My Doggie

[MammaStar]

Well, my Dad decided not to wait until his vacation was over. He came by the house today and took the dog to the vet.

Now my doggie is somewhere where he can be a puppy all the time and run and play. I just wish I could've helped him through his pain. At least, he's with our other dog, who also lived to a ripe old age of 13. Now they can play all the time.

Thanks all for your comforting words. The hardest part is going to be later when I pick up my son from school and have to tell him that our doggie is no longer with us (in body at least).

:(

[sherry]

I am so sorry for your loss, but to watch the dog suffer everyday was hard on both of you !!

Usually children take these things better than the adults !!

[Sephiroth]

i feel ur pain and will pray for the animal

[*ULA*]

Animals, (especially dogs = i am a dog lover :)), are bundles of innocence and i like to take solace in the thought that they're shown the most beautiful places after they've passed.. as a reward.

I'm sure he felt your love on his last days and is quite comfortable again now.

Stay strong!
*ULA*

[thundderwolf]

MM lady starlite:

I am so sorry to hear of your loss, there are no words, nothing that any one can do for someone who is in your situation to make it easier. I know how you are feeling as I have had the unpleasant task of putting an animal down too. It sure is an empy feeling, I think the worst thing for me was the unending silence of the household when they are gone. I am such a canine lover myself. I can offer one thought that always kept me going when I lost my dog. That is the thought that your dog lived a full life. If you truly loved it the dog new, even the occasional scolding doesnt effect their love for us. I am a person who is honestly atuned to the thoughts and feelings of canines(if you want the whole story let me know) that I can asure you that if you cared for your dog he/she is VERY content with his/her position.

I have always thought, (even before I found the wonderful people in the pagan community, and their way of life) that one of the major sences left to those who have come before us is that they can see through the astral plain the rememberance and love. Never stop loving and most especially never stop thinking of him/her and they will be content. I lost both parents this year and I am content in this knowledge.

I hope this offers some comfort in your loss.

Remember them and they will live forever,

Thundderwolf

[Monkey]

I am sorry for you loss. At least know he's not in pain anymore.

[moonmagick4]

I'm soooo sorry!!!!Brightest Blessings to you and take care!

[silvermoon]

Merry Meet

I am sorry for loss and hope you and your family are coping with your grief.

2 1/2 years ago while I was away at Uni and during my final year exams, our family dog (a sausage dog) called Buffy was put down after her 15 1/2 year old body was giving up. It was a shock as I was told after my exams. But I did miss her and we waited 9 months to get another (actually 2) dogs as even though there was four of us in the house, it seemed empty. Our 2 new dogs, Ruby (a boxer) and Daisy (a maltese/shi tzu X), have given us much enjoyment in the almost 2 years we have had them.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you may grieve and feel a great loss of treasured family pet as family member but as your grief lessens, you feel something is missing and you feel the need to fill that void with something that will love you unconditionally. This good as you are moving on BUT you never forget.

Blessed Be

silvermoon

[Fawn]

{big hug to you} Don't worry about your dog he/she is fine and you will see the dog in another time.
I admire your Dad for being strong enough to ease the animal's discomfort by taking the pet to the vet wish more people would do this instead just letting the animal suffer so.

[reanna]

great big ((((hugs)))) to you.

[rantnraven]

My thoughts are with you and yours. I do hope the little one took it as well as could be expeted.

Blessings,
Thoma

[Xois]

I am very sorry for your loss...you did the responisble and loving thing! *hug*

[Earth Walker]

<Hugs> It is best that his suffering is over.
He will always be with you. :sunny:

[Dria El]

Here's something to share with your son. Maybe it will help.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There 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 that have been ill and cold 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 in the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body begins to quivers... suddenly his legs carry 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 caress the beloved head and you look once again into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart. And both of you cross the Rainbow Bridge Forever...

Lovingly,
Dria El

[Dria El]

Another story for your son. I hope these help.

Blessed Be,
Dria El

Troll Tear
A Children's Story for Samhain

The night was very dark, with a Full Moon hanging in the
cloud-filled sky above. The air was crisp with the feel
of late Autumn and the doorway between the worlds was wide open. Carved pumpkins sat on the porches of the houses in the little town, and the laughter of children dressed in costumes could be heard from the streets.

It was a sad time for Beth as she climbed the little hill
behind her house. In her arms was her cat and friend
Smoky, carefully wrapped in his favorite blanket. A
little grave was already dug on the hill, waiting, for
Smoky had died that day.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Beth's father had asked.

"I dug his grave beside MacDougal's at the top of the
hill." Beth clearly remembered when their dog MacDougal
had died after being hit by a car.

"No, I want to go by myself," she answered.

Beth stopped at the top of the hill and knelt beside the
little grave. She carefully laid Smoky's blanket-wrapped
form in the earth and covered it with dirt, laying
several large rocks on the top. Then she cried and cried.

"Oh, Smoky, I miss you so much!" Beth looked up at the
Moon, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why did you die?"

