She is gone. Vet had a very hard time finding a vein to inject her. She was so swollen. STBXH came to vet's office, so odd to be doing a "family" thing when we're nearly D'd.

We will receive her ashes in a nice cedar box later. DS didn't want to scatter her ashes; he wants to keep them, and put a photo of her on top of them.

We should have brought her in much earlier, it would have been easier on her. All in all though, it was a peaceful, comfortable passing.

(((Bellevue))),

I'm so sorry about your dog. I can hear how much you and your family loved her---I'm sure she felt the same. Please know that I'm thinking of you this afternoon.

UpandRunning

I'm so sorry for your loss, and your DS's loss.

This poem has been great comfort to many pet lovers:

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

I am so, so sorry for your loss - I know how hard it is to lose a loving family pet. Almost a year ago, I had to put down my 15 year old baby - and I remember the week prior being filled with such sadness and grief - I couldn't say his name without crying.

My vet was wonderful - and I remember being simply amazed at the peaceful passing my baby had - I felt instantly better knowing that he was out of pain and on his way to Heaven to watch over all of us left here on Earth.....

I send you my hugs and comfort.......

Laura

I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. We will be making the same awful choice soon as one of my greyhounds has osteosarcoma and she's not a candidate for treatment due to a previous racing injury. For now, the pain medications are working and when they stop we will let her go and hold onto our wonderful memories of her...

It's good that the two of you were able to put aside your differences to give her a loving passing, with both of her people with her until the end...

Godspeed, Pogen.

My heart goes out to you. I won't say a lot of silly useless stuff other than to say that I know what it's like to suffer a loss such as yours, and I'm sorry this had to happen.
May God bless you and your family.
PS - And I DO believe in The Rainbow Bridge.
If you ever want to do an Online permanent Tribute to your beloved pet, I have found this website is conforting. We have 3 of our pets on there. www.in-memory-of-pets.org and thank you for reading my post.
Peace and Healing to you and your family.
S-TDL

(((Bellevue)))

I lost a 13 year old 'puppy' as my x and I were divorcing. It was tough. Very tough.

However, I believe that God looked down on my life and knew just how hard it was at the time...how much was on my plate and that she was taken at that time to give me one last opportunity to try to connect with then stbx. And that God knew that removing her and her infirmity from my life would lighten my burden. I could not have afforded the care she needed w/out his income. To this day, the children (who were only 4 and 2 when she became a spirit dog) still speak fondly of her.

Thank you everyone. Your posts were all really helpful. What is it about losing a pet that is so painful? Why do we get so attached to them? I don't know, but it's one thing that we all can relate to.

We are waiting to hear that Pogen's ashes are ready to be picked up. DS asked when they would be ready. he also wanted to know whether we were really getting HER ashes, which I don't know. I mean, lately there were stories in the papers about crematories that mixed up the deceased's ashes - but I kind of lied to him, telling him that we would certainly get HER ashes. A harmless lie, it will make him feel better. There are truths we need to know and truths we don't need to know.

Thank you all.

DS told me that he had been worried that she would go when he was away at college and couldn't be there with her. That it hurts awfully, but that he welcomes the pain. And many other private things.

He has written stories through the years which featured Pogen. On the way to the vet's office, he sat in back with her and read the last story to her. ****sigh****

STBXH calls & talks about how DS is doing with this loss. Sad to think that our son is all we have left in common. However, I am grateful that he still cares about him.

hugs to you. we will be putting our 85 pound baby to sleep by the end of the month.

i can't even bear to think about it right now.
my dd has cried every night over it.

i should do it sooner but am waiting til the end of the month.

i have just had too much emotional crap to deal with this month i will tell you. i don't think i have any more tears left to cry.

mlhb