How many of you still grieve over the loss of your pet?

[haele]

17. For Moggy and Willy-bear, I've gotten to the point of sad but fond memories. They passed 2007/09.

They were my "first" cats - litter mates born in 1992 - and we had the vet come over both times so they were home and in mommy's arms when they slipped into the long sleep.
They loved going outside on harness and leashes to lay in the grass and sunshine and hunt lizards and crickets. We buried them under a side paver patio between the yard wall and the orange tree at the house we rented at the time; the owners had a small cat statue their daughter had chipped from a large river rock and we figured that area would be undisturbed for a long time after we finally moved.
I still draw them in doodles. I still talk to the little femo clay statues I made of them occasionally that carry bits of their fur in the base. I'm choking up a bit now, but there's more "missing" than actual sadness in the memories.

I still carry my "come home safe" talisman in my wallet - a picture of them together in the backyard with their harnesses on when they were still kittens and the words "We love our mommy and want her to come home soon."
I'd change that with the picture of our current rescue girls, Eris and Kali, but they won't stay still long enough for us to take one picture of them together...

The one I still tear up thinking about is my baby puppy Shari, whom we had to take to the vet when her time came two and a half years ago. I don't know if it is because of a shorter time passage or because she was so much more dependent on us to take care of her than my old baby boys were and she suffered the indignities of old age and body failure far worse than they did when it came close to that time.
I don't think we will ever get another dog. She was so dependent, and was so distressed about was going on, because she was such a good girl and didn't like making messes in the house. Watching her go through that was worse than having to make the decision.

Every grief is different. And everyone has a different reaction.



Haele