Pretty darn sad in Washington

[jacksonpuppers]

This poem helps me..

Beyond the Rainbow
As Much as i loved the life we hadand all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade,

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow,and on the other side were meadows rich and beautiful-lush and green and wide,

And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new!

And i wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do

I needed to reach out to you, tell you I am alright

That this place is truely wonderful, then a bright glow pierced the night!

Twas the glow of many candles shining bright and bold

And i knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see

So wherever you need to find me, we're never far apart

If you look beyond the rainbow and listen with your heart

[Relayer]

So sorry. Way too young to leave. You have my greatest sympathy.

[KimF]

Thank you all so much. My husband was in Alaska when this all happened and as you can imagine, he is devastated - he won't be home until Sunday evening. We spent a long time on the phone tonight and there were several things that we were able to determine. Yana and Hallie were both very special dogs and we will never forget them. German Shepherds are our dogs - end of story. The void in our home is unbearable without the unconditional love that our dogs have blessed us with. The other side of the story that I didn't share is our cat.

Tasha weighs all of about 5 pounds. We specifically searched for a cat that was comfortable with dogs because Yana was lonely. We found a rescue cat that was raised with dogs - in fact, we think she thinks that she is a dog!We vetted her by putting her in the back of our car with 90 lb Yana and she didn't flinch!(That was when she weighed about 1.5 pounds)

Tasha came to the vet with me this morning. I put her crate out and told her that it was up to her. Yana is very sick and you are making me crazy looking for her (I woke up to her playing with a dead mouse). Tasha ate, did her business and when I was ready to head to the vet, called her and she immediately came and jumped into her crate. Tasha was with Yana until the end. This is a cat that has no interest in us. She loved Yana and we have the pictures to prove it.

So, now we have a cat (that I did not want) who is languishing because her love is gone...For the first time ever, she snuggled up to me????? Tonight, my sister, my brother and my husband called and said that we need to find a dog for our cat?????

[selzer]

I am sorry for your loss.

I lost my Arwen to a hematoma on the spleen in April I think. She was doing fine that morning, running no bounding into the field. She died while I was at a dog club meeting. She lay herself on her cot and was gone when I came home. She would have been nine in June.

I still think of her every day. I see her in other dogs.

I am sorry for your cat too. Critters do feel deeply about missed comrads.

[katieliz]

kim, the part about tasha is amazing but does not surprise me at all. and here is what i wrote in my original post to you but decided to take out, as i feared it was too soon (and maybe too personal):

...when i read the line in your post where you say, "the only relief I have had today is to look at pictures of and read about GSD's", i smiled a small smile and said to myself, "it won't be long". my husband says, "when one leaves it allows you to know another one". there is no better way to honor the memory of your beautiful yana than to know and love another one. there is NOTHING like a german shepherd dog.

welcome to the board, many blessings!

[Trina]

I am so sorry for your loss. Yana was a beautiful dog.

No, I do not think you are ever really prepared to deal with the void and pain that is felt when a beloved pet dies.

And, no, I do not think it is at all

"...odd, the only relief I have had today is to look at pictures of and read about GSD's."

When our Klaus died suddenly last August, we drove some three hours the following weekend to a meet & greet hosted by Va German Shepherd Rescue just to be around other GSDs for an hour or so.

[LaRen616]

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Poor girl

[JakodaCD OA]

awwww poor Tasha, atleast right now you have each other..What a great story of Tasha and Yana.

I have a strange cat, who is very bonded to my gsd Masi, and vice versa, they stick together like glue, together all the time in the house..I think "Boogie" (Cat) thinks she's a dog to..funny to watch them together.

And YES we'd love to see pics of her and the cat together !!

[KimF]

Thanks so much for your messages of condolence. I love the poems about the rainbow and the bridge. I will post some pictures of Yana and Tash (the monster cat) in the photo gallery.

[GSDBESTK9]

Very sorry for your loss.