Does it get better? Loss of Callie
 

So I have to ask does it get better after the loss of a pup? I still break down over Callie and it’s been almost 2 months. I took pictures of Penny, Joey and Ollie and I felt so guilty changing my Facebook cover picture, my picture here and my Facebook profile picture from pictures of her or with her. I just feel like for the 3 still here I have to try and push myself to move on. I have a lot of guilt like did I give up on her, did I pick the right time, did she think I gave up on her, and although I love all my babies there was a connection with her that I feel guilty I don’t have with my others. I know my friends on Facebook are tired of hearing about it but I know y’all understand that she was not just a dog. I had her my whole adult life and it’s so hard to go on without her. I think it’s also worse because with things still being locked down and everything I don’t have the ability to hide from it the same way by shopping or things like that. I had no idea that the hardest part would be missing her and her absence. It’s just so hard.

I hope you remember me, I'm Harry's Mum from England. I hate to say this, but no - basically it doesn't get any better. Two months for you is a very, very short time.

We lost our Harry from cancer in January 2018 - he was only 7 years old. Andy and I cry for him every day, even after all this time...years on, he's still in our thoughts, hearts, dreams and wishes.

He's everywhere but nowhere and our heart are still bleeding xx

I don’t know that it gets easier over time, but it does get ... different. The raw feelings fade; it gets easier to remember the good times without the sharp pangs of loss. You never forget, of course, and you wouldn’t want to forget. You do stop thinking about it every day, though.

I know it’s hard, but try not to torture yourself by second guessing your decision to end Callie’s suffering. She was uncomfortable. She couldn’t digest her food and was losing too much weight. She knew — in the strange way that animals seem to know — that her time was up. She didn’t think you gave up on her, she just knew that your arms and your love surrounded her while the pain left her body.

We lost our Beau in the beginning of the year, and I do not think of him everyday, but do still have vivid dreams and wake up questioning the timing of our decision. Thank you for summing up all of the reasons that we knew it was time...but after the fact the loss sometimes brings guilt/regret. Beau left us calmly, and pain-free. We stayed with him, stroking and kissing him, and he was surrounded by love as he crossed the rainbow bridge. I am thankful that we are now at the point in our grief that we can miss him, but also look back and laugh at how silly he could be, and celebrate all of the wonderful times we had. I have not yet changed my profile pictures, and am not sure that I will. I love seeing my boys all cuddled together, and he is still with us in spirit.

There is no magic cure, or time table to grieving. Take your time Taylor, and do not worry what others may think.

It gets better in the sense of less painful. A time will come that you can think back to the happier days you had with Callie and smile, not the last months of callie's life, but it takes time. October will be 8 years my Matese is gone but I can remember the good days of her life more then the last days of her life, It takes time but it will come for you. Now you have to be strong for your pack and that's hard, I have also been there (((hugs))) :love:

I am so sorry for the pain you are feeling. Callie was a special member of your family, and grieving her loss is inevitable, it is also a reminder of how special she was in your life. In time, you may feel a little less sad, and find comfort in the good memories you had with her. Although, you will always miss her, and will still cry sometimes, many years from now.

If Callie could talk to you from heaven, she'd be thanking you for all your love and giving her a wonderful life, and for letting her rest in peace when her body was worn out. Not letting her suffer longer was the greatest gift you could have given her.

It has been 6 years since my Meika passed (at only 5, being poisoned by a toad), and I am crying right now just thinking about her. I never took her out of my avatar picture here. But my other 3 pups adjusted, and bring me so much joy.

I'm sorry and can feel your pain when you talk about lovely, Callie. I have a suggestion, I think you should put back your Avatar picture back on with Callie and all your other profile pictures elsewhere you had of her before as if nothing changed. It will keep good memories alive. Just like we humans, we cherish pictures of our past loved ones in picture albums and frames.

Although your new updated picture of the 3 dogs look great, but maybe having Callie in there will remind you of the good times and help you with less pain, since you probably started on this forum when you first got her right?

As Maui Girl and Nanajoy mentioned they left their past puppy dogs' picture in their Avatar, why not do the same? I'm sure nobody will ever question this. It's understandable. I hope it will make you feel better with her presence as you talk on Yorkie Talk. Callie will be smiling down lovingly at you too. Take care.

