2D/True Friends

[buz/p]

My wife and I buried our friend, Bentley one week ago. This dog and his brother shared our lives for sixteen years. Teddy is now gone for two months. These two leaving us so close together after living with us for so long has created a hole in our lives which is quite unexpected. It is only now that I realize how entwined our life can become with a so-called 'animal'. The Cs often talk about the relationship between 3D beings and 2D beings as analogous to the relationship between higher density beings and 3D humans. I think of all the animals abused, tortured and killed by unfeeling humans. It sickens me. Humans even do those things to other humans. Then I think of all the truly loving relationships that certain animals and humans have for each other and realize that it doesn't have to be that way.

Throughout my life I have never tied or chained a dog. Yes we probably interfere with a pets' free will at times (assuming that they have free will). However it can be a learning experience to allow pets as much freedom as possible. The lesson for me is to allow other humans their own free will to make their own way. Dogs are simpler beings. They honestly display their emotions and needs. They don't dissemble or deceive. I lived with a dog some many years ago who was an excellent judge of character. If he shied away from a stranger I learned to give that person a wide berth also.

I'm beginning to ramble. Sorry. I just wanted to say that with the knowledge which I have gained from the Wave series and this community I can honor the memory of Bentley with the image of his soul fragment either melding back into his soul group or striking out as a new soul unit on the road back to the "One".

 

[Jacques]

My heart goes to both of you.

All of you had a good time together and I am sure that they were happy to be with you.

 

[Nienna]

My sincere condolences to you buz/p. May they both rest in peace.

 

[Nancy2feathers]

Hi buz/p.
I`m so sorry for your loss. I share in your feelings of the loss of your animal friends.

A few years back we rescued a border collie mix. She was starving and almost frozen to death.

She turned out to be one of the most loyal companions I ever spent time with. She lived with us for about 8 years. She was like my shadow and showed so much love everyday. It felt like she had a very special soul.

She`s been gone almost 2 years now. I still think of her often and how she brought joy to my life.

When she passed we buried her in a special place in our flower garden. Rest in peace Sadie Girl.

 

[Graalsword]

My condolences for you and your family buz/p. Dogs and cats are incredible friends of human beings, unconditional and lawful. I hope their souls progress in some way.

 

[Gwenllian]

Indeed, dogs and cats are incredible friends.

I am also very sorry for your loss, buz/p.

 

[buz/p]

Thank you all for your kind words. It is hard to express what our pets can mean to us. In fact I didn't even suspect until they were gone. Whenever I walk into my office I expect to see Bentley laying there waiting for me. I know now what soul imprint means. It may a while before it dissipates. I came into the office yesterday to see my wife poring over Craig's List looking at puppies. I believe it is too soon to be thinking in terms of having another dog to share our lives. But she is already attempting to fill the void. So this weekend we are going to look at a puppy. Sigh...

 

[Gwenllian]

Thank you all for your kind words. It is hard to express what our pets can mean to us. In fact I didn't even suspect until they were gone. Whenever I walk into my office I expect to see Bentley laying there waiting for me. I know now what soul imprint means. It may a while before it dissipates. I came into the office yesterday to see my wife poring over Craig's List looking at puppies. I believe it is too soon to be thinking in terms of having another dog to share our lives. But she is already attempting to fill the void. So this weekend we are going to look at a puppy. Sigh...

Just a thought. Do you have to look at puppies, when you are not ready?

 

[Guardian]

I came into the office yesterday to see my wife poring over Craig's List looking at puppies. I believe it is too soon to be thinking in terms of having another dog to share our lives. But she is already attempting to fill the void. So this weekend we are going to look at a puppy. Sigh...

I went through about the same experience this past summer. I lost my dear companion at age 16. She passed in her sleep, after living a long, full life...all quite natural, but it left a HUGE gaping hole in my life.

I was going to wait awhile before I found a new companion, but within a few weeks I was looking longingly at Shelter and Rescue org. websites.

