[christiers]

I got my first yorkie in 94, while a senior in high school. She was a family dog, so when I moved out she stayed to appease my much younger half-sister. That was in 96. 2 years and 3 months later Gidgi came to live with me. I was in a pet friendly townhouse, Gidgi had been given to a couple(without asking me if I wanted her) that moved to Texas but couldn't keep her in their apartment so she was sent back to Alabama. I was THRILLED, I had a real bond with her. 15 months later, my half sister got another yorkie for her birthday. Within 6 months, Sassy came to live with me as well. in November of 2000, i added a non-yorkie sister to my crew, Belle. January of 2001, I packed my girls up and moved to NJ. life was great, i met a great guy who eventually loved my girls as much as I and we were living our nearly-happily ever after (there are disagreements in any healthy relationship).

Gidgi began showing some neuro symptoms in April 2005, treated her with prednisone and scheduled us an appt with a neurologist. When we went to see the neuro, she was asymptomatic. He stated that had I not brought her in with her paperwork, he would think I was crazy. He said we could do an MRI or just revisit the situation if it returned. Personally he wouldn't put her through an MRI, as she seemed fine and she was over 10 years. June of the same year, Belle suffered a herniated disc and required a spinal fusion. July of 2005, Belle was recovering nicely, unbelievably. On the 16th of July, Belle wanted in the dog run with Gidgi and Sassy, so i decided against taking Gidgi with me that morning to run my errands. I dropped my car off for service, stopped by the mall for a CD, went to PetSmart to get new food bowls and food. Found the cutest little shirts for the 3 of them.

When I got home, Gidgi wasn't barking. We had been crating her while we were gone, since the onset of her neuro symptoms. I figured she was napping. I put everything away, put Belle & Sassy outside, went into my room and there she was. Gone. Her little body already rigid. I was devestated. We mourned her for sometime. I mourned her for about 3 and a half years. We had just decided that perhaps it was finally time to get a new puppy at the end of December 2009. We were taking our time...then on January 18th we had to rush Sassy to the vet. She had been fine, but her abdomen was hard and swollen. There was nothing to be done. They would only be able to stop the bleeding and her appetite was gone not long after we brought her home. I didn't want the ER vet to euthanize her, I wanted my vet to handle that. I picked her up and we brought her home for the next 36 hours.

We cried, grieved, questioned....I was just barely getting over losing Gidgi. But this time, I didn't want to wait. Belle had never been alone. She went from her mom and littermates to Gidgi and Sassy, except for her operations. So we did, 2 nights after saying goodbye to Sassy, we went and picked out a new puppy.

My grieving process losing the 2 was completely different. I wish I hadn't waited so long about getting another after Gidgi had departed. Coco really helped with the mourning process. How could one be so upset with a new little puppy to take care of?

I know to each their own, just sharing my experiences.

I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I had words that could comfort you, but I am not sure there ever are. May time heal your heart.