My Baby-Girl has gone....

[JanineG]

My beautiful German Shepherd gave up the fight yesterday - I'm left with a gaping space in my room where her bed used to be, and no great big ears to tickle. I just feel so guilty, even though the vet said I'd done more than most to give her a life, I still feel like something I did or didn't do made her worse.

The other thing is, the vet asked what we wanted done with her body - we were in such a state I think I told them to cremate but that we didn't want the ashes. Now I think maybe I should have asked for the ashes. If we don't have them, what will happen to her and where will she go? I can't stand the thought of her being amongst a pile of other dogs, undignified, like she was never loved. I just want to know what happens at the cremation.

[winny]

My friends own a local pet crem and all the animals are treated with upmost dignity. (they have animals themselvs and I think most people who do that job have to otherwise they would not do it). Weather they come from the vet or privatly they are all respected as pets. Their ashes are spread in a memorial garden with a statue and water fountain at the rear of their property (which is also their home).
I dont think you need worry what has happened to her, remember the good times and keep your keep sakes of her and rest assured she will have been treated well.
I am so sorry you had to go through this.
I am afraid we all have to die some time and if the vet is assuring you that you did all you could then it was simply your baby-girls time to go. Lots of Love xxxxxxx

[JanineG]

Thanks Winny - I feel much better about it now. You made me cry again, but I'm relieved she's being taken care of.

xx

[pmjblue]

I am so sorry, there is no feeling like losing a much loved pet. I did the same thing as you some years ago when I lost my old girl, as it was a bit unexpected, and when the vet came to the house to put her to sleep, I too was in a state and said I didnt want her ashes. As Winny says, they are all treated with dignity. I had the ashes back of my old boy I lost last year, but at the end of the day, how do I know they are his. Remember the good times, and when you feel like it, look back at some old photos, you will shed many a tear, but like us they cant live forever, and we have to be happy that they shared our life, and gave us so much unconditional love. take care x

[cruella]

I feel so sorry for you just now and know what you are going through.
I lost my Westie five years ago, due to a brain tumour. I found it really hard to even function at work for a few weeks after he was put to sleep.
Vowed I would never have another dog.
I found a site which made me fel better on the internet. It is a pet memorial site but closed now due to receiving viruses from posts. There are other sites you can post a memorial of your baby. I put my beloved Whiskey memorial in Rainbow Bridge. I still go back to look at his pics and the tribute I paid to him on the site. Maybe this will help you.
By the way, I have another westie now and she is only a puppy but I love her to bits. It took a long time until I finally managed to get another dog and you can never replace the one you lost.

[paddywak]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, I dont think people who have never had a pet can ever understand how upsetting it it can be, all you can do is remember the happy times you had together and that you loved her and gave her the the best that you could. When I lost Che my first GSD I couldn't imagine another dog replacing him but eventually after several years I got Max (another G.S.D)and I realised how much I'd missed having a dog. You never forget the you're first dog and your new dog wont be the same but you will share the same love and affection.

[divegirl]

Hi, so sorry for your loss...thinking of you.

Lisa x

[kaylamay]

I'm so sorry! I know the heartbreak involved in losing a beloved dog. My 150 pound Rottie died right before his 11th birthday. His legs gave out and he just died of old age for a dog his size. We were all crushed and when we took him in to the 24 hour vets they had us help them lift him in to a large freezer(sniff, meep!) and they asked us about cremation and ashes and i was just so devastated that i didn't ask for his ashes. I comforted myself later in KNOWING that my baby had gone over the Rainbow bridge and will be waiting for his mum when it is my time. He didn't need his earthy body anymore and his home will always be in my heart until we are reunited again. Be comforted too and please KNOW without a doubt your girl is safe and perfect on the other side and she will visit you often. Your continued love and memory of her will always bring her home in spirit. Maybe she will meet up with my boy Boo Boo and they can chase butterflies and squirrels together while they wait for us.

"Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears,
for my spirit will always be near.
Close to your heart. Always and forever."

"There is a special place in our hearts
for those we have loved, for those who have loved us
without question, without a word or promise...
There is a special place where there is no pain or fear,
where love flows freely...There is a special place
to rest in our hearts forever."

