posted December 29, 2005 08:12 PM              

I am in despair.

------------------
Gemini sun, Cancer rising, mercury in Gemini, moon in Taurus *29, venus in Taurus, mars in Libra

posted December 29, 2005 08:20 PM              

It's very difficult and does not happen overnight. Give yourself about a year, and then really start trying a little more.

And keep this in mind. When you were with your pet, didn't it bring you emmense joy to share the spirit of your pet with others? Didn't it make you happy to see others affected in a positive way just as you had been?

Well...

Try to remember that others with pets will want you to experience the same joy, and if you are too deep in your remorse, your heart will not be free to experience the joy of these angels still around you. They are here to teach us so much about unconditional love, but the lesson does not end once they pass.

posted December 29, 2005 08:24 PM              

I can't!!!

------------------
Gemini sun, Cancer rising, mercury in Gemini, moon in Taurus *29, venus in Taurus, mars in Libra

posted December 29, 2005 08:42 PM            

I lost my best friend- my dog I had since I was 5, when I was 19. It took me year and years to stop hurting over her loss. I still have not had another dog since her. I also lost my cat to a heart attack (while working at an emergency animal hospital as an er tech..but nothing could have saved him.. it was that fast).

The grief is all encompassing...

posted December 29, 2005 08:44 PM              

My hearts hurts.

http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000271.html

------------------
Gemini sun, Cancer rising, mercury in Gemini, moon in Taurus *29, venus in Taurus, mars in Libra

posted December 29, 2005 08:50 PM            

I lost my cat, Winston last February, and I felt very much the way you do now. She was, for sure, my best friend. As much as they tried, nothing anyone said helped, but is something we all go through, whether it is the loss of a parent, a child, brother or sister, it feels the same. We love them and miss them. Keep in mind, that this is the way of life for everyone - remembering that we will have losses all through our lives hopefully will make it easier to accept. Still, I am so sorry you are going through this.

Losing a pet is somehow a little harder - their unconditional and patient love while we kiss them, feed them and they greet us every morning and night, waiting by the door and always so happy to see us, always listening and knowing just where to sit when we need them the most. Maybe this is why losing a pet can sometimes be so much harder - because they know what is going on with us without us even having to sometimes say a word.

I wish you well.

posted December 29, 2005 09:39 PM              

Maybe talking about this right now will just confuse you more since you have so many emotions right now, and understandably so. Give yourself all the time you need for each step you find yourself ready to take. OK? Every single one of us has experienced this, and we can relate to your pain, but can do little to comfort you through our computer, except to be here for you to "listen" and offer whatever support we can. Please take care ...

posted December 29, 2005 09:41 PM              

I don't care what anyone says!

------------------
Gemini sun, Cancer rising, mercury in Gemini, moon in Taurus *29, venus in Taurus, mars in Libra

posted December 30, 2005 02:18 AM              

I used to wish that they could live as long as we do.
But you know- animals have a way of living their lives to the fullest.
They appreciate the simple things that we often take for granted. In the case of a dog;a warm spot in the sun,fresh water to drink,a walk,playing fetch,all these things they do with relish, just living in the moment. Their lives count for much more than the short time we have the privelage of having them with us.

Lastly,please realize this: that having had a loving owner such as yourself was a joy and a blessing for them,too.

Love & Light

posted December 30, 2005 03:05 AM              

I have been told before that when your animals move on they sit by your side like a guardian angel until the time comes where they can sit on your lap again.

I feel for you though.

posted December 30, 2005 03:36 AM              

I am deeply sorry to hear about your loss. You must be in agony. Like you, I had a small dog, and he died two weeks ago. It has been brutal for me and I literally feel like part of my soul has died. For the past two weeks I've been telling my parents that I wish I could crawl into my grave.

I don't know what to say...I know there is nothing I can say to make you feel better. It angers me when I tell people my dog just died and they give me a patronizing, cutesy "awwww" in response. Maybe to some people their pets are just furniture, but to many of us we love our pets with every ounce of our hearts.

I will keep you in my thoughts and send you light & love & healing. I wish there was more I could do.

I'm so sorry, Mystic.

posted December 30, 2005 05:15 AM              

My bunny and kitty were both in the back yard when my townhome managment went past spraying insecticide. I came outside bright an early one morning to find my companions of 9 and 4 years both twitching on the ground, poisened. Also, a bird that had built its nest in one of my trees was knocked out dead.

I cry even as I write it. It was a horrific scene. Obviously the managment didn't give any notification. My neighbors were furious when they found out what happened to me, because their little girl often enjoys playing "camp out" in the back yard. They could have come outside in the morning to find her dead in her strawberry shortcake tent.

The first thing that hit me was that I had no one to take care of ...it's hard to get past because you're so used to taking care of your pets on a daily basis...so what helped me is I found ways to "take care" of them from this side.

I made very elaborite graves. Decorated them with stones and shells...I collected flower petals and poured them over their burial mounds. I lit candles and insence, and had death rituals. I made up funeral speaches, and even songs.

"How are you doing in heaven today? I hope you have friends there, go run and go play, mommy still loves you though she's far away, I hope you have fun there in heaven today."

I took a chair and sat outside at their graves talking to them for hours, for days, for weeks, for months.

It was devastating. I vowed to never again own pets. Until one day, a strippedy tabby kitten was born on my back porch. I decided the pain is worth the joy.

I had a dream, shortly after they died, where they came and said goodbye to me. And told me that I had taken good care of them. Then nuzzled me on my neck and ran off with a bunch of other pets they already seemed to know.