Thank you everyone. I’m blessed to have y’all who understand.

It always takes me awhile to give over a pet. The house always feels empty after the loss. I supposed that's why I keep my house filled with pets. For me, it eventually does get better and those memories that use to make me cry, now make me smile, just thankful for the time I had with them.

I also went through the same guilt because she was in so much pain the last few weeks of her life even though she was on pain meds. My guilt came from thinking I didn't act soon enough. I always felt I should of let her go sooner
It bothered me so much that I drank a whole bottle of wine and asked her for forgiveness. It tore me up on the inside.

But I eventually let go of my guilt and now have another furbaby who has no doubt brought me new joy and also will bring me another heartbreak.

I made doggy cupcakes for Penny’s birthday and I made 4 instead of 3. When I realized it I just broke down.

Will it ever get better
 

Dear Love to Dreams,

Likewise, I found this on Facebook this morning:


“Hi Mom,
Now that I’ve been across The Rainbow Bridge for a couple weeks, they said I should write a letter home.
Sorry, Mom but I’m so busy ‘across the bridge’ that I haven’t thought of home much. They said it’s okay and that you would understand. I hope you do. (I think you will.)
Remember that night when I wasn’t feeling very well and we were all crying?
I don’t remember much, but I do remember seeing and hearing all of you and feeling your touches and hugs…I remember hearing “we love you” and that one last command of “Go through”.
I didn’t know what you meant, so I turned around and walked through the fog that was in front of me.
I saw the biggest bridge I’ve ever seen! And so many friends on the other side of it!
They were all playing with toys and balls!
You were right to tell me to go there!
My feet kept moving forward, but my heart kept pulling me back.
Your touches became lighter and lighter and I wanted to come back and nudge your hands for more love, but I was overcome by this feeling of curiosity for the happy place over the bridge!
My feet started moving on their own, like a gentle breeze was moving them forward for me!
I can’t explain it, but I had no doubt that it was the right thing to do!
So, I walked across that big, huge bridge by myself!
I looked for you, because you’re always by my side, walking with me, but this was different.
I didn’t have a collar around my neck or a leash connecting me to you ~ I was ‘free’!
Even though you weren’t there with me, I never felt alone!
I actually felt like I had a huge cape of love wrapped around my body and the more I walked, the easier it was to breathe!
So, I kept walking!
And I would feel more warmth in the big hug, so I kept on walking!
I eventually made it over the big bridge – I did it by myself, mom. When I got here, all of my new friends greeted me and helped me walk off the bridge ~ it was so cool!
They gave me a pair of wings and said that I was now a Guardian Angel!
What I’ve learned over these past few weeks has been amazing and nothing like I’ve seen before!
We’re all the same up here ~ we all have wings and we all have Forever People to watch over ~ that’s YOU, mom !
You’re my Forever Person and I’m your Forever Dog!
We had such a great life together and I do miss you a LOT, but please know that I am so happy in my new home across The Bridge!
I’ll send you another Earth Angel so you won’t be alone.
Give them your whole heart, like you gave it to me.
I’ll check in every so often to make sure they treasure your love ~ I always did!
When you miss me, think of a rainbow and know I’m on the other side of it, waiting to walk with you again.
I’ll always be in your heart.
I love you, mom!
Time for me to go play.”
-Author Unknown❤️����

This bought tears to my eyes, but so up lifting.

My eyes were filled with tears when I copied and posted it too. It was on my feed because a dear friend just had to send her 15 year old rescue to the rainbow bridge and she referenced it. Any of us who have made that decision know how difficult it is...no matter how much we know it is our final act of love, it is SO HARD, and there usually follows times when we second guess our timing. I thought that this piece dealt so well with that, and made me smile when I thought of our sweet Beau playing and romping instead of being the poor, frail ghost his former self that he was when we last saw him!

Callie
 

Taylor I have tears reading about your sweet Callie. It is heartbreaking to see our dogs go home. Cry and dont feel bad. It was what's best for Callie. I believe we are not home here .
Heaven is our home and dogs too. So our precious dog goes back in the arms of their creator. Waiting there for you at the gate. It comforts me to know that. I have pictures of dogs past and I will always remember them. Tears will be turned into sweet memories and Callies little spirit is with you always!

