http://tripawds.....las-story/

I know some people that have had their heart ripped out of their body through their stomach, have sworn off another canine, that won't be me. I've been a Pawrent my whole life, well since I've been 18 years old, just a kid. Never married, no children, there's always been a cat or dog in my life, sometimes mutilple. There was a period of time without a permanent resident dog, there was always guest, I was a surrogate pawrent to many families on vacation. One golden lab for 2.5 months, while his permanent Pawrent recovered from illness. I've always been good with animals, not so much children under 5YO, it's easy for me to bond with canines/felines quickly, maybe it's because we're about the same IQ level. 🙂   My GF had 2 Great Danes (that have now crossed the bridge), one of them hated males, she didn't trust us guys. In 5 minutes of meeting her, she was over sniffing me out, after a very short time, she would about knock other people over to get to me, when I walked in her door. I'm animal person, dogs, cats, horses, animals, all of them, doesn't matter. When I was about 8, I nursed some baby Robins, their parents had somehow died. I dug up worms, sliced them up, and feed them 4 times a day. Only one, of the 3 survived, without their Mama,  but I was hooked after that experience, I loved caring for animals.  So I'm an animal person, at least one should be in my life, until I am no longer able to care for them. Darla spent 8 years of her life with me, she knew that all the neighborhood dogs were welcome on my property. She's worried right now, that there's another canine out there that needs to be rescued, that needs a furever home soon.  She will find me another canine to take care of me, Darla knows that I'm better, my life is better, when I'm watching over a pet. When they are watching over me.

Honestly, I was thinking about the difference in mourning between losing a human, and a pet, before I read this thread:    http://tripawds.....or-friend/

My thoughts mirrored with many thoughts of the esteemed authors, I've mourned animals in my life passing, differently than the humans in my life. My Father, and two insanely close friends have passed, but they had their own lives. My father relied on me for the last 6 months of his life, but my two close friends didn't. They had their own homes, wives, children, work concerns, their own aspirations. They weren't in my thoughts every day, or hour, Darla was. She relied on me to take care of her, to keep from harms way, and to watch over her. Other than (if you have) your children, no one else is that dependant on you. And in a lot of cases, you are dependent on them. Perhaps losing a spouse, is similar or worse, I can't know that.

I love my girlfriend like no other, if I lost her, I'd be emotionally ruined. But she doesn't live with me, she isn't waiting for me to get home, she isn't wanting to be with me every minute of her life.  Spring/summer is when Dar and I were together 24/7, whether I was mowing, plowing, planting, weeding, harvesting, or napping. 🙂 🙂 A part of me missing, and I'll never get that part back, but it'll never be forgotten.

By now, you've gathered that I'm just rambling on and on, but it helps. Long ago, I heard that if you needed to get something off your mind, write it down in a letter form, but don't mail it. Just 'talking' about it, helps. I know that those that frequent this board, will listen.