they take a piece of our heart with them

Grieve not,

nor speak of me with tears,

but laugh and talk of me

as if I were beside you…

I loved you so –

‘twas Heaven here with you.

~Isla Paschal Richardson

I'll never forget my own doggie, Roots. I cried for a month.

It's online and there is a lot of God stuff, but I don't mind it too much. A lot of folks who are going through the same thing and some like me much further on in the journey are there just for support and to take part in the 'ceremony'.

https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/CandleLighting_Tribute/Monday_Candlelighting.htm

It's every Monday at 9:00pm EST.

" Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

I had a scare with my Snowy in December. Thought it was going to be stomach cancer. I bawled all day waiting for the vet to call with test results. Good news. I'm going to be a wreck when her time does come.

The fur babies are special. My heart goes out to you.

I'm sure Barney's missing you too.

R.I.P. Barney

Be well.

I lost my best non-human friend in much the same way in November. It was agony and I miss her every day.

my heart goes out to you..we here at DU love our pets so much and we can all relate. They leave their pawprints on your heart. But they know how much they were loved they really do. I remember when I lost my Chloe cat, she was with us for a long time, there isn't one day where I don't think about her.

Remember we are here to listen and support you during this time. You will see him over Rainbow bridge.:

You have my sympathies on your loss.

Blankets next to my bed, so I always notice her absence. And when I bring the deer in for his bottle, we don't have to make sure we don't step on her anymore. I don't like it I liked watching out for her, giving her meds every day, syringing food into her. She wasn't a problem to me! She didn't have to leave! But she wanted to. She was done with arthritis, no muscles, being wobbly. So I gave in.

I know how you feel!❤

every moment we can with our fur-kids, as we never know when we'll lose that opportunity.

RIP Barney

✨✨✨💫💫✨

On January 4, 1993, the cat in this book and the books that preceded it was put to sleep in Kerrville, Texas, by DR. W.H. Hoegemeyer and myself. Cuddles was fourteen years old, a respectable age. She was as close to me as any human being I have ever known.
Cuddles and I spent many years together, both in New York, where I found her as a little kitten on the street in Chinatown, and later on the ranch in Texas. She was always with me, on the table, on the bed, by the fireplace, beside the typewriter, on top of my suitcase when I returned from a trip.
I dug Cuddles' grave with a silver spade, in the little garden by the stream behind the old green trailer where both of us lived in the summertime. Her burial shroud was my old New York sweatshirt and in the grave with her is a can of tuna and a cigar.
A few days ago I received a sympathy note from Bill Hoegemeyer, the veterinarian. It opened with a verse by Irving Townsend: "We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle…"
Now as I write this, on a gray winter day by the fireside, I can almost feel her light tread moving from my head and my heart down through my fingertips to the keys of the typewriter. People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that we often seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world.
They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you ever owned in your life come running to meet you.
Until that day, rest in peace Cuddles.
Kinky Friedman
Madina, Texas
February 5, 1993

Every cat I ever had.

you laugh think and cry you will have a full life.

Thoughts are with you at this difficult time. It will get better.

I have had pets my entire life. I have had to help many cross the Rainbow Bridge. It does not make that responsibility any easier. Take comfort from the fact that Barney is no longer hurting. You gave him a quality life while you cared for him. Grieve for him, but don't forget to remember the good stuff. Sincere sympathy for your loss. May you heal and give another deserving animal the love you shared with Barney.

It is so hard to lose a cat.
We have lost 8 over the years and I just remembered every one of them with a smile while reading your post. They were loved and cherished when they were with us.

There is nothing harder. We did that in December with our 7 year old standard poodle. He was my best bud. Tumors all through his abdomen.

Last year I lost 4 cats, all had come to me as ferals and were on the older side but not old, an old horse and then my doggie boy. I have never been so happy to see a year change.

What you did was a gift to him. The biggest gift of all. You sacrificed a little more loving time to give him a rest from his pain and discomfort. Sending you peace and comfort knowing that you did it for him, not for you. ❤️. I am so sorry.

It's rough. Very rough. I felt like I was betraying him, but his cancer was so bad that his entire left side was one big open sore.

You gave your fur-baby a good life. The good memories will stay with you.

Some people don't understand our four-legged family members are just as important and valued as our two-legged humans. The loss is felt just as strong and in fact unique because that companion loved you unconditionally and was always there for you. You're only left with an empty home and a cat shaped hole in your heart.

