The loss of my best friend

Holly.jpg This is Holly 10 years old, She saved my Heart 8 years ago. She was picked out for me for Christmas by my wife and my oldest daughter. Have never been so attached to an animal as this one she goes to work with us every day and has friends all over the country as she meets and greets all freight drivers that come in the door. Never in my life would i imagined a dog could be so much a huge part of my life. My condolences to all that have lost a pet. I sure cant imagine what it will be like for me, Its going to be tough. But worth it!
 
I am heartbroken for the two of you. Such a big loss, especially after the constant companionship these past 16 years. Sending thoughts and prayers to each of you in the days ahead. I am not sure I totally appreciated these loses until getting our dog Leo. He is 3.5 years old and our constant companion. Leo sends his best to you. Here are a bunch of pictures from this winter:
View attachment 29051View attachment 29053View attachment 29054View attachment 29055View attachment 29056View attachment 29057
Nothing like the love of a dog to put a smile on you face! Hugs....
 

Attachments

  • 2020-03-15 15.30.09.jpg
    2020-03-15 15.30.09.jpg
    151 KB · Views: 5
I hear ya bud, This was Riley. My pet for 18 years! She passed away two years ago. It was absolutely devastating emotionally. My wife had to have her and I told her no. Obviously I lost. Two years later our first child was born and I became the dogs best friend. Six months ago we finally got another dog as it took us that long to feel ready. Piper (the frenchy) is helping fill the void nicely. Different kind of dog entirely so it doesn’t feel like a replacement, just another chapter.
 

Attachments

  • 1D13DE8D-24A7-4F34-8A42-6F492317C19A.jpeg
    1D13DE8D-24A7-4F34-8A42-6F492317C19A.jpeg
    165 KB · Views: 8
  • 934C4287-CC41-49B1-A361-FE6B7527C5CD.jpeg
    934C4287-CC41-49B1-A361-FE6B7527C5CD.jpeg
    146.6 KB · Views: 7
  • E0CDE375-B98D-455B-A5F3-3B9352F1EEA3.jpeg
    E0CDE375-B98D-455B-A5F3-3B9352F1EEA3.jpeg
    67.7 KB · Views: 8
  • BCEC0858-62CC-47F9-8F0C-6F1331B5CF92.jpeg
    BCEC0858-62CC-47F9-8F0C-6F1331B5CF92.jpeg
    128.6 KB · Views: 8
Lost our yellow lab a year ago after 13 years. Really hard to watch him fail and ultimately pass. Got this beautiful white girl a few weeks after his passing. Helps ease the pain a little, but still miss him and his black brother that passed 3 years ago at 10 from heart failure.
 

Attachments

  • 20200226_125500.jpg
    20200226_125500.jpg
    639.4 KB · Views: 4
  • 20201214_202432.jpg
    20201214_202432.jpg
    134.9 KB · Views: 4
Lost our yellow lab a year ago after 13 years. Really hard to watch him fail and ultimately pass. Got this beautiful white girl a few weeks after his passing. Helps ease the pain a little, but still miss him and his black brother that passed 3 years ago at 10 from heart failure.
I love labs. We feel ours was so great there is no reason to get another since we already had the best dog.
 
Last edited:
Semperfi, I’m so sorry for your families loss. My wife is a veterinarian and we have had many fur babies. Many were rescues or strays that found us. Each one was special. These special creatures have a way of filling our lives with love and devotion. Time heals hurt, you have your memories and in time I hope you find another fur baby in need of a special family.3BBBE675-0082-4101-992F-455087BA7A70.jpeg
 
So sorry to hear of your loss. Our GG is getting up there and we don’t really know how well we’ll handle that. Had a cat first and a dog next that we had a hard time letting go of each. The cat going was a killer for my wife and the dog loss was devastating to me. We had to put her down and I couldn’t go. I was home crying like a little girl. Then of course we went out and got GG. “The Geeg”. It’s been 13 years with her, she’s Akita/Shepard mix and she is a real ass, but I love her to death. Hopefully you can find another dog that won’t replace your loss, but will at least allow you to enjoy another dog and give him/her a great life too.
 
