was healthy and perfect in AM and dead in PM. Our house is eerily quiet and our world just seems a lot more empty. We have had losses before and they are never easy to say goodbye. In this case we were totally taken by surprise.Mark you touched me and my wife when you lost your dear friend and I know you can relate to where we are emotionally.

– Arthu from Foxboro, MA

My 13 year old cocker spaniel, Chewie, is the sweetest dog that I think that has ever walked on this Earth.  He is kind and patient.  He has been with us since our 2001.  But, Chewie is failing.  He is struggling to maintain his bladder and his bowels.  He is going blind.  I can see the cataracts in his eyes and one of them is becoming milky white.  He is littered with skin tumors and has just recently lost the use of his left hind leg.  I am finding it it difficult, financially, to make him comfortable and healthy.  But with all of his ailments, he still continues to think that he is a puppy.  He has a voracious appetite and constantly wants to play, even with only three legs.  He has his little brother, our collie/Shepard mix, 7 year old, Buddie, that keeps him company, and who watches over him.  But I’m fearful that Chewie’s time may be running out.  He loves to sleep with our 8 year old daughter and used to be able to jump on her bed, but, now he can’t, and she doesn’t understand why.  He tries so hard, he can’t make it.  So, she sleeps on the floor with him and says, “please lay with me, Chewie, I love you.”  I don’t know what to do.  I can’t say goodbye, but I can’t let him go.

– Ralph from Rio Rancho, NM

Today is the saddest and most difficult day I have had in a long time. Cheese died- my faithful companion of 19 years. How I miss him!!!February 21, 2013.  He has been a vessel for me to pour my love into for 19 years. Before he was born I watched the day he was conceived and the day he was born I pulled the placenta off of him and cut his umbilical cord and watched him take his first breath. Today wrapped up in a blanket in my arms, I witnessed him taking his last. Today, I took him to be buried, today, we took our last and final road trip to the place that he would rest forever. Today, the tears just continue to flow without stopping. Today, I wonder how I will go on without him? Today, my heart is breaking…..
Cheese,  filled a void in my life which is now gaping and wide and I sit as I mourn and  wonder if can be filled again.  Cheese allowed me to be who I was with absolutely no judgment and no condemnation. He saw me when I was at my worst and at my best. He witnessed so many events in that twenty year period of time. He was something warm and alive to hang onto when everything in  my life seemed cold and meaningless. He was always grateful for the time I spent with him, never chastising me when I was not there for him, always faithful to snuggle against my arm or watch me from afar and knowing when I needed something. He would often come up to my chair and scratch as if to say remember me, I am here for you, just pick me up and we will handle it together, I am listening …. Tell me …I am a safe place for you to land.   He was a container for me to pour my love and affection into, when I poured my love into people it seems conditional. With him it was without condition.  He let me pour in as much as I needed to and as little as I was able to and it was always enough.  I am a nurturer and to be able to pour into something and not have it thrown back in your face or rejected is really a powerful thing. He was the vessel into which I was able to pour into boundlessly. I am so thankful to the Lord who knows the things that I have need of who let me have Cheese for this  period of time on this earth.  I miss him so much.  I miss his pattering paws scratching along the wood floor the sound of him bumping into things when he became blind, even feeding him chopped mashed food because his teeth were not what they use to be.  I miss not feeling that little heartbeat next to mine in the middle of the night after a bad dream, or even a moment of reaching out and having the assurance that was not alone. There was another heartbeat in my house hold besides just mine.
With Cheese I was never alone.  His presence was always waiting and ever consistent.  He traveled so many places with me, my traveling buddy.  Never was there a place that he was not received or welcomed. l love my  red ( orange to me and others) haired, brown eyed, dog, even if his ears were too big, his under-bite made him look like he was smiling all the time, his bark was pitiful, but so cute,  ( he was a miniature pinscher ) but he looked like a fat Chihuahua, his belly round, his thin legs looked like they could not support him.  They truly broke the mold when they made him!
He would become a guard dog if he felt he needed to be even though small he felt mighty when it came to protecting those he loved.  He loved to go Bye Bye his ears would perk up and he would look for the travel bag making sure he sat in the middle of it to make sure that he would not be forgotten or left behind.  He was always near the door waiting for me often not eating or drinking when I would be gone for a period of several days on trips he had to be left behind.  He would be first to greet me when he heard me with a wagging tale and yes, he would greet me and perhaps just sit next to my feet and not want to held as if to say “ I am mad at you for leaving me behind” But he never held a grudge for long. A doggie treat or just lap time quickly made up for the time I was gone.  He was with me during some of the darkest periods of my life, divorce, sickness, cancer, and my broken heart.  Cheese was a constant. Standing guard when I was going thru cancer treatments, laying on my chest as I slept as if to make sure I was going to wake up. During the fever no matter how hot my body became he laid next to me sometimes by the pillow to make sure he was there when I opened my eyes.  Yes, he was ever watchful.  It meant more to me than anyone could know.  More importantly and most importantly I realized after he was gone, he filled a void in my life and was a tangle point of contact, which I so desperately need. He allowed me to have a safe place to pour my love into, a place that it was never rejected, thrown back, or belittled.  Physical contact was always accepted, and he allowed that without stipulations, conditions, no matter what time of the day without boundaries or explanations it was always welcome with no fear no reprisals no judgments,  his soft coat and rounded belly the smoothness of his ears were a tactile point of contact which was never withheld. His antics made me laugh, he brought life no matter where he went.  He was my best friend and life without him is going to harder than I thought. There will be no other to replace him, even though another companion may be bought there will be no one to witness those twenty years again and with those years he carried the memories of great and wonderful times and times that were not. Ever the sentinel standing guard over my heart, my mistakes, my passions, my joys, my tears, my trials and my private thoughts that were trusted to no one but him.  Many chapters in my life is closed today, the day that I lost my most loyal and beloved friend. I miss you my darling little chi chi, my preciousness.  I love you Cheese! You will be missed and Never Forgotten. Rest now, If “All dogs go to Heaven” then you have more than earned your spot there.

– Karen from Ft. Worth, TX

We had the good fortune to have the sweetest, kindest Old English Sheepdog ever born to share our home for 12 years.  We had to say goodbye to him due to advanced arthritis.  We told the vet we wanted to spend some time with him so we could say goodbye and be with him to hold his paw for his final minutes.  I had a large container of sour cream with me.  The vet’s assistant asked me why I had it.  I told him it was for Barney.  When he asked why Barney needed it I told him ’cause he likes it.  He said, “Aren\’t you afraid it will upset his stomach?”.  My reply was, “Well, he’s not going to live long enough to get an upset stomach, is he?”  Don’t be afraid to stand up for your four-leggers.  They are truly humans best friends.  I don’t understand why retail outlets, particularly bars are forbidden by Health Departments to allow dogs in, when some of the customers are allowed in.  Dogs are far better companions.

– Doris from Cypress, TX

Rescued Emily (Tricolor Eng springer spaniel) from a puppy mill.  Barely 16 months old she had been bred twice.  I originally wanted a puppy but when seeing Emily’s plight I overpaid for her and brought her home.  She is my “velcro dog” at my side always.  Two years later we looked for a buddy and found Jane a black purebred American Lab at the shelter.  Six years old, beautifully house-trained and mannerly, chipped and health care up to day.  Brought from a  kill shelter in Indiana, no one wanted a mature big dog.  We did!  Jane and Emily hit it off immediately and the rest is history.  Two velcro dogs are at my side.

– Shirley from Danvers, MA