I still need him.. for awhile longer...

LifeSong wrote:Oliver died a week ago. It is still hard to accept. I think that my son (17 years old) is taking it harder than am I.
Funny how an animal wiggle their way so deeply into your life, and into your heart.
We have two other dogs.. both excellent dogs...
... but I'm telling you.. there was just SOMETHING about Oliver.
Anyway, it's a loss and our family feels the loss deeply.

LifeSong,

I am so sorry, my sister just adopted a blind puppy of this breed.
I am so sorry your family has had such a deep loss.

Animal Lover, from one to another, a heart felt hug.

Red

Thanks to both of you. I haven't been on the board for awhile but feel I know you both from previous talks. So it feels good to hear from you, and get your 'sorries'.
I just glanced outside, and thought I saw that little dog walking across the lawn... the mind playing tricks cuz the heart hurts.. yep, it's like that. Probably will be for a while while we go through the grief process. But we ARE grieving... feeling our feelings, talking out loud and directly within our family about him... looking at some pictures.. and crying often. I know it's important to grieve big stuff and small stuff, so that the pain doesn't settle inside and lump together with other pain and lock up my heart to feeling.

There was a time when I couldn't feel my feelings at all - let alone display them. Took lots of work and some healing to get back my emotions again. I don't want to get them locked up ever again.. it feels so alive to feel all of me each day.. so we're feeling for Oliver over here.

Again, thanks for both your comments. And yes, puma, I loved that dog waaaaaay more than I love many humans.

LifeSong

LifeSong,

Ya know, I might of said this before, but when the heartbreak eases.....I take a small photo album and put all our favorite pictures in there as a member of the family. I have several now, and I am so glad I did it.
My oldest album is from 1985. Puma has been right there when I have had to put my oldest cat down. It is sorrow, it is grief and if people don't understand, it is their loss.
I am the cat person, my sis is the dog person.
It is a comfort to know others love animals, and understand.
Oliver was lucky, he had you and your family. I am sure he had the best life, Oliver could have ever had.

Love you sweetie and all your family.
Red