Rainbow Bridge thread

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

When I was married to my "darling ex", we rescued a kitten from the senile lady next to her apartment. After "DE" left, Smoky was my buddy and was a great help for keeping my sanity. I'll have to see if I have any pictures of Smoky as he was in the film only era. I had him cremated and he resides in a box now.


After mary and I moved to this house, she found Mochi, our previous Swissy. Mochi was headstrong but a great dog.

We lost him 2012


Then in June of 2013, we got Levi, literally weeks after I had shoulder surgery



Lost Levi April 12th 2019 at 6 years and two weeks

I remember Mochi well from all your posts and thought that he was the kind of dog I'd like to just sit/hang out with at the edge of the boat, put my arm around him, and just talk about various aspects of life with him.

And I'd have NO issues with Levi sitting on my lap on the sofa and making my legs absolutely numb.

Yes, big dogs rule.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette

I remember Mochi well from all your posts and thought that he was the kind of dog I'd like to just sit/hang out with at the edge of the boat, put my arm around him, and just talk about various aspects of life with him.

And I'd have NO issues with Levi sitting on my lap on the sofa and making my legs absolutely numb.

Yes, big dogs rule.

The story behind this one.....
Mary and I were both fishing off the front of the 24' pontoon boat when I realized Mochi wasn't "right there" watching us. ( He was the official fish inspector )

I looked at the back of the boat and he was sitting on the back, just watching the waves / ripples while enjoying the breeze

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

The story behind this one.....
Mary and I were both fishing off the front of the 24' pontoon boat when I realized Mochi wasn't "right there" watching us. ( He was the official fish inspector )

I looked at the back of the boat and he was sitting on the back, just watching the waves / ripples while enjoying the breeze

I'd have loved to have sat next to him there, legs dangling off the edge and just hung out...such a cool, handsome dog.

Just got back from my pet loss support group meeting...still very difficult to talk about Cosmo without getting emotional but at least I'm amongst others going through the same thing, and have even made some new friends (we have been going to a diner to eat afterward and sharing more about our pets there).

Hang in there everyone. The photos and stories really do help.

[LilRedCorvette]

As much as I really hope this thread isn't used much, think it should be made readily available to anyone who has had a loss come up...any way we can make it a sticky thread? Would hate for a good idea like this one to get lost in the shuffle.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette

As much as I really hope this thread isn't used much, think it should be made readily available to anyone who has had a loss come up...any way we can make it a sticky thread? Would hate for a good idea like this one to get lost in the shuffle.

Done.

[MrPeabody]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Done.

[bsmith]

Coolest dog I've ever known, excluding my own of course.
This is Clark, he belongs to my brother and sister in law, and I got the news last night that he has cancer and it won't be long.

Clark is the shit.
I remember the first day I met him.
It was a day or two after we put down my Jamie and I wasn't in the mood to see anyone yet. We got to their house, and Clark was glued to my side the whole night. He knew I needed him.

He was a pound dog, and everyone wanted Clark after meeting him.
A few people offered to buy him, and several threatened to dog-nap him.

Two years ago yesterday my Missy was injured and two years ago today she crossed.

[04 commemorative]

We lost Haley a few years ago ....now Ty is winding down....sad...

[LilRedCorvette]

6 months ago today Cosmo passed. Still so very sad.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Just saw this on FB today.

[LilRedCorvette]

^

Just wanted to add this, as well as some prayers, to the thread...John McCain's service dog Burma has crossed the Rainbow Bridge:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mccain-fa...173208710.html

Here's hoping they are together again.

[LilRedCorvette]

Grumpy Cat has passed...only 7 years old

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...090130805.html

Thanks for making us laugh and smile

[boracayjohnny]

A bittersweet thread.

Pets sure do become family.

[marrepka]

Had to say goodbye to Oscar, my best friend and constant companion of 12 years today. RIP buddy you will never be forgotten.

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by marrepka

Attachment 26712

Had to say goodbye to Oscar, my best friend and constant companion of 12 years today. RIP buddy you will never be forgotten.

So very sorry for your loss. He is beautiful.

