Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I had a call today from the Vet, they had Henri's ashes.
Just missing him so much. : (
I went to pick them up and when I entered the Vet, I lost it.
Smelling the familiar smells and knowing that the last time I was there, Henri's heart was once beating but then he was gone and it just felt so heavy on my heart.
My house is not the same without Henri.
I did not know when he was going to be cremated but for whatever reason, I slept on the sofa Wednesday night ( like I did the night before Henri went to the bridge ) and it was strange...I kept waking up throughout the night and I was restless. Well, I remember waking up at around 4:00 am and I could smell Henri, like he was right there with me.
I felt so close to him. I believe in my heart that he came to visit me.
He was actually cremated on Wednesday so it makes sense.
I have been trying to remember all of our special times and looking at his pictures and videos but then I get sad because I miss him so much! I made a shadow box in honor of Henri and it looks good! I have his pawprint, his tags, some hair, and some very special photos in there.
I miss him and wish he was still here, but here painfree!
Wendy, my heart goes out to you.
Carmen
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Henri IS still with you. You just can't see him anymore. He will be with you always. The bond you shared cannot be broken. He will show you he's there with the special way the wind blows, a whispered noise, a familiar smell or something special that you see. As I was told when my Mum (and best friend) passed away "when you miss her most close your eyes and take a deep breath, you will feel her with you and take comfort in the fact that she is never far away and always looking over you". I believe it is the same with Henri, as it will be with Tai when her turn to cross the bridge comes. Right now the wound is so raw and the grief is so deep. With some time the wound will develop a small scar and you will be able to remember Henri without too much sadness. Let yourself grieve - it is important to recognize that you have lost a very dear friend. It is an honour to Henri that he was such a special dog to affect you so deeply.
As a side note, several years ago we sent our 18 (YES 18!) year old Lab to the Rainbow Bridge. She always wore a choke chain and to this day I still occassionally hear the jingling of her chain going up and down the stairs. They are never far away.
Wishing you fond memories and a healing heart.
Laura and Tai
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
Wendy,
Give yourself permission to grieve however you need to. It has been seven months since Emily crossed over and I still miss her terribly. I know she is in a better place, out of pain, and, all the things we all say and mean but it is okay to grieve. Henri was, and still is, a very big part of your life. It is okay to feel sad. Ashes are a poor substitute.
Even though you will continue to miss Henri I want you to know that things will get better.
You are so much in my prayers.
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Wendy,
I'm so sorry for the pain you must be feeling. I know Henry was very special to you and that you loved him with all your heart.
My thoughts and prayers are with you,
Brett
keepsmiln1818 said:
I have been trying to remember all of our special times and looking at his pictures and videos but then I get sad because I miss him so much! I made a shadow box in honor of Henri and it looks good! I have his pawprint, his tags, some hair, and some very special photos in there.
There is nothing that will make this better but time.
I have found peace with letting go of Maggie because I know I did the right thing at the right time, but it does not help with the sadness and sense off loss. I miss her everyday; I will always miss her, but I know the sadness will diminish with time and the good memories will take over.
Its very cool that you made a memory box for Henry- why don't you share a picture here?
Sending healing thoughts your way.
Karen and the pug girls
Oh Wendy, it brings to tears because I know how much you are hurting. I even went to your youtube videos so I could see Henri again.
Oh, he was so lovable! I'm so glad you can come here and say how sad you are.
One thing that may help a tiny bit...go and update your blog and write everything you're feeling. Just keep writing until you run out of wonderful things to say about Henri. Write everything that happened and how you felt on the final day. Express your thoughts on the end of his journey. It's painful, I know but it will help talking about it.
It so hard to lose a fur child. It's lonely and it's empty. Yes, it gets better but it takes time.
Please don't ever hesitate in saying how you feel to us, here. In the real world, it's not so easy to express the saddness you feel.
My heart goes out to you tonight. I hope you can find some small comfort in all the words we have to offer.
You are not alone.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Oh yeah, I lost it when I picked up Yoda's ashes. I was going to get through it just fine - at least until I got to the car - but then the receptionist was so darn sympathetic when I told her what I was there for that it broke me early. I mostly hated getting his ashes. But when his pawprint was ready a week or so later, then I started to feel Yoda again in a more peaceful way. Even after the pawprint though, there were some surprising waves of grief, but they get less and less intense.
