God bless your soul and your beautiful furbaby. I have learned that we all feel the exact same regardless of how our golden loves left us. I lost my Chopper last Thanksgiving and it was the most dreadful time in my life. He was so very missed and I felt so very robbed. It was just him and I and suddenly it became just me... I wasn't sure how to cope. A couple months later I decided I needed a new friend, and boy has he brought such joy (and exasperation at times) but he did help me. Last week my mothers Golden (my new boys sister) and her best friend Angus were struck and killed by a car. They gave chase on a deer and got very very lost and very very far... My mother (whose children are all grown up) had been in the fetal position for days. Her grief was incredibly over-powering to life. She could not function. For 3 decades there were always furry feet in the house... I had to explain that the quiet to me was the hardest part. We had to get her a new furry friend. We couldn't see her a mess and needed to give her something to get out of the corner for. Losing a furbaby is almost like losing a child... We aren't ever the same. Everything about our life suddenly changes. Taking time to write on here helped me so much. Also continuing to support people whom have lost their loves makes me feel as though I am giving back in a small way. You had a beautiful baby girl and she wont soon be forgoten. Bless you tonight. I will take an extra moment to pray for you, that the burden of loss will lessen with the coming days.

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Speak to my baby softly, please
with a hug and warm hello.
He's a special gift to you, dear Lord
from me-who loved him so.
Chopper 4/14/04 - 11/27/11 ~not long enough~

Boomer

God bless each one who has reached out to me in my time of need .. your kindness is such a comfort to me .. this morning I woke up once again with that hollowness in the pit of my stomach.. and felt the dreaded pain of realizing Mattie isn't going to be there.. Every morning as we went downstairs, we had this little 'routine' .. I would sit down on the top step, and she would stand on my lap and look out the window... we just has so many rituals that may seem trivial to many, but to me and her was our world.. I am no stranger to grief, having many of my close family members who have passed ... and it just never gets easier with the next one.. seems the older I get, the tougher it is to get thru losses.. I try to explain to people just how speical all goldens are, but until you've given your heart to one, and been blessed with their love, it seems they can't understand.. to me goldens are one of God's greatest creations... Prayers of comfort and peace to everyone on this journey of grief that we never want to take ... {{{{hugs}}}} sheebamattiemom

I have you in my thoughts. I do know our goldens are playing together, happy, and pain free and someday we will se them again. Be good to yourself and come here for comfort as we understand your pain.

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Dis is da gamboi an da Gussee an angels BoBo an Emmikins

"What we have enjoyed we never lose. All that we loved deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Sheeba. I faced losing my Liam the Saturday after you lost your sweet puppy. My heart goes out to you and I wish you peace. Rest in Peace sweet Sheeba

My heart aches for you, and tears in my eyes as I read your posts of your sweet Mattie with the soft eyes of a golden & a heart bigger than the rainbow she leapt over.

Hurting so bad again today .. the silence in this house is deafening. The life of our home has left, and it's unbearable here without her presence... I need her back so bad .. She was my shoulder when I needed comforting... now I don't have that .. Strange how even the best of my friends don't seem to have a clue as to the depth of my loss ... and not my dh either.. I woul greatly appreciate any comforting words today ...

I am so sorry for your loss. I too, know the empty feeling inside when it comes to losing a pet. I lost my beloved Packer on November 13 to cancer. Sometimes it seems as though the pain will never go away. It is important to take one day at a time and keep all thoses specials memories close to your heart.

Your body misses the rituals and routines, even to where your muscles remember to step over a sleeping dog. One thing you might try is different activities than what you're used to. If you fed Mattie at certain times, be out of the house at those times....go for a walk, go to the grocery store, the gym, anywhere that will change up the routine. If your heart could take it, go volunteer as a dog walker at your local shelter. For some, being with, petting and talking with dogs helps ease the disastrous grief. Me, I couldn't even walk around "our" park for many months or put my hands on another dog. For others, it's imperative to seek out a new dog to love, in honor of their love for the angel pup. I think this works wonders in the healing department, but it took me eight months. This awful, devastating grief will ease, and remember, it's a testament to a great love.

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Golden retrievers think life is a party thrown especially for them

SheebaMattieMom,

I'm thanking you in your own post for your words to me in my thread on my loss of my dog Jasper more than 12 months ago. I know you are where I was a year ago, and it is a difficult journey, to say the least. You're in the shock/misery stage where getting through the days is hard. I'm guessing that you have waves of intense grief the way I did then; during that time the longing for my dog was so strong that I would literally beg him to let me know he was out there somewhere, somehow. And I'm not a terribly religious person!

I wish I could be there and sit and talk to one another and offer understanding and comfort.

I know I wanted to think about a new puppy almost reflexively, as a sort of shelter from the intense pain. My husband was not ready, so we did not; still, I feel that I was in no way thinking I could replace him--that would be impossible--I just wanted to be able to put my cheek against a furry ruff, to experience all things dogly. I think this past year would have been easier with a furry companion. In any event, if you find yourself thinking about another pup, give yourself full permission to do so; that's my opinion.

Again, I offer understanding, sympathy and--well, I have been there. Be as kind to yourself as you can, whatever that means--extra cups of tea, a massage, nights out with friends, whatever helps.

However, honestly, this reminds me that I had to retreat from much company for awhile, because I was just not able to be around people that did not understand. I went back to my book group after three months, and the first thing that happened was that someone asked me what my dog's last illness was. When I said "brain tumor," the women in the group began a discussion about how common brain tumors were becoming in the human population, almost like a clinical discussion of the phenomenon. It was awful--I left early and avoided the group after that. They weren't dog people, so they didn't really understand how much I was suffering.

Anyway, please know that I do understand and care. Hugs--

Jane

You say so much that is true with me also. What you said about Goldens being God's greatest creation is so true -- I always say that Goldens are gifts from God. And like you I am retired and looked forward to spending more time with my golden who was to have surgery. Unfortunately, the day the surgery was scheduled, a "routine" chest xray revealed two masses in his chest -- lung cancer. I felt like my world was turned upside down. He is still with me, but we are nearing the end. I hope soon you will be able to smile through your tears.