erynjoyce

Just checking in to see how you are doing. Big hugs from all the shelties at my house...and that's a lot of hugs so you just feel loved!

Eryn , Never let anyone tell you Cayman is just a dog ! They are part of the family. They depend on us for their care and then we get back such unconditional love. The people that say these things is because they are afraid to allow themselves to get intouch with their feelings. Although I have never had a furkid with Nasal carcenoma, my Tasha was loaded with tumors that came on so quickly. She started to have difficulties with holding her urine so I bought her diapers and everyone thought I was crasy, It's a dog ! Well she was my furkid and I loved her dearly. I had to have her put down due to breathing difficulties and walking. But I stayed with her till the very end. I layed with her on the floor at the vets and hugged her I was able to feed her which was her favorite thing to do. To keep her mind off of the vet. I have her ashes and my Blue Merle, Jewel. They are to go with me when I pass. My prayers and thoughts are with you and Cayman. God Bless.

Hugs,
Elaine and Kia

Hi Eryn, I have not heard from you in a while and was wondering how you and Cayman are doing. I really do hope that everything is well. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ania

Hi Eryn!

I just wanted to check and see how you and Cayman were doing. I hope all is well. I just saw the picture that you have up of him. What a cutie!

Just wanted to let you know, that although my dogs my not have had the same thing, I know what you are going through. I lost my little Zoe in Jan. at the age of 7. I lost two others in May and June of '07. They were both age related but it was back to back so it was very hard. It is heartbreaking, I won't deny it. Just remember that all of us on here have been through it. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us for support. That's what we are here for. Take care and I will be thinking about you.

Shaun

Hi ErynJoyce, I got to thinking about you and Cayman and decided to post a message to see how you guys were doing. Sending you lots of love and support from the sheltie clan at Granite's House of Sheltie Mayhem

Thanks so much Barb. Yes, one friend told me she would come out from CONN, but she hasn't even called. Like you, I do think it's private. That's why emailing like this seems almost more supportive. Funny, no matter how much you tell people that you are alone, blah, blah....when things get really tough, they still come to me for support or just disappear or avoid the subject altogether. I left a relationship shortly after Cayman was diagnosed. I'm so glad. The man didn't even understand why I was crying. This way, I get to focus on attention on Cayman and be stressed by nonsense!!

I'll keep posting updates on Cayman on the weekend. Until then, take care.

Hi

When Michelle died, I found that people around me essentially had two reactions.....they either wanted to CONSTANTLY be there for me (which really meant help them with their own grief) or they stayed away because they were at a loss as to what to say or do.

And then Timber died so shortly after...but to many, he was "just a dog" and compared to the loss of Michelle....

But there were a rare few who really did get it. They seemed to know just what to say, how to say it. They didn't duck it and they still don't. But these were people who had also experienced loss themselves and were also dog people too!

And sometimes you find it in the last place you would expect. I was at a dinner with our Board of Directors a few weeks ago, and was sitted beside one of our board members who I had never really connected with. All of a sudden, we were talking about Michelle and Timber as if she knew them both! But then, she'd had loss herself recently too.

Mostly I have deal with my grief in private because that's how I prefer to deal with. I started a journal which I kept up for awhile and I found it extremely cathartic. You might consider it. You might not want to cry in front of Cayman, but you can surely cry on paper!

And the people on this forum truly are caring and supportive and so many of us have experienced what you are now going through. Don't hesitate to use the forum for the support you need. Those who can give it, will give it and gladly.

Take good care
Barb

Hmm...you must have selected it when you posted the initial comment in your thread. I don't know if you can edit it out now. It is not an inappropriate smiley; don't worry about it! It is a pink (cancer) sad smile of hope and caring in the face of illness and loss.

I don't know if you got a chance to see this in the Sheltie Angels thread, but it is a beautiful story for sheltie lovers, dealing with death and forever love. It was written by Dana Q of Clan Duncan Shelties.
http://www.kennelcity.com/cdstnll.html

Oh yeah, for puppy faces you can always keep avoiding housework and go look at my videos on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/wylesbrat