My Sweet Angel Peg

[Spiceysmum]

Dear Marianne,
I was so sorry and saddened to hear that your sweet Peg has passed away. It is so hard to watch their body weaken but continue to fight as long as they can. She is now at peace with your beloved Barkis, romping around together. I am sure Luna will miss Peg and she will eventually find her own way of being a leader. It will be strange for her, and you, when they have always been a couple but they do adapt in time.
Thinking of you,
Linda x

[mytil]

Oh Marianne,
I cannot tell you how horribly gutted I feel just reading this....I am so sorry.
((((hugs))))
Terry

[labblab]

Thank you again, so much, everybody. Having you all here means the world to me. Having a really hard morning. I think I was still in shock yesterday, but today I know it's real and she is never coming back. I miss her so much.

[Joan2517]

Being in shock makes it so much easier...when it wears off is when it really sinks in. They are so much a part of us and when they leave, they take that part with them. But they have us with them too. That's what comforts me when I think of Lee and all the others who have gone before her, and my Phoenix who joined her a couple of weeks later.

I always say I'll never do it again, but I do and I will...that's who we are.

Sending comforting thoughts to you, Marianne.

[apollo6]

Dear Marianne
I am so sorry for the lose of your sweet Peg. The time we have with them is never long enough.
"We can never be separated from those we love.... because God leaves us with the memories to hold and love that doesn't pass away. And in time, we realize that our loved one lives on_ _ not in a home beyond the setting sun but within our hearts. Peg will always be in your heart and soul. Peg is a part of you. A part of you died with her." Our babies are on loan from God . They make us better for having them in our lives.
MY FOREVER PET

There's something missing in my home,

I feel it day and night, I know it will take time and strength before things feel quite right.

But just for now, I need to mourn, My heart -- it needs to mend.

Though some may say, "It's just a pet," I know I've lost a friend.

You've brought such laughter to my home, and richness to my days.

A constant friend through joy or loss with gentle, loving ways.

Companion, friend, and confidante, A friend I won't forget.

You'll live forever in my heart, My sweet, forever pet.

-- Susanne Taylor

You have always been there for us. Know it is time for us to be there for you.
love Sonja, Angel Apollo, Karma

[Trish]

The whole thing sucks, I did same when that initial shock wore off. Hard to believe that life was carrying on and nothing I could do about it except ride the storm. I go to bed with his blanky wrapped around me looking at all his photos and video, I especially like the ones where he is running and barking having fun and I imagine that is what he is doing now, happy and healthy having fun with all his buddies! Hang in there Marianne xxx

[Whiskey's Mom]

My heart is breaking for you. I'm truly sorry for the loss of your sweet girl. Hugs from Whiskey and me.

[addy]

Sending hugs and love, Marianne. I hope in the coming days Luna can help comfort you.

I thought a lot about what you said earlier, about having to get to know Luna on her own. I had to do that with Koko.

I can tell you that I believe Luna will be full of surprises for you.
Koko brought me such comfort, I just know Luna will help you too.

Big hugs and lots of love.

[mytil]

We are all here for you Marianne!!! I know the emptiness can be overwhelming and it just crushes your heart. I know she will be met by some amazing pups including Barkis and Mytilda and Clancy who will welcome her.
My continued ((((hugs))))
Terry

[molly muffin]

Sending huge hugs to you Marianne.

Spend time with Luna that is the best thing other than time to heal a broken heart.

We love you!

[Budsters Mom]

Thinking of you, hubby, your Mom and lovely Luna. I hope your mom is up to visiting this weekend. Likely not to be the best of Father's Days, but it least you would all be there together. ;)

Hugs,

[Tina]

Me too Marianne, thinking of you all and sending lots of love and big hugs. I understand exactly what you mean about Luna. It was just that way for me and Jasper when I lost Dakota. I called him my little savior because that is exactly what he was. Big hugs. xo

[addy]

Good morning Marianne,

Thinking of you this morning and sending

((((((((Hugs))))))))))

[Joan2517]

Marianne, maybe you can make a photo frame from the sticks and put Peg's picture in it. Or just tie them together with a pretty piece of ribbon and keep them where you can see and touch them.

