Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and thanks to Jerry and his pawrents for putting my special picture of Luna on this forum.  My office assistant, Kenny, thought of the idea of putting a huge full moon behind Luna's head.  He found a stock photo of the moon on the Internet and used PhotoShop to create this photo.  I was really stunned when I saw it for the first time as it fit her name perfectly.  We also noted that she went to the Rainbow Bridge during the full moon period this month. 

This picture is going to be put on a black piece of marble as a "marble memorial", a circular piece of marble on which you can put any photo you wish of a pet.  You can find this type of memorial item on many web sites on the net.  The marble memorial can be circular/round, rectangular, or oval.  The shape of the moon was perfect for the circular, round shape.  I am planning on ordering this for the lady who works in my kennel and who was so very attached to Luna and did so much to help her survive so long through her loving care and attention.  She has seen the proof and was very moved by it.  It turned out so well, that I think I'm going to get a marble memorial as well.

I spoke with the pet funeral director, Beau Crevasse, in Gainesville last week and the little memorial box for Luna's ashes has been ordered. (If anyone reading this post is in the Gainesville area, I would highly recommend him for this type of situation.  He has done everything I have asked of him and been a man of his word.)  The box is to be in walnut with a black German Shepherd dog lying with his head up and alert on the top with a name plate on the side that will have Luna's name, dates of birth and death: April 29, 2005 to September 16, 2008, and on the 3rd line, "Our precious little girl".  I asked my boyfriend, Dave, what he thought we should put on that 3rd line, and that is what he told me.  I completely agreed.

It is hard to believe that two weeks ago today, we were getting ready to leave for Gainesville from Orlando with Luna because she was staggering around.  Two weeks ago tonight, she was hospitalized, and it was the last time that I would see her conscious, as they walked her away from me, with her looking back at me.  The time has passed in such an odd way, surreal and disjointed.  I felt so guilty leaving her there but I had to do that because she was getting worse and we didn't know what else to do.  We knew the experts were at the Univ. of Florida and that they would have the technology that the local vets didn't have and that would hopefully help us to help Luna survive and get better.  Although it didn't turn out that way, at least we tried, and that is all we could have done.  We could have stayed home and hoped for the best, but as the vets at UF told us, she probably would have just gotten worse, had the seizure at home, and it could have been even more unsettling in how it unfolded.

I have spent a lot of time since Luna's passing with my other dogs.  They have been a comfort, just petting them and telling them that I love them.  Of course, they don't take the place of Luna, for she will always have her own special place in my heart where she will shine on forever.

Sandra

It's hard to believe that it has been 3 weeks ago today that we lost Luna.  We continue to wind down the road of grief, having some days that are less filled with pain, and then others, like today, where the pain rises to the surface again.  Of course, sitting at my computer and looking at pictures of Luna, especially those final weeks of her life, and especially the ones I took after leaving her off at the hospital in Gainesville, were particularly hard to review again.  So, why did I do it?  I don't know.  I was just compelled to do it.  Sure, I cried again, but maybe I needed to cry again.  I'm going to allow myself that. 

I got Luna's ashes back last week, too, but have not been able to open the shipping package that they came in.  The ashes are actually in a walnut box with a black german shepherd figurine on top of it.  I should open the shipping package to make sure the walnut box inside is all right and not damaged, but just am not ready to do that right now.

We've had some very nice notes, letters, and emails of sympathy from Luna's vets as well as our friends.   And, now, we have our new friends here on these forums, which is so nice, and the nice messages that they have left for us concerning our Luna.  I really appreciate all of the kind words from everyone here.  Thank you so much.

Sandra