Yesterday, my dear sweet friend Bivi passed. She's the only dog I've ever had. Growing up, we never had any pets. When I became a man, I sought Bivi out and rescued her from a pound. She was 6 months when I got her, 9 years when she died.

For the last four days or so, she was different. She wouldn't eat as much, had difficulty getting up the stairs, even walking by the last night. I took her to the vet and they found that her abdomen was full of blood. Internal bleeding from a cancer. The only livable prognosis was if it happened to be the spleen. This possibility was described to me as remote,the procedure costly, to be followed by a regimine of chemotherapy. She was acting normally just last week! :cry: I couldn't even get a wag of the tail out of her in the last days. I didn't want her to hurt any more. She must have been hiding her pain for some time. They euthanized her and she passed in my hands. I felt her leave. Not knowing where the hell she went is causing me a great deal of grief.

Bivi was SUCH a good dog. She loved and protected my children. I'd had her longer than two of the four of my kids. She was a city girl but I moved her to the lush mountains of the northwest where she enjoyed hiking with me. Obedient to a fault, she only ever wanted to please me. She'd be at my door right now waiting for me to return from work.

I'm having a pretty rough time.

I'm so sorry for you loss! Bivi sounds like she was a wonderful girl, and it sounds as though she was adored. She may be gone, but she still lives in your heart, and will always be pain-free and happy there. That you hurt now only shows how much you loved her - she was a very lucky girl!

Take care.

Aww Skanky, i'm so sorry :hug: It must be really hard for you. Here's a poem that someone posted not so long ago. I thought it was really sweet:

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Awww :( She sounds like she was great, celebrate her life instead of mourning her passing.

I'm sorry for your loss, I know that the loss of a pet can be quite devastating. Hang in there.

Losing a loved animal companion hurts as much as losing a family member. These animals are loved as much as if they were our children.

All I can give you is my compassion.

In time, the grass grows over the sorrow. It just takes time. All mourning processes need to be accepted and not fought again.

Let us know how you are coming along in the days/weeks/months to come.

:hug: I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Maybe your friend Bivi is frolicking with my beloved Tiger and other beloved companions somewhere. :hug:

So sorry for your loss, skanky.

I'm so sorry. :(

I'm sorry.

:hug: Skanky, I'm so sorry.

i'm sorry :(

if it helps any, i believe that when we pass (people and animals alike) we're not dying so much as going home. our time here is limited, we come to learn as much as we can and take what we learn home to study until our next visit. i also believe that those who pass never really leave us, though the body is gone and the spirit has returned home, they visit us often. she'll still be at your side, loyal as ever, and now knows no pain or fear.

of course it's ok to be hurting from her passing but you shouldn't worry or be afraid about where she's gone.

she came to learn and in the process she taught you a great deal. you saved her life 9 years ago and she showed her love and gratitude every day. a dog couldn't hope for a better life :)

:(
I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm glad Bivi got to spend her last days with you and the ones she loved.