"It was his time to rejoin the Mother," said a deep,
gentle voice in the darkness.

"Who said that?" Beth looked around but saw no one.

"Dying is part of the cycle of life, you know." One of
the boulders on the hill stirred into life.

"Who are you?" The moonlight shone down on the little
woman, and Beth could see she was not human.

"I'm a troll-wife," said the creature as she came to site
across from Beth. "This is a sad night for both of us,
girl. I, too, came to this hill to bury a friend." The
troll-wife wiped a crystal tear from her cheek. "The
squirrel was very old. Still it makes me sad."

Beth stared at the troll-wife. The little woman was the
color of rock in the moonlight, her hair like long
strands of moss, her bright eyes like shining crystals.
She wore a dress woven of oak leaves and tree bark.

"The squirrel and I lived together for a long time," the
troll-wife said. " We often talked to your cat when he
was hunting here on the hill. Smoky and I were friends. I
shall miss him, too." The little woman patted Smoky 's
grave gently, "Sleep well, little friend. When you are
rested, we shall talk together again."

"But he's dead," Beth said, her voice choked with tears.

"Child, this is Samhain. Don't you know the ancient
secrets of this sacred time of year?" The troll-wife
motioned for Beth to come and sit beside her. "It is true
that our friends have gone into a world where we can no longer physically touch them, but the Mother has given us other ways of communicating with them. We can do this any time, but the time of Samhain is the easiest."

"I don't understand how this can be done," Beth said,
"or why Samhain makes it easier."

"At this time of year," the troll-wife answered, "the
walls between this world and the world of souls and
spirits are very thin. If we quiet and listen, we can
hear our loved ones and they can hear us. We talk, not
with spoken words, but with the heart and mind."

"Isn't that just imagination?" Beth looked down at
Smoky's grave, tears once more coming into her eyes.
"Like my thinking I can feel MacDougal get up on my bed
at night like he used to?"

"Sometimes it is, but mostly it is not imagination, only
our friends come to see us in their spirit bodies." The
troll-wife reached up her hand and patted something Beth couldn't see on her shoulder. "Like my friend the raven. He is here now."

Beth looked hard and saw a thin form of hazy moonlight on the troll-wife's shoulder. "I've seen something like that at the foot of my bed where MacDougal used to sleep." She whispered. "I thought I was dreaming." She jumped as something nudged her arm. When she looked down, nothing was there.

The troll-wife smiled. "Close your eyes and think of
MacDougal," she said. " He has been waiting a long time
for you to see him."

Beth closed her eyes and, at once, the form of her little
dog came into her mind. His tail wagged with happiness.
She felt a wave of love come from him, and she sent her
love back. Then she felt the dog lie down against her
leg.

"Can I do this with Smoky?" Beth asked.

"Not yet," the troll-wife answered. "He needs to sleep a
while and rest. Then he will come to you. This gives
Smoky time to adjust to his new world, and you time to
grieve for him. It is not wrong to grieve, but we must
not grieve forever."

"I never thought of it that way," Beth said. "It's kind
of like they moved away, and we can only talk to them on the phone."

"It is this way with all creatures, not just animals."
The troll-wife stood up and held out an hand to Beth.
"Will you join me, human girl? Although I buried my
friend squirrel this night, I still must dance and sing
to all my friends and ancestors who have gone on their
journey into the other world. For this is a time to honor
the ancestors."

Beth joined the troll-wife in the ancient slow troll
dances around the top of the little hill in the
moonlight. She watched quietly while the troll-wife
called out troll-words to the four directions, words Beth
couldn't understand. Deep in her heart the girl felt the
power of the strange words and knew they were given in honor and love by the little troll-wife.

When the troll-wife was finished with her ritual, she
hugged Beth. "Go in peace, human child," she said. "And
remember what I have told you about the ancient secret of Samhain."

"I will," Beth answered. "Will I ever see you again?"

"Whenever the Moon is Full, I will be here," the little
troll-wife said. " And especially at Samhain."

"I wish I had something to give you." Beth hugged the
little woman. "You have taught me so much." She felt the tears come to her eyes again.

"Let us exchange tears for our lost friends." The
troll-wife reached up a rough finder and caught a tear as
it fell from Beth's eye. The tear glistened on her
finger. The troll-wife gently touched her finger to her
cloak, and Beth's tear shone there like a diamond in the
moonlight.

Beth reached up carefully and caught one of the
troll-wife's tears as it slid down her rough cheek. It
turned into a real crystal in her hand.

"Remember the secret of Samhain, and remember me," the troll-wife said softly as she disappeared into the
darkness. Beth walked back down the hill, the crystal
clutched in her hand. Her father was waiting for her on
the porch.

"Are you all right?" her father asked as he gave Beth a
hug.

"I will be," she answered. She opened her hand under the porch light and saw a perfect, tear-shaped crystal lying there.

"Did you find something?" her father asked.

"A troll-tear," Beth answered, and her father smiled. For
he also knew the little troll-wife and the secret of
Samhain.