Thoughts and Memories...

You never get over the loss of a dog. I still hear the clicking of her toenails on the hardwood floors, and sometimes I think I hear her bark in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I just start crying when I think of her. I have her pictures and the books she inspired, but it doesn't help. It takes time to grieve the loss of a four-legged child. The hardest part is knowing when to let go.

After the diagnosis of a rare, untreatable heart-based tumor, our Tiffy went downhill very quickly. We didn't want her to suffer, and when she completely stopped eating and couldn't rest comfortably, we knew it was time, especially because of her labored breathing. At one point, while we were sitting on the couch, she put her paw on my arm and looked up at me. She knew, too. The next morning, we took her to Grove Way Veterinary Hospital and were all there with her, holding her when she passed. I want to thank the caring staff at Grove Way for their kindness and compassion. They let us spend as much time as we needed with Tiffy...before and after the procedure. They took a paw print of her right paw and handled her cremation. We now keep her ashes in the family room.

The SPCA and Humane Societies in major metropolitan areas offer monthly grief counseling for pet owners who have recently lost beloved pets. Visit your local SPCA or Humane Society's website for dates and times. It does help a little when you don't have to grieve alone.