I found this and thought it was fitting:
•What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

Lee I am so very sorry for your loss.

I'm new to the board, but I wanted to offer my sincerest condolences. I have been through many, many losses having owned ferrets and dogs for most of my life; it NEVER gets easier, but the love and companionship they provide can never be replaced. Hopefully one day soon you will meet the right pup to invite into your life again.

Lee, I am deeply sorry for your loss. I understand how it feels to believe you can never go through that kind of pain again. Give yourself all the time you need to grieve for Apollo. Then, someday, you may be ready to have another dog in your life. If you do, I believe you will have Apollo's blessing.

 Quote: Wendy Lefebvre

I found this and thought it was fitting:
•What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

This is beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the beloved dogs I have lost.

So sorry for your loss. May your memories of your dogs comfort you at this time of loss.

Thank you all for the thoughts and kind words. They are very much appreciated.

Lee

Oh, a sudden loss like that is just the worst, one is expecting arthritis or a sprain and then here is the terrible Xray of the lungs....so very sad, a relatively young dog.

My deepest sympathy.

Unfortunately, Lee, it never gets any easier to lose them... Whether it's your first dog or your 20th, it's still gonna hurt like hell to let them go.

Most of us know the day we bring home a new dog that it's going to break our heart one day. Yet, we still bring that dog home....

Why? For me it's because the love, strength, friendship, and comfort that they offer me throughout their lives outweighs the heartache in the end. Losing one of my dogs tears my heart into tiny little pieces, but I always offer those little pieces that are left to another dog.

I am so very sorry for your loss. The pain will eventually ease a teeny tiny bit one day, and you will remember the good times you had in the 8 years you shared with Apollo. Those memories will turn into smiles. Then the smiles into laughter. The pain of his loss will never be forgotten, but it will be more endurable in time.

Please, also know that you are never alone if you have loved a dog. His spirit will be with you until the day when you meet him at the Bridge. He will be waiting for you along with your Wolfhound- and the other dogs you give your heart to in the future.

I found this once after a significant loss, and I thought I would share it here:

FROM FRIEND TO FRIEND

In Memory of Asta, Feb. 1997
(c) Karen Clouston

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud.

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic, that will
Once more make me whole.

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To now grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
...a young dog once again.



Hugs to you and know you are not alone....

--Kel

Lee, i'm sorry for your loss. It's the absolute worse thing about owning dogs. When my Marek died I thought I was going to have a heart attack and it was bad for awhile afterwards but now I think fondly about him and smile. Hopefully time will help you and your memories of him will bring a smile to your face.

Hey Lee - my sincere condolences for your loss. When my dog Rudy died unexpectedly (similar situation to your boy Apollo), by puppy Dante was just a few months old and like your pup, he helped me get through it. I had another older dog die recently, unexpectedly again, and once again Dante was there for me. I didn't feel like I could breathe for the first week afterwards, but gradually it's gotten better. Now, a few weeks later, I mostly just remember the good times, but I do think about her several times every single day.

I can tell you that in my experience, losing dogs is the worst. I've lost pet cats before, very close companions, and it was awful. I've also lost close friends before, and that's really awful and hard too. Losing your dog though, is the worst feeling of all. It's as though you've actually lost a part of yourself, as though they were an extension of your soul which has just had a piece removed. It's a very physical pain, more so than with my cats and my friends. At least that's way it's seemed to me.

That being said, for me, I think the best way to heal and feel better, and to do something meaningful in their memory, is to raise another one. My previous dogs would want me to - the pack is bigger than any single individual. I think my older dogs will send me the right new dog when the time is right, and I expect that probably yours will too. Maybe in the meantime, you could volunteer and walk dogs at the shelter or something. I'm sure the dogs would appreciate it and it might help you feel a bit better as well.

Take care, and again, my sincere condolences.