Really sorry Dave. Nixon who we lost in 2018 and Winston our new guy.661F9D7D-FFE4-45A8-A84F-943DCA2BC1D0.jpegDFB64696-9709-48CD-A133-BC6A2480269A.jpeg
 
So sorry for your loss. We had to put our family dog down just over 2 years ago. She was my in-laws but was over so much she was a big part of our family too.1614784379652.jpeg
We have our Piper that we got as a pup.1614785321286.jpeg1614785363574.jpeg
She really is the love of our life. I liked the comment about the vet seeing you cry more than anyone. It is so true.
1614786597424.jpegWe rescued Sweetpea and added her to our family. She has some medical issues so no one was adopting her. She has lost 7-8 lbs and is coming into her own now.
1614786005034.jpeg
Her favorite pastime is napping. We have had a few health scares with them and have shed many tears. Can’t imagine life without them. Remember the good times and how much joy they bring.
 
Thank you all for the kind words and photos. It’s been so devastating that my wife and mom pretty much talked me into at least looking for a friend to help give me focus on something other than Gizmos loss. I feel kind of guilty, but after conversing in a Shih Tzu group, and reading comments here, there’s no reason to feel guilty (still trying to accept that) as I’m not “replacing” Gizmo, just allowing another pup to feel my love. I knew losing him would be hard, but never imagined it would be as hard as it has been. I’ve read multiple grief articles that state losing a close pet like I did, especially if a childless couple, can be as, or even more traumatic than losing a family member. Many non pet lovers would never understand or agree, but sad to say it’s the truth. They are our “children”. Again, thanks for all the kind words and maybe, just maybe, this weekend I might introduce a new buddy. Love to you all!!!
 
Sorry to hear this Dave. It's a huge loss. We lost this one about a year ago, 16 years old. Hang in there.

IMG_2084.JPG
 
Sorry for your loss Dave. I cried like a baby when I had to put Riley, our first dog, down about 9 years ago. It took a year to take the big step to accept another, but Sailor below is the Chocolate Lab who entered and has enriched our lives for the past 8 years. He's getting a little gray, but we pretty much don't leave each other's sight. He didn't "replace" Riley, but he's taken his own special place in our hearts. He has a "Best. Dog. Ever" collar on, but of course they all are. God made each one unique, just like us humans. Take care

Sailor on Golf Cart - 1.jpeg
 
Well Dave, you have always had kind heartfelt words after the passing of my dogs, unfortunately, I will do the same for you.

In the beginning, almost everything will remind you of Gizmo and make you weep uncontrollably. Let it. For me, one of the first instigators was opening the cupboard and seeing the butter dish. For some reason, everytime we took out butter, Gibson would come running to the kitchen. The strange thing is we never ever gave him butter, and don't remember him EVER getting a lick of it (big dog, so counter surfing attempted). Well that first time I just started crying like a little school girl when he didn't come running. Slowly, things like that will bring a small smirk with their sadness, until such a time that the memory makes you smile. It's a long road, and it will be absolutely devastating how many little quirks and memories will make you sob, but there is a bright side. In time, it means that you will have that many more memories of Gizmo to bring a smile to your face when looking back on them.

FB_IMG_1553724220652.jpg
This was our big guy Gibson!
IMG_20200509_150516_079.jpg
And this was Lulu, Mya and little Cru Jones. Crazy that a bit over a year ago we had these three, and now it's just Cru Jones and us.
IMG_20200509_150516_080.jpg
20210221_110747.jpg

Take care my friend.
 
Sorry for your loss Dave. I cried like a baby when I had to put Riley, our first dog, down about 9 years ago. It took a year to take the big step to accept another, but Sailor below is the Chocolate Lab who entered and has enriched our lives for the past 8 years. He's getting a little gray, but we pretty much don't leave each other's sight. He didn't "replace" Riley, but he's taken his own special place in our hearts. He has a "Best. Dog. Ever" collar on, but of course they all are. God made each one unique, just like us humans. Take care

View attachment 29135

Tom, I remember when you got your rcw and he was a little pup sliding across the sea grass when you hit the throttle!! Time goes by too fast.
 
Back
Top