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Linda Fields
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When my poodle Cindy died two years ago, I was devastated. Everyone who knew me knew I would be - after all, she was with me for nearly 18 years and we were hardly ever apart. At work afterwards, someone said to me, "it's only a dog". Of course, that person did not know me well or could never have made that comment. We who have pets know what others cannot - that there exists a special love, a special bond. No apologies or explanations needed. I forgave that comment because it was made out of ignorance.
My grief was unconsoled although time has helped numb it. When death touches you, your reaction is an intimate one. Each person must find a way to accept death and move on. My husband helped a great deal when he said to me that having Cindy was a gift - special because for most of us, "it is a unique and special opportunity to take care of a life entirely from beginning to end". Indeed. We can only hope to do it well and return their gift in kind. |
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| Michele
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Four years later, I still cannot forget Chelsea. I cannot speak to anyone about her without starting to tear up. There is no one in my life for whom I have ever grieved more. She was a Golden Retriever/Irish Setter cross - beautiful, intuitive, stubborn and loyal, I had her for 9 years, through college, first jobs, first apartment, a cross-country move. She did not always have the perfect life with me - indoors most of the time, walked a couple of miles a day or just in the yard if the weather was bad. But she was so loved. She was my family as much as any brother, sister, or friend. I miss you, Chels. Still. |
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| Maria C. Yeager
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I too lost a loved pet to old age. Katie, my beautiful black lab, was 14 1/2 years old. Age stepped in and took her from me. I had to put her to sleep. That was the hardest thing I have ever done to a loved one. She couldn't walk anymore. My husband carried her when needed. She had lost her dignity. I kept saying over and over, "What have I done to my Katie?", until the vet told me that I didn't do anything to her, but for her. She was right. I gave her back her dignity. It has been almost two years, but it still hurts as if it were the other day. We still love and miss her very much. She brought much joy and happiness to our lives. We still have three cats who are very precious to us, but Katie was our love. | |||||
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| Judy
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I find it hard to deal with the loss of my Toasty, that my vet lost, while she was being treated for diabetes. In my case its the not knowing of what became of her .... or if she thought we abandoned her and she died alone. The lack of closure is devastating.... Judy http://members.tripod.com/~judymyers/index.html "Stand up for our pets rights!!!" | |||||
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| LisaM
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I have found that no one truly understands how devastating pet theft can be unless they themselves have gone through it. They do not understand the lack of closure, and the tears, worry, and fears for the dog that go with that lack of closure. I have been searching for my stolen Dalmatian for over two years now..I worry for her constantly, as she is so incredibly shy. She was abused before I got her, and my fear is that whoever has her now thinks she is that way because of ME..and therefore they totally misunderstand her.
I am glad there are people who can and do understand the sense of loss..and who won't tell you to get over it, as after all, she is "just a dog." I miss you, Dulcie. http://www.eburg.com/~dalmatia/dulcie.html |
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| Natasha & Beverly
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Dear Linda S., We have just recently lost our shepherd Lucy under similar circumstances. Our beloved Lucy bolted out of a gated area during 4th of July fireworks. (7/4/00). We are agonizing about where she could be. We've done everything humanily possible to find her. People say "it's early...etc." but as we walk through the house w/ her toys, bowls etc. it is torture. We have gone out everyday for hours & hours. Still no sign. Lucy has been w/ us for 1 yr & 8mths. She is our family. I can't even imagine the pain you must have as you can't even be there to search over & over again. We have been praying and trying to keep positive thoughts. We even consulted w/ an "animal communicator" (psychic)who told us Lucy's thoughts and wishes to be home w/ her "Mamas". It may seem crazy, but we will do anything to get her back. We just wanted to say that we really do know how you feel. Have faith in anyway you can and hope for the best. Never give up. Best wishes for a safe return of both dogs. | |||||
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| Linda C
