Goodbye to my old faithful friend.

[KRISSIE]

ON Monday ,september 24th. A member of my family passed away. His name was Aries he was a German Shepard/Collie mix, he was 14 years old.
The circumstanes under which he died is something I have never dealt with before , I never had a chance to say goodbye nor do I understand why this happened. He went out for a walk with my mother this morning & he was fine , he saw 2 dogs and barked at them which is not unusual he always barked at other dogs. Then when they where coming back into the building he fell on the floor & either had a stroke or a heartattack, my mother came into the house screaming for me that Aries was dying I ran out into the hall & he was just lying there motionless, when I looked into his eyes he didn't even know I was there, I put my hands on his chest & he was still breathing but he was gasping for air. In a matter of seconds he was gone, this whole incident happened within 5 -10 minutes, there was nothing we could do. There wasn't enough time to save him. It all happened so fast.
I have dealt with the loss of a pet before but never like this . I was always there with them, holding them, looking in their eyes telling them how much I loved them. That wasn't the case this time & he was not sick , he was at the vet 2 weeks ago for a checkup & they said he was in pretty good health for his age. I am really upset about this , I want to know why he had to die like that & why I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to my baby. The only peace I have in this is knowing he is with his brother Rex ( who passed away 2 years ago). Aries & Rex were a team & when Rex passed away Aries was so sad, now they are together agian at the Rainbow bridge waiting for the day I come for them.
Right now I really need to believe that!

To my beloved Aries:

I will remember you always & even though you are gone , you will live forever in my heart, I miss you sweetie , I love you & more than anything else I want to say Thank you for all the love , friendship & devotion you have shown me.

R.I.P. my angel, mommy & grandma will love you always............

Aries (born 3-87, died 9-24-01)

Beyond the Rainbow:

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wonderous image then of a place that's trouble free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort, as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm all right
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart,
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

[codglvr]

I am so sorry for your loss. Our boy, would not let go while we were present, he waited until the vet sent me to the other room, as if he couldn't stand to see our hearts break. I am confident Aries knew you were there, and how much you loved him. It will take time, and the tears will still flow, but each night as you go to sleep, remember, he is there watching over you from the bridge, patiently awaiting your reunion. Don't beat yourself up over doing what you had to do. You gave this boy a long happy wonderful life on earth, be thankful for the time you had, its never long enough! Everyone will be thinking of you. Once again, sorry for your loss.:(

[X ROTTS X]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. God bless.

[ajaxsdad]

krissie:
aries and rex will keep each other busy until you arrive. now kodiak has two more freinds to pass the time. sometimes there isn't an explanation, God just calls them back and we don't have a choice.

[KATS]

I wish I had an answer for you, but I don't. I remember those pets I've loved that have gone to the bridge and I ache for the heartbreak I know you are feeling.

[Dina's Mom]

GOD SPEED ARIES! Rest in Peace!

Thoughts & prayers to you Krissie. Just think how sad that many people never know the love of a great friend like Aries. It hurts too much to even breathe right now - I know. But pets like Aries are not just "pets" they are family and best friends. I don't think I've known a human being that could be as loyal.

Pat

[KatMc]

Krissie,

I'm so sorry for your loss of Aries. I lost one almost like that, never got to say goodbye. But I do know that DoRite was looking down on me and my tears the same as Aries was watching you, they knew how much we loved them and they are all together playing, waiting on our arrival.

God Bless you,

Kathy

[rottmommie]

He heard your goodbyes.....you have to beleive that. As a nurse I can tell you that I am confident that he knew you were there with him and it was a comfort.....
those senses of hearing are the last to go.....

