That is a beautiful poem, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing it.

I am right here with you
Watching everything you do
On the ground and in the air
I am simply everywhere
As you walk up the hill
I am every daffodil
And as you approach the church
I am that Silver Birch
Ascyou amble down the hill
Gi carefully in case you fsll
I shall follow close behind
But do not fear
I am not blind
When you have your chocolate break
Save a cup for me to take
See the llamas over there
I am the one that sniffs the air
And with every dog you meet
Say hello its me you greet
As you lay your head to sleep
Pray for me my soul to keep
In your dreams I come to you
You stroke me and I hug you
RIP
Angie Cregeen

Hi Linda. I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us all. I hope your next dog helps you to remember all the happy times you had with Jenna. Sammie.

So sorry for your loss. What an awful shock for you all. 🙁

i’m sorry to hear all these sad stories, on friday during the fireworks going off my sisters adorable black lab just fell down dead ,he was only 9months old,i cannot stop crying ,he stayed with me and would hide up when it was time to go home ,he bought so much joy to so many people, i wish i had the answers how to help us all get over the grief and sadness but i think we have to go through the motions and just know each day will get easier and easier, we have our memories and one day instead of tears we will start to smile as we think of those times we had with our loveable pets, love and hugs to all us suffering xxx

Hi George l had to put my beautiful 11 year oil lab down on Christmas Eve 4 months earlier he had a tumour on his spleen l went ahead and he had surgery it was a massive one it had been slow growing so he never showed any symptoms things were very up and down he stayed in a top class vets in Marlow for a week he wasn’t insured so l spent thousands on him because l loved him and wanted to give him a chance the tumour was benign happily and omg he came home and was back his old self then about a month ago he started going downhill again the same swelling in his tummy pale gums l knew but l couldn’t believe it was happening again l fought so hard to keep him only to have to say goodbye again l am totally broken l don’t understand why it came back as it as benign 😞Amanda

In many ways, I feel extremely blessed. Bertie was put to rest at 14.5 years old and didn’t have cancer or anything of the like. He simply was a very old boy and his legs were just completely knackered. He couldn’t stand up on his own and he was incontinent for a while before we laid him to rest. He was terrified of walking down the step outside and just kept falling over. Our dedicated vet assessed him and conceded that the time had come.

We gave him the best life possible. He went on amazing walks, spent years of his life as a working gundog chasing after pheasants, and had untold numbers of delicious meals. My family are very affectionate and he was constantly being kissed and hugged.

The main thing I’m struggling with is regret over being impatient with him when he was an old boy, such as getting annoyed at him walking slowly and his incontinence. I wish I had been more compassionate, as Bertie would have been with me if the roles were reversed. I feel I have failed Bertie.

I loved the dog with all my heart and felt angry about what age did to him. He and I were gazing into each other’s eyes and never looked away from one another, with his head in my hand as he passed in the boot of my mum’s car. As his head began to slump, I put my head against his and told him to ‘be at peace’ and kissed him on his forehead. This will haunt me forever, but it couldn’t have been a more beautiful ending. I was with Bertie until his final breath, as I had promised him when he first came into my life.

To anyone reading this page and this comment, just know that there is a 27 year old English chap who knows exactly how you feel. When you’re sat somewhere and thinking about your most loyal companion and desperately trying to bring a new memory to the forefront of your mind to reminisce upon them – I can relate to a painful extent.

If it helps, please imagine all of us in this comments section being together. We are all around this world and all on this journey together. The dogs were blessed to have fabulous homes with us and we were blessed to have their presence. That love you feel in your heart now, that is the greatest and most powerful of all human emotion – it conquers all and unites us, for both friends past, present and future. It is that same capacity of love that is embodied by dogs – it is unbreakable.

If you’re struggling to sleep, your dog would want you to rest. If you’re struggling to eat, your dog would want you to be nourished. If you’re struggling to feel anything but darkness, let your dog continue to be the light in your heart – that light is permanent and never goes out…do not forget that.

Bertie and I wish you all love and I’m sending you the warmest of hugs.

George x