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While in Coeur D'Alene, Id at the end of July, we lost our wonderful Spanky Lou through a bizaare set of circumstances. We live in Montana and cannot describe how difficult it is looking for a loved pet from another state. I have never lost a dog before and this is an experience that for me has been worse than death. It is agony not knowing if your pet is dead or alive, suffering or happy with someone else or out roaming the streets looking for you. I was a vet technician for years and ran an animal shelter for 2 years and my imagination goes into overdrive, when I let it. I know that animal shelters, animal control, highway departments, vet clinics are not infallible. Emotions run from incolsolable grief to tenative hope almost everyday and because you don't know anything about your lost pet, the roller coaster of emotions just continues. Being in another state, I don't have access to the resources I need to conduct a good search. I've been back to Idaho three times, but I only have the weekends and that alone limits my contacts. I've place hundreds of posters and talked to tons of people, but even if someone thinks they've seen her, I'm always a couple of days behind and only have a day or two to search areas where someone thought they saw her several days ago. Just when you think you've contacted all the agencies and clinics -- you discover there is one that you've missed. Not only does this take its toll emotionally, but financially with long distance calls, ads in papers, travel, etc. Then, every Sunday, as another week has passed, a little hope is replaced with a double portion of dread. And I ask myself, "Is it now time to give up?" And the answer is, "No, not yet." And I wonder, how long do I look for her? When is the answer yes? Nobody has that answer. So, I go through the motions of life knowing that there may never be closure and I will be left wondering if she knew how much she was loved. I hope those of you who posted lost/stolen pets here, have found them. If so, post your story. Success stories are very helpful for those of us who are still searching. | |||||
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| Mickey | On oct8 of this year i had to put my old friend otis to sleep, otis was a lab pit bull mix, my son went looking for car parts and came home with this pit bull, of course my natural reaction was get that dog out of here i donot want the responialy for this pit bull and i went on and on, anyway after a week he was my dog,i really loved him and he was a true friend, 6 weeks before he passed away i knew it was getting close so i got a puppy and i really think Otis kind of enjoyed haveing Dotti around, of course otis would play a few minutes with her and then look at me like ok mom i have had enough, get her out of here, Otis taught her alot, things i like and this i donot like. To have Otis put down was the hardest thing i have ever done in my life, but even in the vet hospital he looked up at me with those trusting eyes and said to me mom let me go now i am tired and there are things i need to do, you have dotti now and she will fell your life with fun, i let him go and i was glad i was there with him when he went over the rainbow bridge. mickey Boutiette | |||||
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| Wendy Palmer
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HI.. I can't help but read some of these messages and not say something about 'pet microchipping'. I work in a Humane Society Shelter in No Florida, one of the few where every pet adopted out is microchipped. Recently, while doing a presentation for a local community organization, I mentioned that our shelter, as a public service, perform microchipping for a small fee for each privately-owned animal. A couple of days after the presentation, along with a thank-you letter, a representative sent along two news clippings about a dog that had been missing from No Florida for 11 years. This dog was recently found in a campground in one of the northern states and taken to a veteranarian who had a microchipping scanner. Years back, the dog had been microchipped; the National Registry (and I believe Canada may be a part of the Registry as well) was contacted and searched and the dog and original owner were reunited after over a decade! A collar and tag can be removed, even a tattoo will fade or can be covered over... but the microchipping technology seems to be the best way to keep track of your pet. Even the most predictable pets can be lost or stolen. We can help to keep our pets safe and sound. Check out your local shelter to see if they offer this service... if not, your veteranarian can take care of it or recommend where the service is offered. Oh... and please spay and neuter your pets, all involved are happier in the long run!! Y'all take care, and thanks for the long read thru! Wendy : ) | |||||
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| Patti
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Hi. I was just reading the message from Wendy. I just lost a beautiful Pedigree Yorkie and Physiologicly he wasn't an animal, he was my child. I loved this dog so much that I once said, "Nothing will ever happen to him, I won't let it". My dog was never once away from me or out of my site until I had to go away for 2 days and couldn't possibly take him with me. I thought I left him with a responsible person but somewhow my dog got out of the house and this sitter don't seem to know what has happened to my dog. The police say that they can't take a stolen report because the sitter didn't see anyone take him and it is not a crime to be a bad dog sitter. Unless someone see's the dog taken, it is not a police matter because the dog can walk or run away. This means that if your dog is SITTING in front of your house and some wants to take your dog, its not a crime but if your car is sitting in front of your house