Damn that's tough. Just hang in there and when the time is right get another dog to help you along. The thing with pets is the unconditional love they give you and that will last forever. Keep the good memories and look forward to new ones in the future. We lost Shredder, our Siberian, 3 years ago, but we got Murphi, the wonder Yorkie, a year and a half ago, and while we still miss the big old klutz of a Siberian, we love Murphi and she brings something to our house each day. Mostly wanting to play tug-of-war all day long.

Man, I'm getting tired of that.

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Thanks, everyone! I'm not up to individual replies just yet, but I wanted you to know that I really appreciate all of them. You've shown -- again, and again and again -- just how great a place PackersHome is, and how great its people are. I love you all.

I finally got home from the Columbus conference late last night. I can't believe how empty the house felt. Have found myself going through one dog ritual after another.

Went over to the vet this morning before work to say goodbye in person. (The vet was nice enough to keep the remains until my return, and let Happy and I have a room to ourselves for as long as I wanted when I came in.)

Some of you will probably find this crazy, but I've decided to have him cremated and buy a fairly expensive urn for the ashes, one made of glass/marble/brushed metal/polished wood. Haven't decided on which one yet, but rather than do the "cast the ashes to the wind" thing, or bury him by a bush he used to pee on, I want to have him "in the house" where he spent most of the time.

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i don't think it's crazy at all. you do whatever you feel is right, wade. i can't imagine losing our little peanut & we've only had her for a year & a half.

it's amazing how much joy the furry friends can bring to ones life. be thankful for the times you had with happy & look forward to a day when you can find that joy again.

Crazy, that's pretty cool actually. Hopefull Mrs. D treats me that well. Sorry about you losing your dog. I have a dog and a couple cats, if you need one, let me know.

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ditto.

It took me about 3 years before I got my current dog.

I love the "bury him by his favorite bush". That is a great idea.

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Whatever feels right for you Wade.....whatever feels right for you.

What VR said. Everyone handles death differently.

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The cremation thing is good in my view. Both my "babies" were cremated. I couldn't afford a fancy urn, just cheap ones. (If i could have afforded it, i'd have bought fancy ones).
The nice thing about that is, one (Norman) we had to have put to sleep in 1994, and my other one (Vincent) died of an anurism in 2000. Now, because we have had to move so many times, having them cremated has allowed us to take them with us. Had we buried them where we lived at the time, they would be unaccessable to us now.

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A final update...

I just ordered a version of the urn below (minus the pendant) for Happy's ashes. The Lhasa Apso breed has Tibetan origins, and this urn has a vaguely "Asian" look to it. I considered ones of glass/ceramic/cloisonn, but I was afraid with my usual clumsiness, I'd end up breaking it. This one still looks good, but is unbreakable brass.

I've also bought a smaller marble urn to hold about 3 cu. in. of the ashes, so my mother also has a keepsake . Finally, I'm buying a good picture frame(s) for two photos -- the one I use as my avatar here, and one I use as my cell phone wallpaper. Then both urn and photos will go where I'll see them every day (probably either atop my piano or above my desk).

Sorry, I'm babbling on and on, aren't I? But I thought some of you might want to know what I decided.

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