So - what do you DO after a dog passes?

Stacey, I only now read your post. I'm so sorry Jake is gone to the Bridge, but he'll never be gone from your heart. Our pups have a way of leaving indelible pawprints in our lives.
When my first Golden, Natasha, died, I planted a yellow flowering shrub (kerria japonica) in my backyard in her memory.
I have the ashes of my second one, Irina, in a marble urn inside a big planter which I always fill with flowers in the spring.
Although no pup will replace Jake, when you're ready for a new friend you'll know it and the cycle of love will start all over again.

I was so distraught when I put Rosco to sleep that I told the vet to keep his collar and everything. So, I don't anything left that reminds me of Rosco. Actually, I do have something. ....A huge hole in my shed wall and my house. He got stuck in between the shed and we tried to use a jack to get him out. We wound up having to cut a hole in the wall.

We have all of my childhood dog's collars though.

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Originally posted by Tonya
I was so distraught when I put Rosco to sleep that I told the vet to keep his collar and everything. So, I don't anything left that reminds me of Rosco. Actually, I do have something. ....A huge hole in my shed wall and my house. He got stuck in between the shed and we tried to use a jack to get him out. We wound up having to cut a hole in the wall.

We have all of my childhood dog's collars though.

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I remember when he got stuck! LOL.

Everything you're feeling right now is completely normal - crying at pictures, stating that you don't want another dog ever, etc. You will never stop missing Jake, but the pain will dull over time - I promise you that. Don't take the pictures down - keep them up and add more! They will help keep Jake in your heart and mind, and eventually you will smile at the memories you have of those pictures and not cry.

If you should ever feel that you'd like another dog, do it! No, no one can ever replace Jake but there are lots of other great dogs out there in need of a good home. They're not your Jake but they will grow into their own personalities with you and you will love them for who they are, just as you did with Jake.

As for his food - shelters would love to have you donate that. They need so much help, they're grateful for any little bit anyone can give them.

I don't want to think of the day that I'll lose Samantha. I was in hysterics over having to give Lila back after only having her for four days, so I can't imagine how I'll feel in 15 (or more, I hope) years when it's Sam's time to go. However, I want to get a personalized marker/stone for the garden in her honor and then I plan on having her cremated and kept in an urn until *I* go - and then I want her urn placed in my casket with me.

This is what I have set up for my boys, in the doggie room where Tommy and Tasha sleep. I like to think my boys are looking over them while they rest.

http://img47.photobucket.com/albums/...c/memorial.jpg

Those are urns with their ashes sealed up in them. I think I left Willie's collar on him at the vet's after he passed... I was too distraut to think to get it, but I had his leash, so I put Cody's collar on one side and Willie's leash on the other, and the candles I will light sometimes on both sides. I also made memorial webpages for them as well.

You never stop missing them, but the pain does ease. Sometimes it may hit you from time to time. I know I used to often dream of my boys and wake up distressed. My mother-in-law wanted all traces of her sheltie, Devon, erased after he passed because she just couldn't handle it, but for me I feel like I want reminders and memorials for me to see, almost as if it's a way to be as close as I can to them until we meet at the Bridge.

So sorry to read about your loss - it eventually gets better, but not for a while.
When Rosie was killed in February by a truck, my husband had her cremated and she came back in an urn with a 1/2 charm heart for me to put on a chain and the other half mixed with her ashes. (our vet hosp. took care of the arrangements). We had a ceremony and buried some of her ashes along with some biscuits beneath a little blue spruce tree we planted in her memory. It helped, but I miss her so. After a few months, we found the right dog to add to our family, not to replace her, but because huskies love company and Star was so sad after losing Rosie. It's been a month with Sherman here, and it has really helped our hearts heal.
When you meet the right dog, you'll know it. They all bring such blessings!

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everybody!

Those urns really are beautiful. I wonder when Jake's ashes will arrive.

I think you do whatever feels right for you at the time...

when my pets die,, I keep thier collars of course,,forever... I kept bedding and all the toys in a box until I was ready to let them go. when I did,, I gave them to the local shelter...

Please do not remove Jake from your signature, he is so beautiful on this photo. I fell in love with him.

I still remember when you posted in Health about the change in his behavior (suddenly he became more affectionate), I responded that Rex acts like that just before he gets ill. Maybe that time Jake began to sense he was about de depart from his family. Excuse me, this is not a topic for this thread, but just came in my mind.

I can only imagine the void he left in your home.


Rosana
and
Rex

You know, Canis - I do remember you saying that! You were right! Hmmmmm - Toby's acting very affectionate lately. I wonder if I should take him to the vet? I can see it now - me going to the vet because my cat was being unusually affectionate.

Maybe Jake was just saying his goodbyes.

Our dog became a great deal more affectionate and more tolerant of hugs & kisses after her companion died. It seemed like her whole personality changed. She adopted many little quirks that her companion had, such as sitting with her chin on the back of the car seat looking out the back, squishing herself against the kennel fence to be scratched, leaning on us, and rolling over to get her belly rubbed (which she NEVER did before). Its been six months now and Star still emulates Rosie. Anyone else experience big changes in their pets when one died?