(((HUGS))) It truly does rip you apart when you lose them, doesn't it
It's bad enough when it's old age but in Tina's case she was playing with another dog and was knocked into the river which was a raging torrent after days of rain
I managed to drag her out further downriver but it was too late to save her and, like I said earlier, I blamed myself entirely for not jumping in to save her (even though I haven't swam since I was a nipper) and ended up having a breakdown nine months later
Prozac and a wonderful counsellor helped me crawl out of that dark tunnel and now I'm really looking forward to getting a dog again.
I've learnt one thing though.....NEVER let your dog offlead near full rivers or iced over lakes....I'll never lose another dog through my own stupidity ever again
If I'm ever outdoors and see someone letting their dog be free near such dangers I'll politely have a word with them and tell them about Tina. Most folks genuinely haven't realised the dangers and are lovely about my mentioning it but others have sworn at me and told me to go away (or words to that effect!). Perhaps I shouldn't 'interfere' but I couldn't bear for another dog to lose it's life or any loving owner to go through the agony I did
I won't be wrapping my yorkies in cotton wool and carrying them everywhere like they're made of delicate blown glass but I'll certainly have them ON the lead whenever we are somewhere that might not be 200% safe
