Steve, We have 4 little dogs at the moment in our family. They are our "kids that don't want to grow up and move away from home"... They miss us when we go to work, and greet us enthusiastically when we come home... The unconditional love they give us leaves a great vacuum in our lives when they are gone.

We are sadly approaching a similar threshold as our oldtimer, Barklee (see attached photo), will be 16 years old soon... He is nearly completely blind, can barely hear anything, is often incontinent, but is just as trusting, and a loving and affectionate companion as the day we brought him home.

My wife and I have lost 3 of our other beloved dogs in the last 10 years, 2 to untreatable medical conditions, and one to old age, so we can empathize with how you must be grieving.

May God comfort you in your great loss, and introduce you soon to a new friend to love and share your life.

A sad, sad report. Death is a heavy burden and it is made that much heavier when the loss is a member of the family, one by our side each day and by our bed each night.

I found some consolation with this poem when our 13 year old Irish Setter died last July.

http://www.petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm

David

Steve, when your heart has healed enough, you should honor Lolas memory by adopting a dog from a shelter....I'm sure she had a wonderful life with you, and there are many dogs that are sitting alone in a cage right now that deserve, and are wiling to return, love.

Steve I am sorry about your loss. I recently lost my Irish Setter. Strider. This is the first time in over 40 years that we have not had a dog or two. I know what you are experiencing, I miss Strider very much.

Thank you everyone for all the kind words. This week has been tough for me, there hasn't been a day that I haven't cried. I have had dogs all of my life and none have affected me as Lola has. I think God sent her to me for a reason, he knew I would understand her medical problem as I had to deal with seizures early in my life. Others would just rather throw her away and not deal with the problem. My wife says that Lola made me a better man.

Her seizures were violent. I knew that one day that either they would get her or the medication would. I'm just glad I was home when she passed.

You did yeoman service in support of the world of dog's, Steve. Most would not care for a puppy that had noticeable health problems.

Bless you! David

Steve

Im very very sorry for what happened to your friend.
I know what it means as many years ago I had a gorgeous Belgian Shpeherd Dog Groenendael, named Ben he used to suffer from the same disease as yours, but died at the age of 7 of cancer. After more than 13 years I still miss him.

Come on life goes on.

Sergio

Steve, Bless you Sir and I truly understand your loss of Lola. We currently have two rescued Golden Doodles. I really believe that a rescued pup, in gratitude, gives us more love than we deserve. Every time that we have a loving Pal cross the Rainbow bridge a part of our heart and soul goes with it. I feel you loss. Vince

Very sorry for your loss, Steve. Losing a member of the family is never easy.

I am sorry for your loss. As someone who has 13 animals at this time (for the duration of their life), and someone who lost that many over the years, I can completely understand. I know it hurts, and I swore many times not to get another one, but NOTHING heals your wound like another family addition of another animal in the need of a home.

I have six horses, four dogs, and three cats (all rescued from cruel, inconsiderate people, and neglect). Love them all, and they will have a home until they pass away.

Steve, years ago, a friend wrote this a a similar time in his life....

The Place

There is a place where a dog goes when her fiercely loyal heart stops beating. A
place with a vast green meadow where she can sniff and hunt with her nose to the
ground and in the air. A place with a hill where she can stand proudly and feel the
wind lifting her long hair, renewing age-old instincts. A place with a field where
she can run in figures of eight, snapping and growling and threatening with glee. A
place with lush grass where she can nibble on the taller stalks. A running stream
which she can prance into and lower herself down to lap the cooling water. A place
with a large, leafy bush to provide cooling shade on a sweltering day.

A place where every dish of food has a raw egg blended into it. A place she can
have her ears scratched and her neck stroked at the end of a long, lazy day. A place
with nose deep grass where she can lie majestically like the sphinx and survey her
domain. A place where she can frolic in the snow, pushing her nose deeply into it
and tossing the snow playfully into the air. A place where she can run to fetch
snowballs only to find them become part of the mass in which they land. A place
with a low table to crawl under to protect her from thunder and fireworks. A place
where she doesn't have to get her feet wet in the rain. A place where she can growl
and bark at the mailman as if to protect house and home from her. A place where
someone will throw her leash for her to drag back and tug on until it's thrown
again.

A place where she can wag her tail at a friendly face or lick a friendly hand. A
place where she is rewarded for standing tall with her friends and masters through
all the joys and sorrows of life. God makes such a place where dogs go when they
die. The place is deep in a man's heart where she will live on forever.

And I know that's where Lola will always be.