Ohhh,sweetie I’m so sorry to hear this ,seems like Callie was such a part of this forum. I’m sure Winston met her at the bridge and will watch over her.
Larry.

I really do appreciate everyone’s comments. I was going through stuff yesterday and found all the frames from Petco and Petsmart, her first Christmas, Halloween and some of their just different events.

Callie
 

I just looked at the pictures of beautiful Callie and all the wonderful things you shared.
She was truly a sweet family dog. You are a great dog lover for the way you care for your dogs. I so appreciate all the info you share! Prayers of comfort for you!

I'm still so sorry. I think everyone else summed it up - the pain itself will lessen, or not sting as much, but you'll never just "get over it". I can't even think of the day with Jackson without welling up. I have to not think about it.

I've been through 3 dog losses in my life that hit hard, but nothing compared to what Jackson will be. My childhood dogs, and then my dads dog Lilly was the first dog I was actually with when she got put to sleep and my dad and I cried for days. I would be driving in the car and think of her taking her last breath and just start crying. And she wasn't even my dog and frankly she wasn't even that nice of a dog but we loved her so much anyway.

Never apologize or be sorry for your feelings. Post as much as you want on fb, here or wherever. Your feelings are valid and it's very understandable. You did nothing wrong and I think one day you will look back and know you made the right decision and be able to look back with sweet happy memories.

Will Rodgers once said if, dogs don’t go to heaven, I want to go where they are when I die.
My heart goes out to you 😥

I will never forget her Halloween pic with her in a bathrobe with curlers in her hair. It was a classic. She was such a special girl and much loved by all the YT gang here.

Lots of people still talk about that one lol. I dressed her as a hippo with a tutu one year and she got first place at Petsmart and for months when they would see me at Petsmart they would go oh it’s the hippos mom lol. She was so compliant with everything.

So I started back with my therapist, I haven’t seen her since lock down. I was able to talk about Callie without crying which is a huge step but started crying when talking about how it affected Joey. Joey still isn’t 100% and seems kind of depressed but not sure there is much else I can do.

Wow...six years since Meika passed? I remember that day so well. My heart broke for you. What a horrifying experience.

It is true....we do move on but that pain and that hole in our heart is still there from time to time.

Taylor I know it is easier said than done, but you should get rid of ANY and all guilty feelings that creep into your thinking.
Callie was a very loved pup and you would never have done anything but the best for her.
Having to make that final decision for our babies is heart wrenching. I just went through it recently and my vet said that while the pup is in a better place, it is us who are left in a very painful place. I have cried every day now for a couple of weeks ... and honestly I still cry over others who left me long ago....it is just less as time goes on. But, it never goes completely away .. why? Because we loved them so.

It still is so hard. Seeing things about senior dogs even makes me sad. I almost can’t even talk about my dad saying goodbye to her it just makes me bawl so hard. He is not in to kissing the pups but before he handed her to me he gave her a big kiss on the head. She was so loved. Even family that maybe spent 10 or 15 visits with her over her life we’re devastated so much. Shortly after my uncle lost his legs and most of his fingers from a coma we went and stayed in the guest room in the basement and Callie somehow got the door open and went and got in bed with my uncle and he has never forgotten. My other uncle who isn’t a dog person came over when she was recovering from being spayed and he picked her up and held her most of the time. She had this way of making even the most non dog people love her. She was just incredibly special. I know she had to be so happy to see my grandfather in Heaven and Sammy. She loved them so much.

Such wonderful memories.....
:2hearts2::2hearts2::2hearts2::2hearts2:

so sad and sorry
 

We lost our little Graysee February 29, and I still cry daily! Even through three fosters since then. Graysee was with us 12 years, from a 9 week old puppy. I have her ashes on our mantle; her picture next to her favorite toy in my bedroom; a banner with her picture on it in our rear garden! She was the love of our lives, and as she got sick and deteriorated, it was the most heart-wrenching experience of my life! So, I don't know how long it takes to get "better", or even if it ever does. Every day since losing Graysee has been lonely, except when we had foster dogs here. We let our third one go on the 18th, and now our home is empty again. Please understand that there are those of us here who know how you feel, and we empathize with your grief!

I’m so sorry. Thank you for the kind words. I am lucky to still have 3 that keep me on my toes. I have 2 that are 4 and the youngest is 2. I’m not sure I would even be able to get up and try to move on without them.