It's still hard to go back to the UW Vet clinic , where he was treated. I've been back to drop off posters for tripawds pawties since and I still get some anxiety when I go in (without my boy with me) and tear up a bit in the car ride home (still without my boy). It's getting better each time though.
Henri, you're a good boy for visiting your mom before such a big day. Next time you see Spirit Yoda, remind him that it's been a while since his last visit, would ya?
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. If it makes you feel any better our dog Oscar passed away on Monday and we received his ashes back today. I made my husband go pick them up because I knew I wouldn't be able to hold it together. The minute he got home with that wooden box I lost it. I guess it just seems so final now.
Just know that he's running and playing and feeling no pain. He and Oscar are truly in a better place now it just stinks for us that we're stuck with all this sadness. I take comfort in knowing that when its my turn he'll be the one running up to greet me.
Wendy,
I remember the day I went to pick up Jake's ashes like it was yesterday... 
I kept telling myself that I was going to try and hold it together but as soon as I walked in and they handed me the bag with the urn and a sympathy card... I just totally lost it! I picked up the bag and looked inside... How could my big boy fit into such a small package... and held it tightly to my heart... and then just started bawling my eyes out! The receptionist and technician walked over to me and hugged me... they also had tears in their eyes. I couldn't talk... I just ran out of there and got into my car and sat there for a few minutes crying... "It's OK sweetie... you're coming home now"
When I got home... Wolfie came to greet me... I let him smell the urn, thinking that he might know that his brother Jake was in there... but I don't think he understood. I poured myself a drink and sat down on the couch, holding the urn to my heart. Wolfie climbed up next to me and put his head on my lap. It's hard to explain, but I felt at peace knowing that Jake was finally home with us...
It's been over 7 months now... and I don't cry everyday anymore... but I still think about Jake every single day. I remember all the fun times we shared... all the silly things he'd do... I look at all his pictures and watch all the videos... Every once in a while I dream about him... In my dreams I know that he's gone, but I feel like he's coming to visit me... and I can touch him and smell him. I feel his presence in our home... he is everywhere... Sometimes I think I see him out of the corner of my eye. I truely believe that his spirit is here with me.
I know that Henri is with you too...
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I think the fact that you could smell Henri proves that he never left. He's the same old dog, just in invisible form now.
<3 Laura
Oh Wendy, what you're going through brings tears to my eyes because we all know the pain too well. I lost a very special dog to lymphoma 8 years ago and it broke my heart. I still tear up when I think of her and what we went through together. I keep her ashes next to my bed- I can't seem to part with them or spread them because I want her by my side. I remember feeling her presence too after she died - I could still hear her collar jingle and for a fleeting moment once I thought she was alive again. We got Mackenzie soon after she passed away (her name was Keoke) and I swear Mackenzie sensed Keoke's presence too when I was still grieving for her. One time, when I was getting very emotional about Keoke, unbeknownst to me, Mackenzie went into this bag where I kept Keoke's bones and collar, etc (now this bag was in the closet behind some other things for safe keeping) and came back to me with one of her bones in her mouth wagging her tail. So I knew that Keoke was behind this...trying to comfort me through Mackenzie. It was one of those moments I'll never forget.
So Wendy, please take comfort in knowing too that Henri will always be with you and the special bond you have with him will be forever. My heart goes out to you.
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
We're sending big hugs to you, Wendy. What a wonderful idea to make a shadow box . I know I will have a hard time when it's Holly's time. Henri will always be with you - and what he gave you will be with you forever. You are in our hearts
Susan and Holly and Zuzu
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Wendy I am crying my heart out reading your post. Tehya has been gone since March 4th and although at times it is a bit easier we still have our moments where our breaks in two again. I didn't have the strength to go get her ashes and my husband as tough as he appears broke down at the vet's when he picked them up. We spread some in our backyard under her favorite tree and the remainder at your summer home that she loved so much. That day was especially hard however we toke comfort in knowing that she was no at peace and running free on all four legs.
She came to visit me as well one night I could smell her and feel her right beside the bed and guess what she was on all fours letting me know that she was happy and pain free! Please take some comfort in knowing that your precious Henri is also up there running free with a lot of wonderful Tripawd angels and one day we will get to join them in the biggest best party ever.
Sending you lots of love,
Darlene (Angel Tehya's Mom)
I am so sorry for the pain that you are going through. Time does help to heal that big hole in your heart and some day your memories will bring such happiness and smiles for the years you shared together. I think Henri came to you to help with your pain to let you know he is still around you and that he is ok, love never dies.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
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