The only thing you can hold onto right now is they did travel to their next adventure  together....and they were both free to run together like young puppies..  You freed them when their earth life was no longer what they wanted.   They knew you would.

This is so gutwrenching  beyond belief.  À void from caregiving your sweet Bailey all these months (not nearly enough months),  and the void from having Brownie  with you for 15 years....all this seems so unbearable.

Spine mets are supposedly  fairly rare, yet Bailey is the third recently who  most probably  had spine  nets.  We go into this journry because, like you, we all want to give our dogs a "chance".  A chance for a pain free quaility  life which almost all achieve....but for how long is always the unknown. 

I know in Bailey's  case as far as he was concerned,  he was hapoy to have extended  quality  time with you for more spoiling and loving....and he received  that and he wouldn't  have traded that for the world.  He wouldn't  have traded a y of the time he had with you all these years, even if it was too short as far as hoomans are concerned.   Of course, in hooman/dog  years, Bailey got almost a half year which translates to over three years..

P,ease no you did everything  possible for Bailey and he you left no stone unturned  in giving him as good a life as possible......a life all dogs would want, but many never have.  

Hold onto those happy .memories  and let them help heal your heart.  I found co fort in looking at pictures,  even if sometimes  it eas through tears, they always reminded me of the Happy tines....the times that really mattered. 

We let them travel together tonight, peacefully at home, holding paws and surrounded by all of us.

 The depth of love it took to orchestrate  this transition where they could be free together...holding paws....huge lump in my throat.  i am in awe at how you were were able to put   lovely words to describe their next journey   through your tears. They brought us comfort  and I hope, in time, they will bring you comfort.

 We do hope you will share more photos  when you are ready.  

Surrounding  you with love and light and memories  of happy times and wagging tails..both  of heir wagging tails.

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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We're so glad uou found the courage  to ppst these heartfelt thoughts   chronicling.  We k ow it was hard, yet hopefully  it brought you a bit of comfort  knowing  we get it.  We know what Bailey and Brownie  meant to you.

Yes, I'm crying again,  Bailey and Brownie  holding paws together as they ran free to The Bridge.....gutwrenching and so beautiful at the same time.  I k ow it's somewhat comforting  to jave these two and Bruno's ashes together back home where they belong♥️ 

And yes, it is a safe place ro express your feelings.  What you jave done is also helpful tomothers.  Although  this part pf the journey is soooo lonely,  everyone  here knows they are not along in their grief.  Everyone here understands  every word you wrote.  Everyone  here will not feel so alone when grief hits them  because  you articulated  so well what you are going through.

I remember  not wanting to go to sleep bec of that horrible knot inmy stomach.  I remember  not wanting to get up the next day because  of that horrible  knot in my stomach.  I would drive to the end of the driveway bec I felt like I jist jad to leave the sad house.  I would turn back around because  I didn't  want to leave the sad house where my dog"s sport still loves.

Many of us dont  toich a things.  The bowls stay in the same place, as do the gods, etc.  And you know what, it's okay.  Everything  you are feelin g is 'okay".  Whatever  it takes to put one foot in front of the other is "okay".  You grieve in your own way and it's okay. 

Shannon, ait still on the sofa with Bella by uour side.  Close your eyes.  Let Bailey know you want to feel his presence and visualize that big sloppy kiss.  You'll feel it.  Be sure and wipe the slobber away 

I'm posting a poem by Catherine Young.  You  will be avle to relate it's as though you wrote some of these words yourself.

With love and light, 

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Things to do after your dog has died

Sweep the floor

Look out the window

Pant

Make a cup of tea and some toast

But then not eat them

Change the sheets on the bed

Try to sing

Start to cry

Forget what day it is

Stumble into a corner of the floor and hold your knees tightly

Keen

Pull yourself together

Make another cup of tea and this time drink it

Look out a different window

Stare at that spot on the floor where your dog used to stretch out, languid and happy, his paws twitching as he raced across sleep meadows and into dream ravines filled with moss and ferns and the scent of foxes

Look for the Kleenex

Use toilet paper instead

Wander around the house,  your heart like a damned anvil in your chest

Heat up leftovers

Push them around the plate before leaving the entire thing in the sink

Look for what is not there

Hear things

Feel the forgotten fur beneath your fingertips

Feel the forgetting begin

Hold a memory, any memory, bright and shining, soft and sad, smelling of wet fur and leaves, with a whisker there and muddy paw prints left on the stairs, of a walk of a hike of a trip to the park with a treat and a bone and a belly rub snacks stolen off the counter and tug of war and the squeaky toy a glance of complicity in play with your hand on head with tail wagging and breath misting in the morning light or the moon over the trees while an owl croons ears are pricked and nose to the ground sniffing, sniffing, sniffing following the invisible trail to its joyful finding

Put on your pajamas

Turn around three times before you curl up by the rope toy and find yourself chasing the echo of a bark into a night that will never end

Grow a tail

Well Brownie and Bailey knew exactly  who you needed in your life, that's  for sure!  And Benny needed you just as well!

We are all so Happy for you both, and Bella as well.  And the photos.....sooooo cute!!  

Yes, as .ong as you jave a dog in your life, it will be one of many and purpose♥️

((((((Hugs))))))

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!