Part of me wanted to wait because I felt like I should wait out of respect for the wonderful companion I'd just lost....but it wasn't working out well. Without a dog, I literally started coming apart at the seams. I just could not bear all the horrors of living in this world without a big furry ball of unconditional love to grab onto when it all gets too overwhelming. Doggie kisses really do make everything better...at least for me. Finding a new companion didn't stop the grieving process, in fact quite the opposite. It helped me work through the loss.

What I'm clumsily trying to get at is a question I suggest asking yourself. Why do you feel like you should wait before filling that "void?" For me it felt "disrespectful" not to wait, even though I wanted to fill the hole left by the loss. Then I got to thinking that my old girl wouldn't want me to feel so miserable and alone, and I suspect Bentley would feel the same way about yawl.

 

[loreta]

I think it is not a bad idea to have another dog. So many dogs are there waiting to give love, companionship. And a new friend will not erased the love of your dog, never.

I can not imagine my life without a dog. Dogs in my life make me sane. They are my best friends.

Please, accept my sincere condolences.

 

[Gwenllian]

Part of me wanted to wait because I felt like I should wait out of respect for the wonderful companion I'd just lost....but it wasn't working out well. Without a dog, I literally started coming apart at the seams. I just could not bear all the horrors of living in this world without a big furry ball of unconditional love to grab onto when it all gets too overwhelming. Doggie kisses really do make everything better...at least for me. Finding a new companion didn't stop the grieving process, in fact quite the opposite. It helped me work through the loss.

What I'm clumsily trying to get at is a question I suggest asking yourself. Why do you feel like you should wait before filling that "void?" For me it felt "disrespectful" not to wait, even though I wanted to fill the hole left by the loss. Then I got to thinking that my old girl wouldn't want me to feel so miserable and alone, and I suspect Bentley would feel the same way about yawl.

That makes perfect sense to me. Also, what Loreta is saying.

I feel the same about my kids, and my dog and cat, even the chickens, the trees and the plants. They keep me sane and remind me of functional behaviour instead of dysfunctional behaviour that I see around me and in myself.
Thank you Guardian, for putting it so beautifully.

 

[Ripred]

I am so sorry for your loss and also had a dog live with me for 16 wonderful years. I did get another dog earlier than I had planned and I found that even though in theory I wasn't ready, it was great. The heart is boundless and I believe your dog would have wanted you to give a loving home to another canine in need.
Just a thought, looking at dogs from Craig's list usually means puppy mill dogs and horrid suffering for the parents. You've pointed out so poignantly that human cruelty is so sickening and puppy mills are a perfect example of what you're speaking about, so why not avoid that route and go through a rescue organization or if you have to use a breeder, a reputable breeder where you meet the parents of the puppy and see how they live.

 

[Guardian]

Just a thought, looking at dogs from Craig's list usually means puppy mill dogs and horrid suffering for the parents.

Petfinders is a WONDERFUL resource for people looking to adopt :)

http://www.petfinder.com/

 

[NewOrleans]

buz/p,

So sorry for your loss.I know the feeling. As others have said, one sure antidote to the loss is to get another. There is a dog on some SPCA shelter or Humaine Society shelter who could use a good family. I thought I'd wait after my pet cat died, but I saw that grief was lingering, so we went to the Humaine Society shelter and picked the cat who was there the longest. Not one of the pretty ones, but the one who needed a home the most. What we got was one very grateful animal.

I won't recommend Craig's List or pet breeders. Very often they have money not animal welfare on their minds. Sometimes, ill dogs are pawned off with no regard for your care.Try a local SPCA. Or Humaine Society. These organizations believe in being socially responsible. These are abandoned dogs and cats that have been cared for. And any diseases or disabilities will have been dealt with by qualified vets there.

If you go in there with no expectations, and the option to leave empty handed, sometimes the right dog for you will step forward and it'll be an instantaneous connection.


