Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Losing a Pet is Like Losing a Member of the Family

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 28 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #297 in Animals, #5780 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Let your other dogs know

 

Dogs do mourn, and there is a theory that is talked about amongst breeders and vets that it is also better, when you know that you are going to have to send your friend to the Rainbow Bridge; that it is better to take your surviving dogs along and let them smell their departed friend, that it gives them peace to know what has happened, and so that they won't search in vain for their friend. I have had friends who have just two newfoundlands, and the loss of the one dog is devastating to the other newf in the family. It is my opinion that you should get another Newfoundland in those circumstances, for sure, not just for yourself but for the poor lost soul that is left behind to mourn. 

The circle of life goes round and round...When one has lost a Newfoundland dog, painful as it is, the question always lies at the back of the mind, is it time to get another one?  Since I got my first Newfoundland in 1987, I have never been without one, and in these days, even though my numbers have been reduced, I still will always have room in my heart, and make room in my home, for at least two.

The Rainbow Bridge poem is comforting for those who lose a dog (or any pet). You can buy Rainbow Bridge Sympathy cards in many different breeds and keep them on hand to send to your friends when they lose a pet. If you've never read the "Rainbow bridge" poem here it is in its entirety:

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE....
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially
close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our
special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old
are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing;
they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes
when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group,
flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend
finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion,
never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

...Author unknown...

The origins of this beautiful poem have been lost somewhere...if anyone does know of the author I sure would like to find out.

All I know is, if there is no heaven for dogs, then I'm not going!

In Memoriam: My Partner, My friend, My SARDOG 

My Angel... She served me so well........

KAYLAR'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL

It has been 10 months almost to the day now since I lost my Angel girl...my search dog, my partner, my best friend. These days when I train and practice and go on a callout, I am with her daughter and Jenna...she is so much like Angel that I STILL sometimes make the mistake of calling her "Angel". I have the ashes of all my newf sof the past...there are lots of boxes in my closet. I have yet to find the exact container that I want...I want them all to match, I want them all to have a place to put a photo, and I want them all to be "just right" So I still don't have anything yet for the urns. Some day...maybe, I will just sit down and make my own, plain wooden boxes with a beautiful finish.

I miss my Angel. Somehow the worst time is when I line up the bowls to feed the dogs and there is one missing. I gain great comfort from other Newfoundland owners who tell me "It's ok to grieve" ...I hope you, too, will remember this if you have lost a pet. They are a LARGE part of your life. Angel was with me 14 and a half years! So now I have, in my heart, fourteen and a half years of memories. I am one of the lucky ones!Newfoundland home pages to read more about my Newfoundlands. Any of readers who would like to submit photos and memorial poetry or other sentiments about pets they have lost.

The passing of Summer:

Now there is another loss: "Kaylars Midsummer Dream" (Summer))was sent to a pet home awhile back to live out her life, with a dear friend of mine who had just lost her other newfie. The remaining newfie that she had was bereft and mourning. It worked out so well, and Summer brought her happy wagging tail and happy disposition into her new home. She has been loved these past few years and became a BIG part of the lady's life. But this past week I got the sad news that Summer is gone. It seems appropriate somehow that she has faded from our lives with the fading of the summer months. Summer was a great girl, she was always so pleasant to other dogs and quite unassuming. Just like her mother"Purdy" she had a soft heart in her heart for people who were sick and she would hover over them. Summer was one of two in the family, and now my friend is going to be replacing her with yet another newfoundland, to help Winnie, the one who is left, to get over the loss.

Check out the new Rainbow bridge Sympathy cards at Cafepress 

Remember your friends when they lose their pet

Losing Sassy...how her dog friend reacted 

Strange but true

I placed Sassy, an older newf, with a dear friend of mine to live out her older years, aftrer the age of six.When she was nearly 11, she passed on to the rainbow bridge.
The day after she passed, my friends golden retriever Champ was in the back yard where he and Sassy always played.
My friend watched in amazement as Champ, the golden, who sorely missed his friend Sassy, spent nearly a half hour in what she later termed "ghost play". He was dancing and twirling and play bowing and even play biting IN THE AIR as if his best friend Sasy was right there, playing with him!!