and someone takes it, it is considered stolen. I'm appalled that a materialistic object is seen as being more worthy of protection than a living animal. To continue with this nightmare my dog was not microchiped because I had lived in a remote place, and not exposed to a lot of crime and myself being a person who was taught that if it don't belong to you,leave it alone or look for its owner, you don't keep it just because it has some value. My dog wasn't neutered because I wanted one or two more like him (not to sell, but for my own). These mistakes have turned my life into a nightmare.I have searched day and night for the past 2 months for my dog. I have looked at at least 10 different Yorkies and none of them were mine. Now, I have found a dog in someones possesion that I believe is mine. He has been totally shaved and is being used for stud service for breeding anything in his size, for almost nothing. Now I don't know what steps to take to get my dog and how will I prove he is mine even though I have a ton of documentation. I have learned a VERY IMPORTANT lesson, the hard way. I saw a picture of him and it breaks my heart to see what they have done to him. Wendy is SO right about the microchips.PLEASE don't let this happen to you. Use every means possible to protect your pet. If he had been nuetered,he would not be of so much value to them and if he had been microchiped, it would have be easy to prove that he is mine. Don't expect the law to protect your pet, its up to you. DON'T LEARN THE HARD WAY. | |||||
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| LisaM
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These stories are heartbreaking. It seems that most of us do not have family or friends close to us who truly understand what agony it is to lose a pet, either through death or by going missing. I started a list at yahoogroups some time ago, to help those with missing pets. It's not a huge list and not always very active, but everyone there does understand what the loss is like. If anyone would like to join, the url for this list is http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe/PetTheftSupport | |||||
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| DIANE L MILES
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It is hard to write this even though it has been two years since I lost my boy Choice, he had sugar and cushion. Then his back spine starting giving out where he was in constant pain even with pain pills. The most hated words was when my Vet said it is his time, kept him for another week and the last day I knew it was time. He came to me crying and at that time it was as if I could feel his pain. I held him when he went to sleep that painful day and it still hurts without my boy. So many of my friends do not understand saying he was only a dog, with the help of Dot at Heaven Bridge she helped me threw that day and even today we are friends over the internet. I do not know how I could have handled this loss without my internet friend who understood how I felt. Too bad that my friends did not understand not even one of them from that day and even two years after that when I talk about Choice they do not show any sign of caring. Too bad they will lose so much not ever knowing how much an animal can really mean to people just hope that any animal they have they keep them safe. I still love and miss my boy, and always will. | |||||
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| dana
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hi i just lost a young deerhound with sezzures.i went into a shutdown mode.i didn`t want to do anything.i still can not look at her pictures.my hubby and girl friend told me mabe to get a puppy,oh and i also have 2 other dogs.so a breeder that new me gave me alittle lab,my hours are all messed up ,i feel like a new mom.but the pup brought me out,it was like a telling my deerhound how i loved her.dana | |||||
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| Melba Clemons | Today is April 3, 2009. Had my dad lived, he would have been 89 today. I found FindFido at @4:30 this morning, and I posted our lost Husky, Diesel. Diesel was, for want of a better word, a "replacement" for another dog we had lost, Buddy. Buddy was a shepherd/chow mix. He was the BEST dog! When we went outside, he always made sure that everyone that had been outside went in before he did...I called him my "herding dog". But Buddy would not ALWAYS be a herding dog. On May 5, 2006, Buddy passed away. On this day, Buddy was no longer a herding dog...he was the lead dog. Buddy must have decided that he had to go before my dad did, to smoothe my dad's passage. My dad passed on May 27, 2006, which happened to be my youngest son's 21st birthday. Diesel was a Christmas present to my son that year. Perhaps Dad and Buddy sent me to this site this morning. Perhaps they will help us find Diesel. I hope this is true. We still grieve for and miss Dad and Bud, and will for the rest of our lives. But, at least, we know where they are. Diesel was taken away from us by some stranger, and he found out the hard way that all people are not good. I believe that he got into that vehicle, thinking that he was going home (he could have walked...he was a stones throw from the house! But he LOVED to ride!). Instead, he was taken away from his family. We can only wonder what has happened to our "little man", and pray that he is safe and warm. And that he'll be returned to us, someday soon! | |||||
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