Best wishes.

 

[buz/p]

I came into the office yesterday to see my wife poring over Craig's List looking at puppies. I believe it is too soon to be thinking in terms of having another dog to share our lives. But she is already attempting to fill the void. So this weekend we are going to look at a puppy. Sigh...

I went through about the same experience this past summer. I lost my dear companion at age 16. She passed in her sleep, after living a long, full life...all quite natural, but it left a HUGE gaping hole in my life.

I was going to wait awhile before I found a new companion, but within a few weeks I was looking longingly at Shelter and Rescue org. websites.

Part of me wanted to wait because I felt like I should wait out of respect for the wonderful companion I'd just lost....but it wasn't working out well. Without a dog, I literally started coming apart at the seams. I just could not bear all the horrors of living in this world without a big furry ball of unconditional love to grab onto when it all gets too overwhelming. Doggie kisses really do make everything better...at least for me. Finding a new companion didn't stop the grieving process, in fact quite the opposite. It helped me work through the loss.

What I'm clumsily trying to get at is a question I suggest asking yourself. Why do you feel like you should wait before filling that "void?" For me it felt "disrespectful" not to wait, even though I wanted to fill the hole left by the loss. Then I got to thinking that my old girl wouldn't want me to feel so miserable and alone, and I suspect Bentley would feel the same way about yawl.

You are of course correct. Part of me thought that I should give Bentley the needed time for mourning his passing. I also thought that jumping in too soon in adopting another dog could bias the choice and increase the likelihood of making an error in judgement. All of that went out the window when it became apparent that my wife was becoming desperate to fill the hole. She made me understand that Teddy [the brother of Bentley] had been gone to her for over a year. You see Teddy had gone totally deaf and blind and he suffered from dementia for the last year of his life. So she had been mourning the passing of a friend while he was still physically here. I had not been alert to this. That is why we went off on Saturday to look at pups. A surprise was in store,(naturally).

I knew that I didn't want a "Toy dog". In fact, I had stated many times that my ideal would be a regulation guard dog a member of the 'elite' force I imagined that I would build to help secure our small empire against: burglars, solicitors, assassins and raving zombie hordes. My wife wanted a companion who would cuddle and lay warmly in her lap. However, she concurred that we would in fact end up with a canine friend who could hold up their end in taking care of our imaginary sheep.

The first 'puppy' on our list was a little cutey (as per photo) who was theoretically an Irish Setter/Cocker mix a couple months old. OK. This dog had already been passed around and the next stop was the pound. The address was in an older part of town and the house was in fact a shack. We were met by a pack of dogs and one of the nastiest little brats I had seen in a long time. The man and woman were not quite swimming in the human pond. I made the mistake of asking to use their bathroom. Walking through the bedroom I noticed that the actual floor was buried under several inches of ___? I returned to find the boy beating on the pup's nose with his fist as the supposed parents looked on with blank stares. I did a dangerous thing and moved in to discipline the boy. "Do you think that the dog enjoys that?" No reaction from the parents.

My wife and I stepped outside to discuss the situation. We both agreed that we could not in good conscience leave with out the pup. We had painted ourselves into a corner. Inside the dog's mouth were some of the prettiest adult teeth you would ever want to see. Although she was very small, I now estimated her age as somewhere between five and seven months old. So much for the plan. My wife got her secret wish although she has apologized profusely for having gotten us into the situation.

On arriving back home we sat down to watch "Groundhog Day" which has become our tradition. As the credits rolled by I realized that the dog's name was now Andie after the female lead in the film. What a gift... I had forgotten how curiously alert and full of reckless energy a young dog can be. She is smart, fearless, loving and funny. She was an antidote to depression. Take one and see me in the morning.

Of course we all know what this means. Because of our unexpected adoption there is another dog out there destined to join the suddenly growing family. Next time it will be the fierce guard dog. I promise.