Sorry for your loss Lori. What a good looking Guy.

It often seemed to me in my vet practice that the statement, "the good die young" was pretty true. It was never the dog that people were thinking about putting to sleep that developed a terrible problem, never the rank cow who was "found dead". It was always the good ones, the ones with whom people had a special relationship.
He looks like he was a great dog. Hemangiosarcoma is an awful disease, and like other cancers, a way to avoid it hasn't been found. I know a ton of nice dogs, including my son's 8 yr old English Bulldog, who have died early as a result of hemangiosarcoma. It's probably all in the genes, maybe the genes for "great dog" are linked to the genes for hemangiosarcoma, who knows.
You have my sympathy.

 Quote: lori jacobs

Oh you guys thank you so much! I knew I could come here and get the understanding I so need right now. It brings a smile to my face to know that others see what I saw in Bruno. It fills my heart with joy and brings tears to my eyes to hear that you could tell my Bruno loved me and was a happy dog. Me and my son are going to look at a couple females tomorrow. I feel conflicted about this; guilty but yet sort of excited to redirect some of my feelings. I just have such a big hole in my heart. I'm not trying to replace him but just want desperately to fill the void he left. Is this wrong or too soon?

Unfortunately, many of us have far too much experience in the grief of loss....

You may feel conflicted about getting another dog, but understand that you are not "replacing" Bruno. You are taking in another soul that needs love and companionship. Nothing wrong with that. The new dog may be exactly what you need to ease the pain.

Take the time you need to grieve for Bruno in your own way. The pain will pass and you will remember the good times. From the pictures, I gather there were MANY good times and memories. The tears will turn to smiles, and the smiles will turn to laughs...

Our tears are testimony of our love for them... they are worth each and every one... and then some.

Hugs to you and your son in your loss.

--Kel

I have always viewed taking in the next dog who needs me as a great tribute to the one who is gone.

No matter what their age, it is always tough to lose one. My condolences.

All this support is truly humbling. Thank you all so much for your kind words.

Lori: I understand as I am sure so many others have told you, how devastating it can be to loose a dog. My dog Max, a bearded collie mix, was only 4 when in one day he became suddenly ill. we had to rush him to the emergency vet and we were told he had something like lupus in humans. His red blood cells were greatly depleated and the next day, he died. They thought he might live since he was so young, and we were even ready to give him blood transfusions, but he died so quickly. One day he was playing and eating, the next he refused his food, we took him to the vet and the next day he was dead. he was the best dog I have ever had an an adult. we still miss him. We still talk about him. It takes a long time for the wounds to heal when a wonderful companion dog dies. Even though we have 3 very wonderful little terriors, we still think of max. my heart goes out to you. Sometimes people can't stand to see us suffer, so that try and encourage us to get over it quickly, and there are those who just think animals are animals so what is the big deal. But my heart goes out to you. May the Lord give you comfort.
sharon

I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. Bruno looked like he was immensely happy and he was obviously more loved and more well cared for than many, many dogs in the world can ever dream of.

So, so sorry.

It doesn't seem to be getting any easier. I cry everyday. It really hurt yesterday to see everyone walking their dogs in the nice weather. I did get a female last Saturday. She is making me smile and giving me something else to try to focus on. I will post her introduction soon just haven't been able to do it yet. It just finalizes it to me that I have a new dog...is that stupid? I'm so angry right now.

Oh Lori, I am so sorry that you are having to go through this.
The stages of grief can take quite some time to process.
One day you can feel better, and then the next so sad or angry.

I know it may not help, but this is all very natural to have these feelings. No matter how much we wish for the pain and sorrow to just go away, it comes to us until we have allowed all the feelings to come out. This is just all my own opinion and view of things. However, I do speak from experiencing some very painful losses in my life.

One way I have dealt with the loss was to sit down and write about my feelings in a journal. It really helped me to get out all that I was feeling and to work it out myself.
If this is not your thing, just being in the moment with your feelings and accepting that you will feel this way for a while is important. As hard and emotional as it is, this is the hardest part of life to get through.
I can promise you though, that in time, you will come to accept it. I completely understand what you are going through.

Glad to hear that you have a new girl to help you through.
Best wishes to you with her.