OUR FRIEND HAS LEFT US

Sorry about your loss. But it sounds like you had a good "last day."

I feel bad for you. Dogs are not really people, but they are close enough for me.

Well... Cleo has been part of us here.
Not to argue, just talking.

Oh, Set, I am so sorry.

I can understand that big hole in your heart.

My 15 year old dog died in January, after several months of being significantly infirm and disabled, and my own heart still aches with loss. My only relief was that she died at home, of natural causes, and that I didn't have to euthanize her, because I think that would have devastated me even more. I am glad that Cleo was also with you until the end, with your presence, and her familiar surroundings, to comfort whatever distress she might have felt. And I am glad you know it was a peaceful end for her.

Sincere condolences to you and Beth. Everyone who has ever loved and lost a dog knows what you are feeling right now and can empathize with you.

this is my favourite ever photo of Bailey (l) and Cleo (r)
I think it is from the summer of 2003
they were unimpressed by being plopped onto the bench together

Cleo being really really really happy with her Oma - mrs. hamburgboy

Cleo with her human - shaking hands with Set in exchange for a treat

Christmas 2004, visiting hamburgboy and mrs hamburgboy

Her last gift to you was to have you share her last day till she had to go. Thats pretty damn special both of you, (and boychik doggie).
Youre gonna need to be extra attentive to the little guy .

Oh, lordy.

farmerman, I thought very much about what you said about letting her go on the other thread earlier this week

I talked to her about it a lot over the last couple of nights when I lay down on the floor and kept her company - thanked her for the love and many many laughs she gave us - encouraged her to sleep - tried not to stress too much when she stopped eating Sunday and then stopped drinking water late Wednesday

the boydog has been getting almost as much attention as he can stand - we've both made sure to spend time with him every day - Set took him for a walk as soon as possible today.

Bailey is snoozing below where we have Cleo resting right now. He's her small portly honour guard. He is going on a diet tomorrow - he finished off way too many of the treats she wouldn't touch in the past couple of weeks.

I was reading this thread with tears in my eyes. Until I got to the pictures. They made me smile.

You can brace yourself for what you know is coming, but the reality is often still unbearable.

I send love and sympathies to the three of you.

and she sensed it, Im certain. Its gonn take a while.

Another bit of advice from our own shared experience. If you have her toys and little gizmos that she was fond of, try to get em gathered up now and deal with em. We found one of Ernies squeaky ti\oys that he used to really piss me off with whenever I was lying on the copuch. Hed find his squeakie toy and come up and start making the racket. Well, we found it the other day and we both lost it for a while.
Stupid, I know, but theyre just like kids that never grow up .

from the photos she is a sweetheart. I like that "paws up on sets wrist" begging for a treat. Biggest cons in the animal kingdom arent they.

I’m very sorry to hear about Cleo. Our pets are our babies and when its time for us to say goodbye its just as hard as loosing a family member because that’s what our pets are, part of the family.

Hugs.

Replying re this photo again -

I just plain love it.

Love and sympathy to Set, ehBeth and Bailey.

I imagine Bailey knows, on a deep level, what has happened. Animals usually understand these things better than we do. Which is merciful, and I am thankful for it.

What a perfectly lovely last day Miss Cleo had. I was so glad to read that she was where she wanted to be. Hugs to all of you.

I'm going to end up flooding the thread with thank you's ... so the hamsters will stop me once in a while ... but you'll all have to deal with it

Thank you ossobuco. You're one of our furfriend pals. We've been through a lot together over the years.

Love to you and your current darling.

Ear rubs all round (I tried rubbing mine to see if it would help. Hasn't yet.)

Bflynet - thank you for your comments here and on FB. Your comment there was really what got me started posting the photos there.

Now if I could just remember what stylishly cryptic name I gave the album that has the very first photos ... when I brought Cleo home from the basement she'd been living in for a few years ... and when she and Set first laid eyes on each other.

Thank you wmwcjr.

I think you don't have to be with a dog every day to fall in love.

The love they give us almost forces us to reciprocate.

You're making me ******* cry.

Thank you margo.

We appreciate you thinking about us all.