I am so sorry for your loss. 8/5/03 my sweet little Bri girl a Sharpei/Chow mix had to be laid to rest due to cancer. I cry every day for her loss. She was my consoler at the death of my mother and later the death of my father, she was my nurturer during my divorce. Bri died in my arms after 12 happy years that she gave me. There will be no dog like her ever again. I know the kisses you spoke about. When I lost my father there was a time I had no desire to live. Bri reminded me with her kisses that I was still needed here on earth. I love her so much. Maxx her companion a Chow/Newfoundland mix and I kept feeling her presence and I cried for our loss. I felt I would go mad without her. I forced myself to go to the SPCA and look not for a replacement, but a way to fill the void.I found a purebred Shar-Pei 2 year old male (Maxx is 4). They were considering euthanizing the Shar-Pei as he had a severe skin allergy. The SPCA puts dogs with illnesses down. This dog had days left before this event. No one wanted him. He caught my eye. Bri had suffered from flea allergies once when we moved. It took some doing but she recovered. This male Pei had chewed his coat half off leaving open weeping wounds, and he was skinny. I knew he could recover. I brought Maxx for a meeting with this Pei. All went well-no growls, no fights. We have named the Pei "Buddha". He will never be Bri. He can only be himself. There has been one altercation over a doggie treat-totally my fault. Other than that Maxx is ok with Buddha, hopefully they will become close friends. I am not saying go get another companion as a replacement. Just know you are not alone in grief. Also, after this seeminly fierce fight over a treat where Buddha (50 lbs) didn't back down and got bitten by Maxx (92 lbs), I was worried and started checking out websites that dealt with this topic. I found this site. My eyes have been opened to my problem at hand. I was lucky I didn't get hurt. I have joined this site to become educated in dog behavior and health. If it weren't for Bri, Maxx, or Buddha I would never have seen this site. If it weren't for this site I might have gotten seriously injured the next time I so foolishly fed my dogs. My dogs might very easily have become too viscious for me to handle. Owner education from experienced people-thats what you are you are part of this site for posting and such. You are needed. Your message on your baby girl hit home, and I felt if I could offer you anything in your time of grief it would be that I believe I understand to the extent that I have suffered the same kind of loss, and that you are needed by others. May god be with your baby, K.C., and with you

Like so many other posters, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as well....and remembering one that I loved that I had to chose to do the best thing for even though it caused me pain and grief...I know how hard it is, but the pain will ease through times ahead and be replaced by joy in the memory of your KC...you proved your love was greater than you by giving her up...and that is the ultimate selflessness

my deepest sympathy....

lee

They are our friends, our partners, our Dogs,

We are their life, their loves, their leaders,

They will be ours, faithful and true to the last beat of their hearts,

We owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion.

As one who has also lost a beloved companion, I admire your devotion to the end. Sometimes loving them is the hardest part, at least when it comes to letting them go.

Be Kind To Yourself.

God Bless

What a sad story. I feel for you and the loss of your baby. I too lost a friend this past summer. Ax died of a brain anurism 6-1-03. He was only 3 years old.