[thoradopter]

Dear Krissie,

My heart goes out to you now and for all time that you'll be missing Aries. I agree with the posts that he did know you were there and that he was trying to spare you the pain of seeing him collapse. Our first dog Sammy, rottie/GSD mix, left our bedroom (we didn't hear him) and went downstairs to the dining room where we found him dead in the morning due to hemolytic anemia. We know he knew we loved him so much for 8 of his 9 years. We recently lost Thor having him PTS while still under anesthesia for exploratory surgery that confirmed his cancer was inoperable. That was a heart wrenching experience too, but we were with him for the 3 mornings before his surgery and he knew our love through many hugs. I'm sure Aries felt your love at the end as well as through his life. Whatever way they go, we feel so devastated and helpless. You should think about the relatively long and very good life Aries had and that he is now with Rex. Also, thank you for posting the "Beyond the Rainbow" and "Welcome to the Rainbow Bridge" poems- I certainly took comfort from them and hope they help you too. Linda

[K9-man]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[KRISSIE]

I want to Thank all of you for your comforting words, this is very hard to deal with right now & it's very comforting to know there are people like you all there for me ,who understand what I am feeling & going through right now.

To be honest I am in shock, it still hasn't really hit me yet that he is gone. I was not prepared for this , like I said he was fine ,we never saw it coming. The house is so lonely without him, even my Rotti, Brandi is depressed. I'm sure she feels it too, when he passed away she went & laid right next to him ,I guess that was her way of saying goodbye. I keep hoping he will come to me in a dream or something so I know he is Ok & so I can say goodbye. . I am the type of person that needs closeure & I feel I didn't have closeure because I didn't have a chance to tell him Goodbye & that is what hurts the most.
I really hope he heard me during his final moments & that he knew I was there.

Agian Thank you all

[AngelBunny]

KRISSIE:

There's such sadness when a beloved pet dies, I think especially when the death is sudden. I hope you can find consolation in the fact Aires lived a long life and that his death was an easy one--he didn't suffer and that right up to several minutes before he died, he was still full of vinegar.

I had a wonderful 21 mo old bitch puppy for whom I had high expectations in terms of working & conformation showing drop dead in front of my eyes. Tallinn was jumping up to play with my male when she made a stragne whimpering sound. Her bones appeared to melt and by the time she hit the floor, Tallinn was dead. I had her autopsied; the vet concluded she died of an aneurysm.

I was devasted for a long time. My beautiful girl, healthy and happy one second, dead the next. What helped me come to terms with her death was the fact I *saw* her die--I saw that she was in absolutely no pain. A heartbeat before she died, she was her usual firey self. If I had come home from work or shopping to find her dead, I know I would have been wracked with guilt--was there something I could have done?--and the anguish of wondering if Tallinn had suffered or was in any pain. Her death was awful, but I know she didn't feel anything; since God wanted her at The Bridge, God was kind enough to call her when I was by her.

[RottiMomCT]

Aires is now taking care of a freind of my husbands who lost his life on September 11, 2001 in NYC. He was a member of the FDNY and among the 1st responders.....his entire shift is missing and presumed dead, my husband saw the firetruck, destroyed by the falling building, when her went to NYC on 9/12/01...we all know he's gone, but knowing there are some of the most amazing pets at the bridge waiting for him and all the others, makes it a little easier to deal with. NO loss is easy....rest assured, Dana WILL take good care of Aires until you arrive, then he'll hand the leash over to you again.

[LORHEL]

I am so sorry to hear about Aires. I know how you are feeling, except, I was right there, along with my husband and another person while they were putting Zeke down. I was not anticipating having to hold him, as it was bad enough having to put him down at only one year old (long story). He was so upset at the sight of the vet, it took three of us to hold and calm him. The last thing he saw was me looking into his eyes, telling him I loved him. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do and ever will do, as I had never lost anything that meant that much to me before. I cannot imagine not being able to say goodbye, but then again, it was so hard doing it the way we did also. I love the poem you put at the end. It made me cry, just thinking of Zeke. I am sorry for the loss of Aries. He will always be in your heart and remember all the good times you shared. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Lori

[ksyankfan]

Dear Krissie,

He knew. They always know.


ksyankfan