PUDDIN'S MEMORY PAGES

The Later Years

We moved several times over the next few years and always Puddy adjusted beautifully, at one point even tolerating two litters of six puppies in the span of eight months. All the while she enjoyed abundant good health, always playful although for shorter and shorter spans of time. By 1997 her once dark grey coat was beginning to turn more silver grey and I was forced to accept that her time with me was most likely coming to an end. Still she had no health problems, her weight was good, digestion was fine and she seemed to have full use of her sight and hearing.

We continued in this vein until June of 2000, suddenly my baby stopped eating, lost control of her bladder and grew weaker and weaker every day. By this time she was 19 years old, and I was faced with the choice of putting her through extensive tests and treatment or allowing her to go with the grace and dignity with which she had always lived. Then on Saturday, June 10, as I watched, she struggled to get to her feet, staggering and crying. At that moment I knew. I had always promised Puddy that I would not force her to endure medical treatment just to keep her with me. On that awful day I was forced to keep that promise. My heart breaking I called the vet and made arrangements for her euthanization. With tears in my eyes I bid her a last farewell and placed her in her carrier for her final trip. We were expecting company within the hour so I could not accompany her. My heart broke as she was carried away from me for the last time. I have no idea how I held together that day, there were children in the company so I masked my pain until they asked for Puddin. Then with an aching heart I had to tell them that Puddy had passed on.

It has taken me many months to reach the stage where I am able to work on these pages. The heartache was initially too great. Thankfully I found the ivillage Pet Bereavement Board and a group of wonderful people who have helped and comforted me as I mourned Puddy's passing. Without them I don't know what I would have done. In November of 2000 I became a Community Leader on the board sharing duties with my wonderful co-hosts Whispersmom and Mosmomcarol. They also have pages which tell the stories of their deceased fur kids. Whispersmom's site is called Whisper In the Heart and Mosmomcarol's site is named Memories of Mo. Whispersmom also has a beautiful line of Memorial Jewelery she created, you can get more information on it by visiting her site.

Living without my Puddin hasn't been easy. She was so much a part of me, my best friend for 19 years. I'll never stop loving her but I know she is waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge. I've adopted another fur baby since then. Ironically, a little orange male named Gizzmo. I really believe Puddin had a paw in helping me find him. It seemed everywhere I looked I encountered little orange males. He's a beautiful boy, full of life and mischievious antics that keep me busy. To read more about him please click on the link to his page below.

To those of you who are visiting my pages because you have also lost a beloved pet, please know my heart aches for you. I hope you will join myself and my co-hosts on the ivillage Pet Bereavement Board. Sharing the loss of a loved fur child with others who understand is the first step in learning to live without them. To those of you who still have your beloved fur kids with you, treasure each day, love them with all your heart, and give them a hug for me.

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