It's so painful to say goodbye to them. Love to you, calimary. You and your husband gave him many years of happiness and contentment and what more could a cat wish for?

I am a life-long sucker for black-and-white kitties, and when my 5-year-old perfect little girl got cancer (five??!), I had to do the right thing (2011), and then a big b&w crazy-guy stray adopted me shortly thereafter and I had to do the right thing by him in 2016.

it’s the worst

Love the story of Barney and Betty huddling together in all that chaos!! THANK YOU for keeping these two kids together!!!


BARNEY

A beautiful black and white baby Othello. He's 2.he has huge bright yellow eyes.I appreciate every moment he's with me
Two years ago I lost a few cats,they were all around the same ages..A cat I so adored was named Rustle,a linebacker cat of tabby cream and pale red with eyes of pale minty green. Rustle I could take him anywhere,he was fearless.Vinny was all black as the spaces between stars with luminous Yellow eyes. And my white tubcat Bear.Bear was very very sweet and cuddly. I was soulbonded with one cat,Sparkle a beautiful petite boy with lynx points of dove grey and sweet aqua eyes that would melt me to jello and Sparkle and Rustle were a gay couple.

I cried and cried as each cat went away to wherever the cats roam.

I miss all the cats I've. Ever. known.

My sincerest condolences. I think this is the main reason I really didn't want another pet. Our little pup is five, and too often I think about the day that will eventually come when we have to face the same heartache that you are going through. I get really attached to my dogs, and I had NO desire to start a new relationship, but when my wife and I made a trip around Europe five years ago, I should have known she was going to go out and get a cute little fur ball to walk when we got home, just as we saw all the ladies doing around Europe.
The memories we keep are the price for the loss. Sincerest condolences.

Take comfort in the wonderful life you gave him. Strengthing vibes to you, Love.

This one's a hard one!

But that's what I said last time...

I've lost a slew of these little loves. It NEVER gets easier.

Thanks for helping me get through this.

But here is what I have found. When one of our pets leaves us, they take a small part of our hearts with them. But, as time goes by, we come to realize that they left a part of theirs in place of the part they took. It takes time, but eventually you will be able to remember the good times.

Hugs to you calimary and I'm telling our Gizmo, Snitch, and Pita to keep an eye out for him at the Bridge and show him around.

Still hurts

I’m sorry for your loss. It’s never easy when the furball family members leave.

It’s been seven years and I still miss Morgan.

On the loss of your beloved Barney.

The loss of a pet is a loss of a family member, for sure. And the only real downside of having them is that their life expectancy is relative short. But they are surely more than worth it -- they add so much.

You did the right thing for him.

Frame Barney's pics, as I'm sure you've thought of already.

I like to tell guests about my long-gone fur babies; it's the least I can do to honor them and to elevate the status of all fur babies as being bonafided family members, not just "pets."

the pain all too well. Having lost two furry babies in the last two years and knowing the luv and devotion we give to them and they give to us the separation is heartbreaking. Loving and being humane still comes with so much pain. (((calimary))) 💕💕

Mr. Tough Guy here says thank you. These tears are way overdue.

So sorry your fur baby had to go but it was with deep love that you sent him on his way.

It will get better.

I am facing an almost identical situation here with my own beloved male kitty. I wish cats could live longer. I don't want to face it.

I'm sorry the start of the New Year is so hard for you. The only thing that doesn't die is the love that still exists between you and your cat. Take care.

is the measure of what a good pet parent you were to Barney and are to Betty.

My et essentially told me that when I had to send my DJ to the Bridge. That was about 18 years ago. They always leave too soon (for us - but at the right time for them.)

May you be comforted.

He was well loved. Wishing you peace.

Been down that road too many times. They are family.

2019 was a bad year for us. We lost three cats.

We got them all in the same year and lost them in the same year.

a trait they use in the wild to keep them safe from predators. Bless you for giving Barney a full and happy life. Their lives should be so much longer.

I know it is like losing a family member.

So sorry.

It always hurts.

The only thing that consoles me when I lose one is knowing that it would have been worse for them if they'd outlived me rather than vice versa.

It is hard to say goodbye to a member of the family

nothing makes me so sad as the loss of the little ones.....

we have done that ourselves a few times....cherish your memories, pets have a way of becoming a part of our lives and you are richer for sharing yours with Barney

It means an awful lot.