It was the same way for me after Lena died...I just wanted to sleep because waking up and knowing she was gone was just too painful for me. We had a stuffed animal that resembled her and I slept with it for that first week until my husband brought home the puppy.

I still wake up a lot at night and reach out for her...and it still shocks me to feel that empty space. None of the other furbabies sleep in her spot in the bed or on the arm of the couch, it's like they know that will always be Lena's space and off limits.

[labblab]

Thank you all for your hugs, I sure do need them and appreciate them.

Joan, I love your idea and I've already tied up the sticks with a purple ribbon since Peg's collar was always purple. Addy, I saw the note you left for me on Trish's thread and the notion of the necklace is so sweet and comforting that I am going to think that over. That may be just the thing.

We saw my mom yesterday. She and hubby both had annual exams scheduled with their cardiologist. When we picked her up, we all three agreed that we would not talk about Peg then or else we'd all arrive at the doctor's office sobbing. On the way home, we asked my mom to come for the weekend so that we could all have the time and space to cry -- and also hopefully smile some -- together. At first she said no, she couldn't bear to come to the house yet. But we talked some more and hubby told her it would help him on Sunday, and she finally decided yes. So I know it will be hard for us all, but I also think it will be an important step for us all to take together. Thank goodness there will be only one "first time" for so many of the hardest steps.

And also thankfully, Luna still seems to be taking things in stride. My mom thinks maybe Luna realized that Peg was not well and somehow accepted that things would be changing even before we humans did. My mom may just be right.

[Joan2517]

I am glad to have helped in some small way, Marianne.

My mom has Alzheimer's and by the time Lena died, she had no recollection of all the special moments they had together. Maybe it was better for her, but every time I mention Lena, I have to repeat her getting sick and dying...it's hard.

You are blessed that you will be able to share the memories with your mom.

[DoxieMama]

Marianne,

You have been in my thoughts these past few days. I have wanted to reach out and provide some comfort but I haven't the words. This week is an especially difficult time for my mom, reliving a loss she experienced so many years ago. Her ability to reach out and try to support me while she deals with her memories and heartache... it continues to amaze me. While reading the posts throughout the site this week between all of you who have lost a loved one recently, it just touches me deeply, this week of all weeks. I am so incredibly astonished and awed by the love and support you show one another, in spite of, or perhaps because of, your shared grief.

The locket is an absolutely beautiful idea, as is the frame.

May you have a beautiful weekend with your mom, hubby and Luna, remembering and honoring Peg.

Many many hugs,
Shana

[Tammysmom]

Marianne ,my thoughts and prayers are with you, your husband, mom and Luna. May the happy times you shared with your dear Peg bring comfort and a smile to your face. As well as the comfort from your family here that loves you and Peg so much. Brianna

[Budsters Mom]

I had Buddy's froggy and his cuddle blanket on the foot of my bed for over a year!!!! ;)

Use whatever you need to help you heal. How about a baby sized blanket (thrift store) with some of Daddy's socks sewn on. You can cuddle up with that. :p Sticks aren't great cuddle friends!;)

[Tina]

Marianne,
I loved reading about Peg's sticks and how you retrieved them and tied them with a purple ribbon. It happens to be my favorite color. So special, I wish I would have thought to keep something like that for Dakota. Her collar that she wore all the time is so special for me, I keep it out on the little table with her ashes. I will hold it sometimes when I am missing her so, it helps. Another thing I did is put one of her tags on my key ring so something of hers would always be with me. It is there to this day. I slept with her ashes quite a few times and then with the box next to the bed for months and months. Sometimes I still bring them back to set by the bed at night.

