Blessings to you, your wife, and Shadow. I share many - all - of your concerns and passions, though not all of your hardships; hardships of our own, and, yes, with age, health issues being something on the horizon.

A dear friend who lost a grandchild in a car accident answered to me that time is, indeed, a great healer. Though the pain and longing never subside completely, the sharpness (at least for her) lessened with time.

Know that someone out here is thinking of you, with love and sincere compassion, and sending you all the blessings and good thoughts I can!

Ultimately what we are going through is really only a bump in the road of life. We have been very blessed in our retirement and our lives. I have seen much more difficulty for our friends and other people. I am working on keeping things into perspective in this imperfect world of ours.

My sense of my own situation is that if I compare our present situation to what I have personally seen recently it is really almost nothing really. I continue to be amazed at the resilience of the human spirit and all the good that happens despite the tremendous obstacles life and events throw in the way of well being.

Thank your for your kind response.

your wife, and Shadow.

It is good that you can think outside your own experience at this time, but please don't feel that your travails are trivial simply because they do not compare to the troubles of others. For you, right now, this is a real and terrible thing and you don't need to try and make it less. It's admirable that you try - but not necessary.

Our animal companions are not just "pets". They are family and we are allowed to grieve for them.

Yes, we do the best we can and move on. For now, though, please don't feel you have to justify your sorrow.

Hugs and strength to you all.

I lost my Keisha last year.

So sad to hear of the pet you cherish being taken from you.

recently..just two months after losing Mommie (16 yr old cat).

We are both past 65 now and the remaining cats are aging right with us .. We foresee kitty funerals for a while..and we too are done with pets when they are gone (unless they outlive us) which presents a whole other dilemma..

When they come into our lives, they are a blessing, and when they leave, it;s a crushing blow, but over the years I have consoled myself with this one thought.

Had they not been ours, their life would have been short and miserable ...They were all rescues..

We have to be thankful that we had them even for a short time, to show them what it feels like to be loved. Pets bring so much love and joy into our lives. The ONLY hard part of owning a pet is having to lose them.

We had no pets for three years until this dog ran into our house and sat on the couch. We tried to find owners but could not. It was in good condition and there was no reason to think it abandoned. Wife wanted to keep it and I agreed. And I knew that I would face another day like this.

In the past 11 years we took many trips but we had an ideal yard and neighbors help so Shadow did not need to be kenneled. We always kept our trips as short as possible and drove extra to get home early. Always hated to leave Shadow. There has been one thing about this dog. It has been trouble free. Housebroken. No chewing. No digging. And no mischief of any kind. Could be completely trusted in every way while we were gone. And she has always been there and we have taken her to the vet for anything suspicious.

He was way more than just a dog. I loved him, and I still miss him, even though he has been gone for eight years. We have had other dogs since, and they are all special in their own way. But Shadow chose me as his favorite person, so he was particularly special to me.

You and your Shadow are so fortunate to have had each other for so long.

although it can make travel kinda tough.

I have three dogs and have buried two.

It blew a hole in my gut when Blake suddenly died at age 7. Damn. He was only seven. Wednesday night I went to bed thinking he was healthy and by Friday afternoon after agonizing over whether to spend $4,000 to keep him alive, I was putting him to sleep.

His mother died a year or so later. That was not as big a shock, although I did not like the way she finally went. She was sick, very sick for a couple of weeks, and after taking her to the vet for two or three days before they gave up, I got a car and took her for some rides and visits.

She was older (only 10.5 years though) and I had more warning, so it did not devastate me.

Also, I already had two dogs that I had gotten as companions for her to replace Blake (if not Vida).

Dogs have sorta made my life worth living since I got Mitzi in 1997. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/115

Sending you comfort and courage. I just went through this myself recently. The pain is excruciating. Love one another. Love and time are your friends now. I have bad moments about losing my oldest boyevery day; he died in my arms.

I hope it's some comfort to you knowing that there are so many here who know exactly what you're going through.

Our fur babies....... we love them so deeply....... I've been through a few losses myself, so I know.

with such a great companion.

Dogs are one of life's precious gifts, and my thoughts go out to you and your family.

I am so sorry for your losses. Take good care of each other.

just know you gave her the best life she could have, and she gave a lot back. you could always foster some dogs from the local shelter if you don't want to get another one.

always make sure your friend has a good quality of life and is not in too much stress
or discomfort ...... ask your vet how are the kidneys doing, can your friend get up and down,
how is the intake of food and water going, and is Shadow in pain?

"The most unanswerable question of all is why so many terrible things happen." I don't
know but you can be sure of one thing and that is you got to share your world with
Shadow and that made your life rich.

My sister had her Hootch put to sleep a while back for nearly the same reason. I was dozing on the couch when I felt a strong punch on my chest. I opened my eyes and saw a big black nose, a brown forehead and two of the happiest eyes I have ever seen on anyone, anywhere. It was Hootch. I checked the time and it was the same time he left the world. I tell you that to let you know that staying or leaving, they go to joy. They never leave you because they love you. I still hear dog toe nails on my word floors sometimes when no dog is around.

I wish you love and comfort. Just know that your baby is still there looking after you. Just in another form.

PS I thought as an older person I would not take another pet until a tiny kitten came to my door in the winter. A rescue chihuahua came as well. What you need, it will come. Take care and know you are really, really loved at this moment.

You, your wife and dear Shadow are in my thoughts and prayers. Try to take heart from recent advances in vet science. They can do wonderful things that would have been impossible just a few years ago.

In December of 2012 we lost one of our twelve and a half year old bichons to liver failure. He woke up vomiting on a Friday morning, and by Monday morning, we had to do the humane thing and spare him further suffering. It nearly killed us; he was the kindest, sweetest dog I've ever had. His brother and litter mate almost grieved himself to death. No one knows the love and joy our pets bring into our lives except other pet parents.

I hope this will be a treatable condition and that Shadow will soon be on the road to recovery. Again, you're in my thoughts.

She was part Boykin spaniel. Before she came into my life, I was strictly a cat person, but she changed all that. She followed me everywhere and looked up to me like I was some kind of god. I had fourteen years with her and, when she died, I cried like a baby. If it should be your Shadows time to go, don't be ashamed to cry. Tears are the offering we make to love. And no one will love you like your dog--faithfully, fully, and without condition. I hope you will have more time with your Shadow.