[Pturner]

Dancerbill,
My heart is with you. Please take comfort in the knowledge that you and Mimi enriched each others lives and that she is now resting in peace.

[Schaumburger]

Dancerbill, I am sorry for your loss. Your love for Mimi is very apparent. She will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. Remember the good times you shared with her.

[Joaniesmom]

I am so very sorry for your loss. It never gets easier, every time a beloved pet passes away. Please know I understand how you feel as I have lost pets myself. I remember vividly once being bent over the front of my car in the parking lot of my vet's office, sobbing my heart out for the loss of my Miniature Schnauzer, Strudle. I thought I would never be happy again.

But, of course, I was. And you will. Not today or tomorrow. But you will.

Best wishes to you.

(Sorry about my silly autograph)

[PugLover]

Originally Posted by dancerbill

Mimi passed at 3:20 AM this morning. I was with her as she slipped away, and I hope that gave her some lasting love and peace to take with her into the next world.

I am very grateful for the kind words of advice and encouragement that many of you sent. I will probably have her cremated through Buffalo Ridge Animal Clinic since she has been a patient there since we moved to The Villages. Then, we plan to get a nice headstone for her and bury her ashes under the stone in the backyard that she loved so much.

Right now, there is a huge empty space inside me which I'm sure will get worse in the days and weeks to come when I expect to see her happy little face when I come home. I think I will follow MSNPA's advice and start writing a journal about our lives together and what she meant to us. Maybe, that will make her memory live on and bring some comfort to us -- to know that we had her for such a short time, but that she filled that time with love, joy, and companionship, and that she loved me more than any pet I've ever had.

I hope that the story of the Rainbow Bridge is true. I'm going to live the rest of my life believing in it and looking forward to the day that I see Mimi again.

Thanks so much for the words of sympathy and encouragement. Many of you are truly wonderful people.

My sincere condolence to you. Having lost our two Pugs three months of each other last year, I know the sadness and emptiness you are going through.

What sustained us were the wonderful memories and love we still remember from our two babies and knowing they are no longer suffering. You will find Mimi one day at the Rainbow Bridge. Hugs to you...

[plimit56]

I am so sorry for your loss. It is very hard to lose a beloved pet but know they are now at Rainbow Bridge running free and in no pain. They will be waiting for us all when it is our turn.
I have had all my dogs cremated and have them in beautiful wood boxes with their pictures on the front. Sitting on my bureau for me to give them kiss and smiles everyday.

"Saving one dog won't change the world...but the world will change for that one dog."

[joannej]

I am so sorry for your loss of your beautiful Mimi. My cat is getting up there in age and I am reminded that I will not have him forever. I truly believe that when we die, the first thing we'll see will be our beloved animals that have passed. Somehow, that thought makes me feel better. Give yourself time, and appreciate the wonderful times you had together.

[Barefoot]

I'm very sorry to hear that Mimi has passed but she is happy now, free from pain, and waiting for you on the other side. Our pets always live on in our hearts. Blessings and hugs to you at this distressing time.

[ssmith]

Truly sorry for your loss. I can feel your pain in your posts.

I am sitting here looking at my 18yo Sheltie and dreading what may come next. Have been though it x 2 before and it really takes times to recover! It's all of those little things like: them constantly following you around, waggin their tail. The reflex of not wanting to step on them because they were always at your feet while you sat on the couch. Running home to make sure they get let out, going for walks etc.

Take courage it will get better.

[dancerbill]

You are exactly right!! With little dogs that are always at your feet and who follow you everywhere, the absence is immense. I find myself looking for her constantly whenever I am home. I look, and she is not there, and the shock hits me all over again. I was not prepared for this immense loss.

Thank you so much for your reply.

[aussiemom]

So sorry to hear you will be facing the loss of your beloved pet. We unfortunately just went through this with our boy in April, an Australian Shepherd, and we had a private cremation arranged through our vet. We picked out an urn for his ashes and we had a plague engraved for the urn. Our total cost for the vet and cremation was $200. He is now back home with us where he belongs.

If you choose cremation make sure its a private one (which means the ashes are all
just your pet). Regular cremation (even with people) is a combination of your pets ashes along with any other pets that were cremated together with your pet.

Our sympathies are with you as we know the loss you will feel.

[dancerbill]

Thank you for your kind words.

We've chosen a private cremation through Mimi's vet at Buffalo Ridge. Hopefully, it will be done soon and she will be back home again.

Again, we would like to thank all the nice people on TOTV. Your kindness helped during this ordeal.

[mfp509]

One other thing I did to ease my pain of losing Missy is, when I was ready, I took all my favorite photos of her and had an album made on Shutterfly.com. When completed they printed a hard copy for me and I have it on the coffee table in the living room. I love picking it up and looking through it. I also have been reading Animals and the Afterlife and All Pets Go to Heaven. This has helped me alot.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by mfp509

One other thing I did to ease my pain of losing Missy is, when I was ready, I took all my favorite photos of her and had an album made on Shutterfly.com. When completed they printed a hard copy for me and I have it on the coffee table in the living room. I love picking it up and looking through it. I also have been reading Animals and the Afterlife and All Pets Go to Heaven. This has helped me alot.

mfp509, Thank you for suggestions! My cat is 15 and in very good health, but I know I will be in this same situation sooner or later.