I have been thinking of you and Peg so much. And especially thinking of you, your Mom and your husband today on Father's Day. I know it will be rough.

Sending love and lots of hugs, especially today. xo

[labblab]

Thank you all. It is a tough day, alright. We are trying to carry on as normal with Luna, but the changes are hard. We brought my mom over yesterday afternoon and so we are kinda reliving the "firsts" all over again through her. She is grieving so much for her doggy soulmate. At age 96, she asks us, "who will do the same thing for me when I am too tired to go on?" I think she almost feels that way now, especially in her sadness at so many loved ones gone. It is hard to hear her ask that question. :( :( :( :( :(

On a better note, we received a card from the our vet with a lovely packet of "Forget-me-not" seeds, and most especially, an ink print of Peg's paw!!! :) Even though they do not make casts, they made an ink print, or at least they made one for us this time. So that is comforting for both hubby and me and we will definitely get it framed to keep with us always.

Definitely a day to love and honor all three of our furkids. Each one precious and dear to our hearts. :o :o :o

[addy]

I love that you now have Peg's paw print. How lovely it will be framed.

Sorry about the first with your mom. I didn't realize she is 96, mine is 92. It is hard for them when they have lost so many in their lives. I think about quality of life with my mom a lot. It's hard as we all get older.

Hugs and love being sent your way.

[lulusmom]

Marianne, it is very sweet that your vet captured Peg's paw print in ink. I suspect that you will be talking to that paw print for a long, long time. Lulu's paw print is in clay and I keep it on my dresser. We talk every day, sometimes several times a day. Of course, it becomes a group chat because I have to talk to all my other kids who have passed but Lulu is my channel. :)

You and yours remain front and center in my thoughts and prayers. (((big consoling hugs)))

[DoxieMama]

That is so wonderful about the paw print!

Many hugs for your family today.

[Trish]

Hey Marianne
So pleased about the paw print, I never got one of those, didn't even think about it. We did snip a wee bit of his lovely fur though and Mike was careful to get some black and white. A lovely card arrived in the mail this weekend from him too, his kind words meant a lot to me. Glad you were all together for Father's Day, your poor Mum, that was a hard thing to do as they get so attached to their GrandDoggies :( xx

[Whiskey's Mom]

I've been thinking of you and your family often. Your poor Mom, bless her heart, missing Peg so much. I went through much the same with my Mom-she loved Whiskey and how happy He made the kids. So happy that you got the ink paw print-what a sweet remembrance. I made pawprints out of salt dough several years ago and made them into Christmas ornaments. My daughters display them all year <3. I saw a business on Etsy(I think) where you can send the ink pawprints to them and they will make it into jewelry. If I can find it I'll post or send you the link, the pieces were beautiful.
Hugs to you all.

[lulusmom]

I saw a business on Etsy(I think) where you can send the ink pawprints to them and they will make it into jewelry. If I can find it I'll post or send you the link, the pieces were beautiful.

A friend of mine sent me the url to a business (below) who does exactly what you mention. I don't wear jewelry at all which is a good thing because I am seriously allergic to anything less than 18 kt and I'm not sure I could afford even Lulu's tiny footprint in 18 kt. :D

http://www.4pawsforever.org/custom-paw/

[Whiskey's Mom]

The shop is Cherished Sentiments on Etsy. I've never ordered anything from them but their things are so special and they have favorable reviews.

[lulusmom]

Here is the URL to Cherished Sentiments

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherishedSentiments

[Budsters Mom]

AWWWWWW!!!! A big bear sized paw print of our sweet Peg. Yes, definitely frame it and include a picture of her.;)

[molly muffin]

I am so glad your vet did the ink print. Very thoughtful.

Your poor mum. I am sure it is hard for all of you. Maybe she can bond and play with Luna more to help ease the heart ache.

