Goodbye Katie.. I Love You

[DaylilyDawn]

So sorry to hear of your loss, Chad. Our pets always steal a piece of our hearts when they go over the Rainbow Bridge. But remember the good time you had with her and she will always be in your heart.

[cajungal]

Your entry made me really cry. I can totally relate what you are going through. I got my yorkie Lacey as a 6-week old puppy. My dad picked her out and surprized me with her after school. I was grieving after we lost our first dog a chihihua that lived 17 years. My mom and dad had her before I was even born. I was 15 when we got Lacey our yorkie. It was instant love. She was a real member of our family and terribly spoiled. She would take turns sleeping with us every night. She only weighed 4 pounds and had to always be in our lap. We took that dog on car rides nearly everyday. She even slept with us in Sears while waiting for a generator after Hurricane Andrew. Lacey was with our family for 13 and a half years. I knew that someday I would lose my baby, but did not want to face that day. Shortly after Lacey's 13th birthday, we noticed some changes in her. She did not want to eat her food. (And she LOVED to eat) She was drinking water frequently and urinating a lot. She was also always shaking and sometimes would throw up. My mom brought to the vet. That is where we got the terrible news. Chronic kidney failure due to old age. I called my mom from my job to check on Lacey. And when she told me the news, I started crying right in front of my boss and my co-workers. We tried to keep her alive by taking her the vets 3 times a week for IV fluids. Shorty after my birthday at the end of June, we knew we could do no more. Lacey was so weak that she could barely get out of her doggy bed. And yellow fluid started coming out of her mouth. She knew the end was near because she took all the strength she had, and wanted to be in my mom's lap her last night. My mom took her to the vet to be put to sleep the next day. It was the hardest decision we ever had to make. 5 months later and I still cry nearly every day. But, we may be getting another yorkie very soon. Our puppy is due to be born tomorrow. We found a yorkie breeder only 5 miles away from our home. We should have our new yorkie puppy home by Valentines Day. Her name will be Chloe Cheyenne. (we plan on getting a female) Nothing will ever replace my Lacey. But, my mom and I fell in love with the yorkie breed. We still have a lot of love to give and believe it will help with the grieving process. I am so sorry about your loss. I know how bad it hurts. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of my precious Lacey. I will think about you and your family in this time of sorrow. It may help to make an online memorial in honor of Katie. She will be watching you from over the Rainbow Bridge. You can view my online memorial for Lacey on http://www.Terrificpets.com She is on page 3 on in memory.

[Dee Bee]

Chad, you will be performing one of the most loving actions you can do for your dear Katie. My positive thoughts of strength and comfort are radiating out now to surround you both.

[greeng13]

Chad,

Awfully sorry to hear the news. My Girlfriend had to put her/our dog down back in July of this year and we just knew that at the time that wasn't really her anymore-she had a quick onset canine lymphoma=cancer.

All I can say is "remember the good times". Remember her in her prime and not in the final days.

I hope your child/children are doing OK with this.

And i agree that there is little that can compare to the love of a dog for it's owner/companion/best friend/caregiver.....

Again. I am sorry.

[HurriCat]

You have our prayers. You are already doing the right things by talking about your feelings and expressing your grief. Just let it all hang out - I mean get somewhere where nobody's going to hear you and call 911, and let it rip.
This won't heal you, but it helps. Only time slowy mends this loss. It will become one more scar as you soldier on - and that's what your little friend would've wanted - that you keep going and try to be happy.

It's what they do - the soldiering on - and it's why we have to help them at the end. By domesticating animals, and bringing them into our homes, we eliminate most of the sickness, predation, weather and other hazards. And so they live to ripe old dog and cat ages, and they pay a price in the form of cancer, senility and other infirmities. This is why our part of the bargain has to include the hardest kind of love - to let go when it's best for THEM. It isn't about us at that point.

We lost Blaze, and then Peanut - two of our tortie-cats of over fifteen years. No one can tell me that losing a "human" hurts more, as in some ways I anguished a lot more than when my own father passed from prostate cancer. I think that it was because my dad was ready, and I knew that he would face his passing as he had lived - strong and determined - and with great dignity. He walked into that "good night" on his terms. With the cats, I was the "daddy" as it were, and was having to let them go on their way after over fifteen years of caring for them every day. It is so hard to send them ahead!

You and all who read this, wear those scars like stripes of faithful service on a uniform - hard-won and honorable.

The most wonderful thing is that they are not gone - but just "away". One day, after lots of adventures and in your own time - you'll see!