The entrance to heaven for all dog lovers?

We often talk about our previous cats. In fact one of our grandsons particularly likes to hear about them. 'Tell me the story about when Fuff are the wasp again Gran.'
Of course we say goodnight to our cats every night and I say cheerio to them when I'm going out and leave one or other of them in charge until we get home!

sodapop

MayBee70

The thing that gets me every time is that picture that pops up on Facebook sometimes of two dogs in heaven talking to each other. One says ‘ they still talk about you’ to which the other dog say ‘ I know’. I’m actually blubbing just writing this!

My daughter sent me a cushion with that quote MayBee70 when our two older dogs died, it had the three dogs and the cat all in row with their names underneath. It's on their day bed upstairs. I don't care if others think it's overly sentimental it comforts me.

It’s just such a truism. Of course we still talks about them. Our wonderful labradoodle taught me more about helping a powerful dog with a high prey urge than I’d needed in the previous 40 years of living with dogs. The current young Lan is benefitting ( so are the local sheep )

I'm glad it comforts you sodapop. We both say goodnight to all of ours every night and I couldn't care less if anyone thinks that's childish, silly, whatever.

MayBee70

The thing that gets me every time is that picture that pops up on Facebook sometimes of two dogs in heaven talking to each other. One says ‘ they still talk about you’ to which the other dog say ‘ I know’. I’m actually blubbing just writing this!

My daughter sent me a cushion with that quote MayBee70 when our two older dogs died, it had the three dogs and the cat all in row with their names underneath. It's on their day bed upstairs. I don't care if others think it's overly sentimental it comforts me.

Sorry to hear that Shinamae. Dogs teach you all about unconditional love. Their only fault if they have one is that their lives are short in comparison to ours.
I don't consider it childish or silly to love Finn or miss the others that we have lost.
Without Finn, these past 2 years would have been truly awful.

I’m so sorry Shinamae. ?

I definitely should not of opened this thread, l am in floods of tears…. Our old dog is nearing the end of his life..???

?
I wish I believed in heaven, but if I did, and no dogs were allowed, I wouldn’t want to go!
I’d love to think of our two waiting for us, all waggly and so happy to see us.

I've adored every pet I've had in my life and mourned their loss...
I'm not really sure I believe in 'an afterlife' however for me it would be a lot better if they were there!

I believe my beloved dogs and cats who has passed are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge so we can all go on together. Sill perhaps but it cheers me.

Joseanne

Did anyone read about Noel Fitzpatrick onr see the programmes when his dog died? He was heartbroken and wept like a baby and had to believe he would meet her again for his own sanity.

It was incredibly sad. She got run over by a van one evening at the practice when he was leaving. Although she was 14 the team operated on her and she lived for about another year I think!.
I have one of those little dogs, he’s 16.❤️
I have 3- 1 cat and 2 dogs waiting for me.
So sorry to hear about your dog GSM?

We spend more time with our dogs throughout their lives than we do with people, with the exception of our children when they’re very young and we have to be with them 24/7. So when they leave us their presence still seems to remain for a long time ( at least that’s how I’ve always felt). I read once that the Native Americans believed that it took a year for an animals spirit to find itself final resting place. Maybe it’s something to do with the non verbal relationship we have with our dogs, the connection on a different level to the relationship we have with people (well, non verbal on her part that is). Or the fact that they hear and smell at a level beyond our comprehension.

I have two old friends who were shepherds all their working life. In retirement, neither of them has a dog. I asked one of them why and his reply was - My dogs were not pets, they were well trained working colleagues. You would not expect me to take my apprentice or co-worker into my home when I retired. He was a young dog, with many years ahead of him doing what he loved best, so I sold him on to a younger Shepherd. I would never want a dog other than a Collie but that would be unfair to the dog to make him a house pet, when his breed needs to out running in the hills every day.

So sorry Iam.
My feelings exactly Joseanne. My belief is that there is a spiritual connection which survives death. If I didn’t believe I would meet all my loved ones again, human and animal, in spirit form life would feel pretty pointless and I would be tempted to say Why carry on?

I do miss them terribly - when I have to say goodbye it's awful - still, I just can't fathom the 'meeting again' bit, probably as I have no religion.

No, crikey, I'm not a farmer, I'm a vegan, but can see that they'd just have to be unsentimental and somewhat detached. I don't understand how people say they're 'animal lovers' when they enjoy eating them. How do you square that?

Vegetarians somehow manage to ignore all the suffering caused by their dairy consumption, too. I'm not sentimental but I do have principles!

Maybe it is the seeing them in heaven bit people make fun of Germanshepherdsmum. Of course that is a very personal belief. I am certainly not immature enough to believe my pets will appear to me in the same shape or form, but I have to believe in a spiritual connection or what's the point?

It’s almost 2 years since our lovely big labradoodle died. I’ve gone over to the dark side, or should that be the light side. I talk about the rainbow bridge, imagine her there with our old cross breed rescue, her best pal and the young spaniel cross who sadly went over that bridge aged 6 with an inoperable tumour. Those 3 together, happy in some doggy paradise. Lost cause here ????

Well said Joseanne. How can it be childish or silly to miss a much love pet terribly and hope you will meet them again?

Did anyone read about Noel Fitzpatrick onr see the programmes when his dog died? He was heartbroken and wept like a baby and had to believe he would meet her again for his own sanity.

Hetty58

I really love my pets - but can't stand all this childish silliness!

Thank you for the comment.
No one is being foolish nor jejune in this thread. "Childlike" might have been a better choice of word than childish, if you mean experiencing the simple joys of owning a pet and the tears at having to say goodbye. I for one am glad that I haven't lost those innocent emotions. Did you know that we lose the ability to laugh as much as adults? Heaven help us if we lose the ability to express our love.

Hetty58

I really love my pets - but can't stand all this childish silliness!

Are you a farmer's wife?

One of my friends grew up on a farm and another is married to a farmer and I've noticed that whilst they love and care for theirpets as much as the next person, they are very unsentimental and there are a few eye rolls when people in my friendship group talk of rainbow bridges etc.

I don't believe there's anything afterwards, but I expect if it gives people comfort then it's not doing any harm

I really love my pets - but can't stand all this childish silliness!

I haven't got a dog but I have got to know many on my walks so this has made me quite weepy ?

The thing that gets me every time is that picture that pops up on Facebook sometimes of two dogs in heaven talking to each other. One says ‘ they still talk about you’ to which the other dog say ‘ I know’. I’m actually blubbing just writing this!

I feel for you GSM.
A very similar beautiful face to the one shown last looked at me 18 years ago. How I miss her.