[ruthann58]

thinking of you ,it will get better ,xxx ruth

[YvonneM]

We went through the same thing just last Saturday We didnit bring our lady home or her ashes . They are just ashes the memories you have is what will keep her still with you. The silly things she did the naughty things she did I hope you like this poem

IF IT SHOULD BE

If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so;
The time has come -- please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend,
And please stay with me till the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve -- it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years;
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

[lou100]

I am so sorry to hear about your sad loss. I had to have my dog put to sleep just over a year ago and it was the saddest thing I have ever had to do.

You do come to realise though with time that it was the one last kindest act you could do for them. I still miss her so much, but now I think of the happy years we spent together, I have photos of her all over and still talk to her! it gives me comfort.

And that poem Yvonne M posted just brings tears to my eyes..It is beautiful.

Also, just one last thing. I got my dogs ashes back and inside was a little card with the date she was cremated, it was a few days after she had been put to sleep, so maybe you can ring the vet and ask if you can get them back?

[GypsyGSD]

My heart goes out to you,I lost my six year old shepherd on xmas eve 8 days after the vet told me he had a long and happy life,when I was told his future was bright I was so happy I went and bought extra doggie presants for him they are still wrapped up I cannot bring myself to give them to my other dogs because of the shock of losing him I to told the vets to deal with it and being xmas eve was unable to change my mind but reading the other posts this has giving me comfort knowing he had a dignfied end GypsyX

[JanineG]

Thank you Thank you and Thank you all again - your words mean so much. As paddywak says, people who have never owned and loved a pet will never understand the heartache we go through at these times, but we have one up on them - for we have wonderful memories of unconditional love and a bond that's so special - my baby girl is waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge!

Thank you all again - its been a great comfort to read your posts.

Love,

J xxx

[Dee Sa]

so sorry for your departed pet, just remember that your baby had a good life with you with plenty of love and care.
When the time is right, please consider a rescue dog to replace, so many have had such a bad start in life and deserve a second chance.We have one that was left tied to a lampost for 3 days before she was rescued and she is so grateful and such a lovely pet.

[shivvy]

Janine I am really feeling for you.
My lovely female German Shepherd cross (Keela) died on 28th Feb last year so I am just making my way through our first year without her. There is no doubt that it isn't easy but I promise you that it does get better. You will come to a point where you will be able to talk to sympathetic people about how important she was - big ears and all!! When we first got Keela we thought that we were saving her ( she was a rescue dog) however now that she has gone, we realise that she had saved us instead!

Please don't worry too much about the ashes. When Keela was put to sleep we were also asked those terrible questions and decided to request her ashes. However a year later I still have her ashes and I'm still not too sure what to do with them. What I mean is that your lovely dog is not in her ashes, it is in your photos and your memories of her.
Lastly, you didn't mention her name - what was it? She sounds just like someone Keela would like and if that is the case then Keela was definately waiting for her at Rainbow Bridge. I would love to know her name.
Shivvy
xxx

[JanineG]

Her name was Janeway (apparently after a character in a startrek type programme). She was 18 mths old when we had her, and was due to be put down by a kennel owner whose fees hadn't been paid. Her owner had had to leave the country, for various reasons but her sister is a good friend of mine and had received a call from the kennels to say the dog would be put down if the backdated fees weren't paid. My friend was unable to take her in and so phoned me. Her husband paid the backdated fees so that she could be "released" and then we adopted her. She'd had quite a traumatic start to life, apparently having been born in Spain and thereafter spending time in quarantine. Because of that, we never ever placed her in kennels or let her stay anywhere but her home (unless she came away with us to friend's houses overnight).

I'm sure she's at Rainbow Bridge running in the meadows with Keela. And she no doubt has a big long stick (or branch) in her mouth and keeps knocking it against fences and trees because she's too stupid to realise how long it is ! (she used to try to walk through the front door with the stick and could never work out to turn her head so it went in length ways - I can't count the number of times she must have bounced back from that door !) funny the thoughts that stick with you.

Thanks again for the further support - lovely to hear your stories and memories xx

[shivvy]

Just thought I would check in and see how you are doing now Janine.
Are things getting easier for you?

Shivvy
xxx

[JanineG]

Thanks Shivvy

Yes - things a little easier now although I still think of her everyday and could still cry for her daily too if I didn't stop myself. Our other dog is now more used to the fact that she's not around but tends to sleep on her bed quite a lot which is sweet.

Thanks again for your kind thoughts.

Janine