An apology to the animal lovers in the lounge...

[From The Ashes]

In all the years I've been here, whenever someone posted about the dogs or cats being sick or dying, I don't recall ever offering sympathy or vibes. I thought, 'hey, it's just a dog/cat for pete's sake.' and passed that thread up.

Last night my dog died.

He was old (almost 17) and so it wasn't unexpected, but I miss him so much. It makes me ashamed of my lack of sympathy.

So animal lovers, I apologize.

This is him about 5 years ago:

[flvegan]

1. Good looking boy.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Ptah]

2. {{{{From The Ashes}}}}

[Robeson]

3. Safe passing for your boy...

...I'm so sorry.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. (((big hugs)))

[emilyg]

5. My heart goes out to you.

[begin_within]

6. What a sweet dog.

He looks a little drunk in that photo but I'm sure he's a sweetheart. He's now in doggie heaven. Sorry to hear about your loss.

[Wapsie B]

7. I am so sorry.

It's hard to lose a dog.

[LoveMyCali]

8. I'm so sorry for your loss

I usually don't post on these threads either because I never know what to say and I cry easily but you have my sympathies.

:hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

9. I'm so sorry, FTA. What was his name?

:hug:

[merh]

10. Hugs for you

I'm sorry for your loss and that you are hurting, you gave your dog a good life, he lived a very long time and he knew he was loved. Thank you for taking such good care of him. May your pain ease and may the memories give you comfort.

:hug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I'm sorry for your loss.

Pets are family and it hurts to lose them. :hug:

[LynzM]

12. Many hugs to you...

I admire your change of heart, and I'm very sorry for your loss that caused it.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[murielm99]

13. I am sorry for your loss. n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. They serve to ground us in our own humanity.

They remind us that we're all just human after all.

My condolences.

[crim son]

15. Awwww.

I'm sorry for your loss and you are forgiven for your oversight. Sometimes it isn't easy to empathize with another's pain. :hug: What a sweet doggie.

[libodem]

16. Very sorry for your loss

17 years is a long time to live for a larger breed of dog. You must have taken very good care of him and gave him a good life. If you believe in an afterlife he could be there waiting for you and/or he may reincarnate and be your dog again in this life. I've had two black cats and the one I have now is so much like the one I had when I was 12, I believe she may have come back to me.

[XemaSab]

17. Aww...

Animals never flake out on you when you need them.

[Skittles]

18. so sorry Ashes

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you.....
I loved you so --
'twas Heaven here with you."

--by Ilsa Paschal Richardson

[UrbScotty]

Don't be ashamed. Be comforted knowing that we support you.

I received a lot of support from DU after Swifty died.

Just because you weren't there, doesn't mean you should feel bad.

[UrbScotty]

19. Dupe

[WillParkinson]

20. We all know the pain of loss...

The only difference is when it hits us. This was your time. And I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.

[woo me with science]

21. Gray-muzzled friend.

My heart to yours.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I am so very sorry. What a beautiful boy...

I have adopted senior dogs from rescue and it never gets any easier. Dogs are always there with unconditional love and a loss leaves such a big hole. My sincere sympathies, my friend. Your sweet pup did live a long life and was so very fortunate to have found you. :hug:

[mikeytherat]

23. So sorry, and safe passage for your boy.

"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way."
Irving Townsend

mikey_the_rat

[seemunkee]

24. I'm sorry

What a sweet face.

[ThomCat]

25. I am very sorry for your loss.

It does hurt. But it's okay to grieve for a beloved pet. :hug:

He looks he could be family to our one-eyed old man, Jack. Though Jack has black turning more to gray and white. Was your dog blind in the one eye that is closed in that picture, or what it just closed because of the flash?

I hope you have lots of wonderful pictures, and great memories. :)

17 is a good long life for a dog. I hope he was happy loved for all of it. I hope he was healthy until the end, and went peacefully.

:hug:

[gizmonic]

26. What a handsome boy

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. :hug:

[Minimus]

27. I am so sorry for your loss. He will live forever in your heart and memories.

:hug:

[NJmaverick]

28. sorry

:hug:

[lukasahero]

29. What a beautiful boy

So sorry for your loss. 17 years is a long life for a dog - you obviously gave him reason to stick around that long.

:cry: :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

30. Safe passage to your companion.

May he be free from suffering now. Peace and comfort to you and yours.

[myrna minx]

31. I'm so sorry for your loss.

:hug:

[fizzgig]

32. what a handsom guy

i'm so sorry for your loss :hug:

[Shell Beau]

33. I am sorry. It hurts a lot, I know.

[From The Ashes]

34. Thanks everyone...

:grouphug:

[graywarrior]

35. I try not to click on dying pet threads, but then I always do and end up crying along with their

owners. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I just found out a little while ago that one of the cats I took care of this winter is getting put down after a illness that came on quickly. This is kitty two of the three cats I took care of that had to be put to sleep.

[joeybee12]

36. Aw, what a sweet face...I'm sorry to hear this.

:grouphug:

[hamsterjill]

37. As with most anything

One never completely understands another's pain, until he walks in the other's shoes.

My deepest sympathies. I hope you gain some sense of peace knowing that you provided him a good home for 17 years. That truly is a long lifespan for a large-size dog.

Thank you for loving him!

[Mendocino]

38. "It has been said that when dogs die

they don't go to heaven, okay then when I die I want to go where they go"

Will Rogers

[MISSDem]

39. Your boy has gone over the Rainbow Bridge.

and is cavorting with all of the other animals now. He'll probably meet up with my Mac and Cin and they'll have a grand old time. I'm crying as I type this. My thougts are with you cause I know how sad you feel. Mac has been gone 8 years and I still miss him.

[applegrove]

40. 17 is a grand old age for a dog. He must have been well loved.

[LeftyFingerPop]

41. My deep condolences...

:grouphug:

[femmocrat]

42. So sorry about your dog, From The Ashes.

He must have had the best of care and much love for those many years. :hug:

[auntAgonist]

43. I'm sorry

:(

:hug:

You didn't and don't lack sympathy for other folk. It just wasn't your reality at the time. And that's ok.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[imperial jedi]

44. I'm so sorry for your loss

He looks like a sweet old dog.:hug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. .

:hug:

[Vidar]

46. My condolences. Pets are family.

[Blue Diadem]

47. I'm so sorry.

:hug:

[dgibby]

48. So sorry for your loss.

He looks quite the flirt in that pic.

Please think about finding another doggie to love, in honor of your friend. I'm sure it would please him no end to think you'd be able to find it in you heart to give another doggie a good home like you did for him.:hug:

[MrMickeysMom]

49. Our sympathy to you, FTA

We're getting ready to say good-bye to this one...


It's never easy, they ARE your children of a different species. They WILL always stay with you deep inside your big heart.

Love,

Scoobie and her mom (MMM) :cry:

[DeepBlueC]

50. I'm so sorry for your loss.

It hurts, I know. :cry:

[Kajsa]

51. I am so sorry for your loss.

I recently lost one of my kitties.

The pain is immense, I know.

He was a beautiful guy and he was loved.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

52. Good-bye, old puppeh! *and hugs to Ashes*

[Flaxbee]

53. I'm sorry, From The Ashes

He looks like a cool guy, and if he was almost 17, he had a good life with you.

I hope these posts help you. I took comfort in the offers of support and sympathy when a beloved cat died in February. Sometimes it's hard to know what to say, except that you understand.

No need to apologize. I'm really sorry for your loss.

[asdjrocky]

54. That's a good boy.

What was his name? If you've answered in this thread, don't worry, I'll go back and look.