[Tina]

I'm so happy to read about the paw print, that is something you will treasure forever. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you all and sending continued love and hugs. xo

[Harley PoMMom]

Just thought I would stop by and give you some huge and loving hugs.

[DoxieMama]

Just thought I would stop by and give you some huge and loving hugs.

Me too. Group hug!!

[Trish]

Oh yes, I am in the the group hug (((((((HUGS)))))))

[SasAndYunah]

And a midnight hug from me and Quincy... I think a lot about you (and yours) :)

Sas :)

[kanga]

Hello, sad to hear what happen to your baby:(
Don't haven't experience this before, hope the vet finds whats the best treatment for your lovable dog. Sending my thoughts and prayers.

[Allison]

Marianne, hugs.

I'm so sorry for your loss of Peg. I had hoped that she would continue to stabilize. Sounds as if she were a trooper to the very end. Thanks for posting the photo. She's quite a pretty and happy girl.

Having lost so many pets, I second your advice to do whatever we can for them when we're alive. Actually, it's good advice for our own lives. If we have desires or dreams, we need to pursue them while we can. The loss of a senior dog from my twenties taught me about the brevity of life. I don't always live up to that lesson, but I do try hard to make all moments count.

Enjoy getting to know Luna in her own right. You and her will make new and special memories too.

[addy]

Hey Marianne, it's the weekend and wanted to send love to you.
I hope your mom is ok and I hope Luna is helping you all.

[labblab]

Thank you all, so much, for your thoughts and for caring. It is two weeks now since Peg left us. She was a big girl with such a big spirit. It is so hard to overlook her absence from our home.

Today I was finally able to sort through all her bottles for meds and supplements. I kept them through the years, noting what had worked well or what had not. I was shocked to see how many bottles there were :o. She had a lot of issues. But she was so brave and never complained, ever, about any treatments we tried. She was just the sweetest dog. Ear drops, eye drops, soaking her paws in antiseptic, binding up her legs in socks, even these last weeks with the sling harness -- she was the sweetest patient and would let us do anything to try to help her. Even though in later years she would shiver with anxiety on the drives to the vet (nearly always had at least a needle stick if not more :(), once she got there she greeted everybody with her smiling face and wagging tail. Everybody loved Peg. Always.

I miss her every day, but especially so today. I love you, sweetheart, and always will.

[Budsters Mom]

Using me as a gauge, you are doing very well my dear.;) Buddy flew almost 3 years ago, and I still haven't been able to go through and toss his meds. They are in the holy Grail of a ziploc, stored away in a cabinet. All too old to ever use for Rosie, but I still can't part with them. I also still have all his medical files and documentation.

Peg is so like Buddy. Sweet to the core. I remember when we had out-of-town company and my six-year-old niece came out from the bedroom carrying Buddy. He was hanging like a ragdoll, begging to be rescued with those big brown eyes, but never growled or fussed at her at all. He never growled at anyone ever. Rosie on the other hand, always has plenty to say about EVERYTHING!!! :eek::eek: LOL

Such a huge presence in our dear Peg. Happy, waggy tail, full of love. Of course you miss her.

[Joan2517]

Marianne,

So glad to see you back. I know you miss sweet Peg...she was one of the ones who don't complain and take everything in their stride. Lena was the same, never, ever complained and was so good, always...it is so, so hard to bear.

I thought about you all the time and knew you needed space...I have missed seeing your posts....

Love,
Joan

[mommyslittlegirl]

Dear Marianne, how I wish I could say something to ease the ache in your heart .Perhaps thoughts about your beautiful and strong girl and the knowing you provided the best life for her with tons of love will bring some comfort to you. May your family and your family here continue to support and comfort you. They all love you and Peg so much.