A video which memorializes a lab dog. This is so sweet! 

Black Lab Shad

Black Lab Shadow Loves Life!

Runtime: 2:31
4838 views
10 Comments:

powered by YouTube

Old Dogs: Loved and Cherished 

old man Boo checks out the new puppy by freeloosedirt

old man Boo checks o...

Aunt Ginger by Darin Barry

Aunt Ginger

RIP Bessie Meyers by locusolus

RIP Bessie Meyers

Sandy Buttons by wanderingone

Sandy Buttons

I'm tired by wanderingone

I'm tired

mazie on the sofa by wanderingone

mazie on the sofa

Sandy in Black and White by wanderingone

Sandy in Black and W...

The Boxer by Lost Albatross

The Boxer

Indy! by grilled cheese

Indy!

whisper kicking it by soundfromwayout

whisper kicking it

Favorite Pet Loss Pages 

Pet Loss - Poem List

Back to Petloss.com. Healing and Inspirational Poe more...1 point

Pet Loss Support Page

Coping with grief on the death of a pet; tips on p more...1 point

In Memory Of Pets

Pet loss tributes, memorials, support, and candle more...1 point

Pet Loss - Tracks in the Sand

Pet loss information to help when a beloved pet di more...1 point

Rainbow Bridge Dog Gifts

We can take a picture of your pet and put them in more...1 point

4 Paws Blog 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

LIfe after death? 

It's a thought....and if there is LIFE after death, my dogs had better be there with me
Life after death communication
Life after death communication
I didn't believe in life after death communication until my partner passed away this year, then I learnt first hand that there is life after death communication. This site is dedicated to Geoff. Saturday, September 8, 2007
The Feel of Life After Dea

New The SuperStore 

Pass the Poetry, Please

Pass the Poetry, Please

Price: $16.99

Now in its third edition, this classic reference book has proven itself an invaluable resource for bringing children and poetry together. Updated and... more »

Poetry Matters

Poetry Matters

Price: $4.99

Maybe you've heard before that poetry is magic, and it made you roll your eyes, but I believe it's true. Poetry matters. At the most important moments... more »

Give Sorrow Words

Give Sorrow Words

Price: $31.95

Throughout our lives, we are influenced by the sensation of loss. Whether implicit or obvious, the impact of this sense of loss affects our daily thi... more »

Reader Feedback 

Submit YOUR reasons here!

larose

Great content site. Keep it up.

Posted June 29, 2008

CHOPRN1127

Losing a pet is never easy. Thank you so much for this lens. Visit this Rainbow Bridge store where your dog's name and picture can be put into this design for a fur-ever memory:
Personalized Rainbow Bridge Gifts

Posted June 21, 2008

Brett445

really interesting read. Thanks for creating this interesting lens

Posted June 10, 2008

Brett445

really interesting read. Thanks for creating this interesting lens

Posted June 10, 2008

chantelg4

Nice lens!

Posted June 10, 2008

 
1 of 7 pages

Favorite Places About dogs 

Links you should look at!

The Yorkie Corner
The Yorkie corner: loving and losing a dog...
X
knewf

About knewf

I've been a dog lover all my life. Now I am privileged to belong to
two newfs... Phoenix, (AKA Feenie
Weenie) (wild and wooly and not quite "settled down",  (no longer) a search
dog in training, and Jenna,
gentle, sweet, good natured search dog extraordinaire, and grandmother to Phoenix.  I love to write, I love to do computer graphics,  (visit my DOGDAZE DESIGNS) and I love to play  online scrabble.

knewf's Pages

See all of knewf's pages