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Reply: Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance

I can fully understand your grief, feelings of "Did we do the right thing", and all the...

Posted by SusieKP

I can fully understand your grief, feelings of "Did we do the right thing", and all the things that must've gone through your mind, and probably still do. I just find it so ironic that your beloved "Dunkel" was a Newfie, which of course are "relatives" of Labradors! I love Newfies, as my cousin's mother-in-law lived in a large "boat house" on one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, west of Syracuse, with three (count 'em---THREE!!) Newfies, each of them looking like a bear of differing sizes! They played with my Lab(s) so wildly that their "mom" got a bit aggravated, I think, with all their craziness! But boy, did those dogs love to swim! And as you know, Newfies are used as water rescue dogs! Labs, with their "webbed paws" are excellent swimmers as well! Their tails are rounded, and called an "otter tail", used as a rudder!

I'm sorry I'm "butting in" on your "grieving period", but I can't help but smile when I think of Newfies, and Labs as well. And...when I think of them all together, all I can do is smile, thinking of the splashing around in what is a pretty cold lake year 'round.

I'm now ready to look for a new Labby to enter our lives! I hope that soon you'll be welcoming a new four-legged family member to your home, too. I can't believe I've gone this long "Lab-less". My ultimate goal is to train a new puppy, and pass the Canine Good Citizen exam, so he can go on and become a therapy dog/team! I'd love to be able to volunteer in a library or classroom to help children practice their skills reading aloud to a doggy friend. Then there are so many other opportunities to volunteer. I'm sure, despite my disabilities due to nasty RA and back injuries that have "caught up with me" from all the sports I participated in during my life! (I live on SSDI, as I'm not old enough for my Social Security, but I've no idea where I'd be without Medicare.) I just want to give back whatever I can to my community!
Again, I wish you the ability/opportunities to remember all the fun and happy times you had with Dunkel, despite his/her life cut way to short by illness. But think about the wonderful times and memories Dunkel left you with, and when the time is right (you'll know; it may happen at a totally unexpected time, but you will know, and rest assured, that time will come! And furthermore, your beloved Dunkel will smile down on you, and be happy that you have a canine companion in your family, because afterall, all dogs know that they were put here on earth to be companions and helpers to those who open their hearts to them! Sadly, I got married six months aftet my Duncan's passing, and felt terrible that he couldn't be a part of the happiest day in my life! However, my "bridal attendant" (she abhorred the term "bride's maid" or "matron of honor", as she felt that with two grown sons, they just sounded "silly") who is blind, has a wonderful guide that I've known since she came home with him from the Oregon campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind. He was a wild typical Lab "puppy" (he was just past 18 months!) who took a shining to me, and always jumped into my lap when I was over there. Dogs do know---a sixth sense---who likes them! This wonderful "vanilla" Lab ended up being the ring bearer in our wedding! Looking at the photographs, he was either curled up during the ceremony, or trying so hard to sit up with "dignity". I share this because I guess it makes me feel better, but I want you to know that you'll get over your grief, but never the wonderful memories! And again, Dunkel is "watching" you, and making sure that you feel "fine" about bringing another doggy into your life! Best of luck, and my deepest condolences!View Thread

Posted bySusieKP

71 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance I can fully understand your grief, feelings of "Did we do the right thing", and all the...

Reply: Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance

I felt the need to post something under the picture of this beautiful rainbow, because it...

Posted by SusieKP

71 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance I felt the need to post something under the picture of this beautiful rainbow, because it...

Reply: Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance

I am so deeply sorry for your loss! There are so many "heartless" people out there, who...

Posted by SusieKP

I am so deeply sorry for your loss! There are so many "heartless" people out there, who will take the law into their own hands when it comes to domestic or wild animals! They should absolutely be prosecuted, and have to pay for their crimes! And yes, the person who shot your pit baby committed a crime! I was in tears reading your heartbreaking story! I, myself, lost my chcolate Lab, "Duncan, Count Chocula" when he was 15 1/2 years old---a long life for a Labrador! I know that I was truly lucky to have him this long, but after saying "goodbye" to him in April 2010, I still miss him dearly! My (now) husband was so funny with Dunk; he used to put a human "voice" to him, to verbalize what he thought Dunk was thinking, It was crazy and nutty, yet fun, because usually Duncan's words were in "complaint" about "You People", as my husband imagined him to think.
But back to you, I have no words to console you, except that perhaps you and your fiance could "start" your family by starting out with a new "baby" with four legs? My husband already had grown children when he divorced, and I have not been able to have children, so I had my Labs. I had a black one "Ziggy" for 14 years (we had to say "goodbye" to him on what turned out to be the day my Dunky was whelped.

I'm so sorry that I was talking about "my babies" when I was writing to give you some consolation! Another thing (if you haven't done already!) is to make a photo album/scrapbook of memories of your life with your "pit-baby". I'm sure it will make you sad at first, but you know, if you don't do it, you'll not have the wonderful memories, laughs, smiles, and yes, tears--but the kind of tears that your Bailey would want you to have--tears of joy, no matter how fleeting...In the meantime, I'm sure you've been showering your love on your lab-pit mix (I had a neighbor in NYC who had a black one, and we called her a "pitador" and she was very, very smart! I have a book called "Crossing the Rainbow Bridge"; a children's book, actually, that was recommended to me by Mimi Ausland, founder of the website freekibble.com, which is worth a daily visit to play dog and cat trivia and right or wrong, your playing of the game provides free kibble for dogs and cats in shelters nationwide! I'd love to hear about your Yoshi (wonderful name!) and how she's doing with her "mourning" of her sister. Now you will have to give her extra "play time" to let her know that she is safe and sound, and that nothing will happen to her like that...In the meantime, Bailey will "live on" as long as you remember her and the fun you had during her too-short life!View Thread

Posted bySusieKP

71 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Rainbow Bridge of Remembrance I am so deeply sorry for your loss! There are so many "heartless" people out there, who...

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