[Trish]

Hey Marianne, I think this time after that initial shock wears off is nasty, when realisation hits that's it and there's a whole lot of emptiness where once there sat our furry little buddy. Everyone else around seems to be moving on and I am like hang on, stop this is all wrong :( it sucks. I had to throw out the last lot of flowers that people had given me, cried at that too. Three weeks today for me, so we on a similar trajectory in this period of gloom. We all so different eh, Flynns medical stuff got the boot quick smart, I wanted no reminder of that. But there is so much of his "stuff" around my home and he is everywhere I look. Bits of fur, a toy rabbit the kittens delight in dragging around the house and giving me a fright when I spot it sitting in my room where Flynns bed used to sit, his bowls and bed they have inherited, my screen savers, that blardy turkey I hunted so hard for stares at me when I open the freezer and the list goes on. I love having that all around me (well maybe the turkey can go!) and I can feel his presence all the time and I so want to keep his memory close.

The last 5 years have been so taken up caring for Flynny that I find it hard to stop, I don't want to be finished doing things for him. So I spend ages looking through his photos and videos trying to find the most perfect ones for his picture that will go on the wall, my niece wants to do a video thingamy for him and I'm not finished picking the videos or pics for that. Haven't paid his final bill, not that I won't but because it hasn't arrived yet! Maybe it was free, I doubt it though lol. But one day soon there is not going to be anything left to do for him except remember his love and joyful life and I hope by then that will be enough, but I doubt it will be so I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Gawd that was a long winded way of saying I'm with you sister in sadness, we will get through it... One day at a time xxxxxx

[Joan2517]

Beautifully said, Trish...I am still looking at pictures searching for Lena. I still have all the beds and am still shocked when she's not in them. They are such a part of our lives that when they leave, there is a huge void...Lena's been gone 4 months now. Feels like forever to me.

[Squirt's Mom]

Dearest Marianne,

I am just now seeing this....and I sit here with tears flowing down my face for you, Luna, your mom and your hubby. Peg is such a huge part of all of your hearts and Souls, and I know how this loss brings such dramatic changes to each of your worlds. There are no words that can make the journey thru the pain any better but I hope it helps to know so many understand and in that understanding can hold your hand as we cry with you.

Our deepest sympathies and much love,
Leslie, Trinket, Sophie, Fox and all our angels


On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.

And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
In the currach of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.

John O'Donohue

[addy]

Another first, hope you are doing okay today.

Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and yours.

[labblab]

Thank you, so much, my friends (and a special thank you to Peg's candle-lighter -- you know who you are!). My mom is here again with us today, and we are sharing more memories of holidays past. A few less tears today and a few more smiles, so that is a shift for which I am very grateful.

Just like Trish said, it's so hard to adjust to the new simpler routine. Peg had so many needs, especially there at the end. But I'd gladly resume all our old routine if only it meant she could be back with us, feeling well. There is a lingering hollowness to my time each day that is yet to be refilled. I suspect it may take quite a while.

But Luna is doing such a sweet job of cheering us on, and we are so lucky to have her. After all these years of fretting over how she'd handle Peg's loss when the time came, here she is, being our comfort and guide. Life is always full of surprises, after all. I will start adding to her thread in a few days, because we are still trying to get to the bottom of her limp. But today has just been a quiet family day spent together, remembering our sweet Peg with so much love. Such a gift she was to us all.

[molly muffin]

Time doesn't make us miss them less, I think it just lets us adjust to missing them a bit more. (if that made any sense) :)

I still have times I miss Tasha and she has been gone now for many years. Rather like I know you will always miss Peg and Barkis. They are just such a huge part of our lives, they take a piece of our hearts with them when they go.

[Budsters Mom]

Thinking of you! Sorry, No words of wisdom, as far as missing them less as time passes. I am still waiting for that to happen. :o

So many of us understand all too well. Know that you are surrounded by love and care and Luna is in charge. So listen to her, let her help you. She knows what to do.;)

xxxxoooo
Kathy

[Allison]

There are no words to make anything better. And why should there be? Sometimes we just have to look at photos, reflect on memories, and be happy sad. You're in my thoughts. Hugs.