Spok has left us.

First topic message reminder :

He was let go today in his home with his family around him.
Loved to bits by all. Kisses Spok. XXX Your journey is not yet over. Till we all see you again. Run over the rainbow bridge.....There are so many that will be looking for you!  

My little mate is gone, I love him & I am devastated.

Sorry, I can't type through the tears.

Two words - Man. Flu. What a load of rubbish!

Well, grand mum & dad have flown home. The kids can finally go back to school so... we are going to see them tomorrow for dinner.

I want to take flowers & a card, but I dont want to upset them again? Maybe just a card for them to keep.

I think I'm going to take both. His mum can also press a flower then to remember we loved him as well.

That's a nice idea Tracy, I'm sure they will appreciate it.

I think that's a lovely thought I'm sure it'll be appreciated!

Eleanor wrote:Two words - Man. Flu. What a load of rubbish!

I'll have you know....
"Man flu" is not rubbish... mention the phrase to any Dr, mum, wife, daughter & they will know exactly whats wrong. Dad's & son's are slightly less aware of this illness that women suffer from while their men are dying.

I like that!

We have seen our friends tonight.
I am so pleased we saw them but I really don't know what to say now?

Spok didn't run to the door & jump on me. He didn't sit on my lap, squishing me as he rolled over for a belly rub. No nose buts. No paw scratching my leg.( I'd like a scratch thanks). An empty bed. A poster sized framed pic of Spok.

His family are crushed.

So many tears & memories. So many things to say.

Love you baby. XXX

The rainbow bridge story was never told to them as Spok was their 1st dog. I told it to his mum in the kitchen as we both cried. We decided she will tell dad later as it would be to hard for him tonight.
Dad did the best by his mate but it has taken a huge toll on him.

Bullies are so filled to the brim with character. They take up such a huge part of your heart.

Do you think they'll get another dog at some point? Whether they do or not, I hope they can come to terms with what has happened and look back fondly at the memories.

They will get another bully. It will happen. But, not for some time to come. Spok's dad would not allow a pup in for quite sometime, he would see it as trying to replace Spok.

Though you can never replace a dog, you can love another. It is just far too soon at the moment.

I dont mean to harp, but Spok was a pivotal part of the family.

Mum & dad walked him twice a day. The kids ruffed him up. He went camping, fishing.
His portrait pic has been up for yrs. His dad stands infront of it every morn when he would normally be feeding Spok. Dad works nightshift so, when the kids go to bed...mum sits alone, expecting Spok to jump on the couch, guard the house, bark when dad arrives home.

Everybody recovers from loss at a different pace. I'm glad they don't intend to be without a dog forever, though, as it can leave such a huge hole in the house.

They really do worm their way into your heart! Last year, Demps went to Yorkshire with mum and dad. I only went a week without Dempsey, but I missed him terribly.

They're incredible dogs for children, as well So gentle. The kids must have loved him!

Eleanor wrote:Bullies are so filled to the brim with character.

All breeds are. A family member is a family member. Especially if you are a doggie lover.

Eleanor wrote: Everybody recovers from loss at a different pace. I'm glad they don't intend to be without a dog forever, though, as it can leave such a huge hole in the house.

They really do worm their way into your heart! Last year, Demps went to Yorkshire with mum and dad. I only went a week without Dempsey, but I missed him terribly.

They're incredible dogs for children, as well So gentle. The kids must have loved him!

They will have another puppy eventually, sometime in the future.
The void of Spok not being "under their feet" the void of him just walking around. Someone to walk everyday.

I trully feel their pain.
Mum & the kids (teens) would except a pup far sooner than dad, he's going to take some time. Spok was his 1st & foremost mate.

I think a lot of people underestimate the impact a dog can have on somebody's life.

That they do... Spok was about as close to a bone marrow match as you get.
He trully was our puppy.

I mean, their boy. He was not mine, but... he was my babe.

It does take time to recover from the loss of a dearly loved dog, and grief has to be worked through and come to terms with. And obviously, no future dog is ever a "replacement".

It's not only different people, but different dogs and the circumstances.

For instance, my first dog Zeta (Dobie) had bone cancer at 10 years old so I knew her days were numbered. When the time came she was given release at home. I cried and mourned of course but felt ready for another puppy in about 3 months time.

Rio (Dobie) was a particularly sweet dog and very much my shadow. She also contracted bone cancer at 11 years old and when she passed away at home I thought my heart would break. I could cope with day-to-day life (as I had to) after a day or two, but didn't want another dog - ever.

However my son agitated on and off for several years about getting another dog, and practically presented me with a fait accompli with Trigger (Staffie). As related elsewhere, we lost him at 3 months old and after only 4 days with us to a congenital condition, and we were inconsolable. The same day with faces swollen with tears we visited the breeders to tell them and they offered us a replacement puppy, which my son accepted. This was Kuchar. I must admit that I was still so full of grief I couldn't fully accept him at first (I was still crying about Trigger the following day at least). Now, of course, I love Kuchar to bits.

Tracy - you will all heal and one day be able to remember Spok without tears and anguish s to you all in the pain you are currently suffering.

Thank you all so much.

Lynda words cannot describe what we are all feeling but I know those of us that have lost before understand. Spok was just such a sweetheart. (As they all are) I was the 1st call by mum as she knew he was also my boy. He may have lived there but....he is my 3rd dog.

Give Kuchar a hug from me. He is a lucky boy to have found your home, or maybe you all are lucky to have found him. My dad always said... no matter how bad things are, there is always something good to be found, you just need to look sometimes. I am really happy your son said yes. Could you imagine life without Kuchar now?
There is always enough love for another member to our family, no matter our pain.

I ache because grandma & pa told them.. its just a dog..get another one...why are you spending money on a cremation?
Oh, its been an awful week. Their 1st loss, parents in the house that are not doggie people... I know they (& I) will recover but Spok's dad is currently very angry & hurt.

The pain is pretty raw for now.

Kiss & hug your puppies from me today.

tracyp wrote:
I ache because grandma & pa told them.. its just a dog..get another one...why are you spending money on a cremation?
Oh, its been an awful week. Their 1st loss, parents in the house that are not doggie people... I know they (& I) will recover but Spok's dad is currently very angry & hurt.

That's heartless! What an uncaring thing to say. I take it they've never known a dog's selfless love?

That was a very insensitive thing for them to say!

Tracy, I'm so sorry that you and the caring members of your family are having such a hard time. It doesn't help if some other people don't understand and say something hurtful, maybe in a clumsy attempt to get you to "pull yourself together". I can't remember what he said (it was 12 years ago now when I lost Rio) but a work colleague said something to me along similar lines and I remember snapping " 'Fred', I'm still grieving."

It WILL get better, I promise

Re reading the post.....

Both grandparents comments & loosing Spok still hurts both Spoks family & us.

As much as I love little Indio..... He's not Spok. He is a new puppy to love & embrase but I too still miss Spok.

We never stop missing them.