Been having a hard time lately...came across this today and just thought I'd share. Lots of good resources there.

https://www.lapoflove.com/community/Pet-Loss-Support

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette

It is good to have a place to share this kind of loss with others who have also gone through it and understand exactly what it feels like. Most of my friends/people around me aren't really 'dog' people per se, so outside of here and my monthly pet loss support group, I'm kind of flying solo on this grief airplane.

I lost my beloved 12 yr old Boxer Cosmo on 11/3/18, thread posted here: https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/...d.php?t=117759

Other Boxers I have lost before the era of digital photos:
Bo
Bobo
Casey
Oliver
Rindy

Doggies I have dogsat that I became very close with:
Pogo (Dorgi - Dachshund/Corgi mix)
Anya (Schutzhund-trained German Shepherd)

The person who runs the pet loss support group has well over 40 years experience as a therapist, including her work with hospice...and still says that the pet loss therapy work is the most difficult of all.

My heart is still irretrievably broken. But I am comforted a bit by the thought that each day that passes is another day closer to reuniting at the Rainbow Bridge.

I am saddened to add to this thread again so soon...Clara (Cosmo's sister), had to be euthanized this AM. Very, very bad seizure this time around.

Clara and Cosmo, who I came to know since they were very young, belonged to a fellow automotive enthusiast friend of mine who went into the hospital for surgery but unexpectedly didn't make it out (ref thread above)...his family found us, and we adopted them and took care of them in his absence.

Mike, you have both your Boxer babies with you up in heaven now ...but we're all heartbroken down here. We hope you'll share them both with us at the Rainbow Bridge when it's our time.

Clara Belle
8/16/08 - 6/4/19

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Just saw this on FB today.

Attachment 25808

I have looked at this at least 20 times and I have teared up at least 20 times. It's not worded in a way I would speak, but I'll be damned if it doesn't hit the mark in sentiment.

On a side note, I have a new 7 month old pup and I'm having a helluva a time with guilt and trouble bonding with her because of my two that I lost.

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I have looked at this at least 20 times and I have teared up at least 20 times. It's not worded in a way I would speak, but I'll be damned if it doesn't hit the mark in sentiment.

On a side note, I have a new 7 month old pup and I'm having a helluva a time with guilt and trouble bonding with her because of my two that I lost.

It got to me, too.

Let me preface this post with the sentiment that I am regurgitating/sharing info from the therapist leading our local pet loss support group, as we have a few people also with new pets while dealing with the loss of their previous pets. They are having the same feelings of guilt and trouble bonding that you are, and it's completely normal.

First off, there is no right or wrong way to grieve...as well as no right or wrong way as to when to open your home to a new pet. Some must get a new one right away, some feel they need to wait, and still others never make it to that step at all.

However, if you open your home to a new pet...you still must grieve the loss of the previous one. A new pet cannot, and will not, replace the grieving process; if the person doesn't do the difficult work of grieving (Kathy calls them 'Grief Dodgers'), then a lot of times it can bite you in the ass later and make your grief even worse...and also make bonding with a new pet that much harder.

As you know, a new pet can never 'replace' the old...it's a completely new, and different, relationship that will take time to develop. It's also normal to sometimes 'compare'...but it's important to try to distract from that and just get to know your new pet without any sort of timeline/deadline. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or even years for this to develop naturally...and it's completely normal.

There is also no timeline on grief...allow yourself the freedom, time, and permission to grieve your loss. You might be fine while occupied by a task or at work, but something will spur a memory and turn you into a big pile of emotions/sadness. Let yourself feel it, talk to others about it. Distraction, then grieving, lather, rinse, repeat...is a normal and healthy way to process it all.

Sorry for the novel...never have been a 'support group/therapy' type of person until now, but the advice absorbed/received has been a godsend for me. Hope it is helpful for others also.

[Skia]

Rosie, best dog we ever had. Lost her in 2018. She was almost 14.

https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/...1&d=1561768526

[Stevedore]

I'll add our memory of Max, who we lost a little over a year ago. He was a Shetland Sheepdog, within weeks of his 14th birthday. For anyone familiar with the AKC obedience training & competition world, he was my wife's Novice-A dog, who she took to a UD title. We currently have Keira, Jake & Connor, ages 10 yr, 4 yr, & 6 months, & they're all great in their unique ways, but there'll never be another Max for us.


Max: