Yes, it can. Thanks for your thoughts.

Family, that's what they are. We love them, but they give it right back.

One of my favorite stories involves Stubby sitting on the floor in front of me, looking at me for a while, whimpering a bit, waiting a bit longer, and then picking the ball up that was next to him and then throwing it on my foot! After I stopped laughing, we played ball.

We will probably look to adopt again in spring. Thank you.

Thanks, Bonnie. I know you understand.

Thank you. As a critter lover you definitely understand.

Dozer, I'm sure you are a fine canine! Thanks.

Those memories are very much alive. Thanks for your words.

Thank you. Time will be our best balm for the hurt.

Condolences to you as well. Thanks.

We'll adopt again, probably in spring.

In that case, you don’t understand ‘completely’! There’s a time and a place, jesus!!!

Wow, baby, what do you do for fun? Steer blind people toward cliffs?

@ofbhbofg I am a pet lover and have deeply mourned several of my dear companions. I treasure the memories of them. But, I see "the rainbow bridge" as the equivalent of believing in heaven for humans. As an atheist or agnostic, I would think that you could understand that. Why attack my motives?

Let me also add that I have buried two of my dearest companions in my vegetable garden with my own hands, hoping that some of the atoms and molecules that comprised them may become a part of me and my life again.
That is love and respect.

@wordywalt That’s fine and dandy, but it doesn’t excuse belittling others’ expression of their feelings. Logic has its place, but it doesn’t work with emotions. Your reaction, whilst laudable, is devoid of emotion. Maybe you need to consider that. Irrespective of our lack of belef in a ‘heaven’, there are still cultural ties that we can buy into without losing our integrity.

E.G: I’m looking forward to christmas - I’ll pay no heed to its christian and pagan overtones, but merely its human value. It has cultural meaning for me.

@KevinTwining Your characterization is untrue and derogatory. The pot should not be calling the kettle black.

@wordywalt It’s based on the evidence of your words. Your pot/kettle statement went right over my head I’m afraid.

@KevinTwining It is an old folk statement meaning that one who makes derogatory statements should not accuse another of the same offense. Also, as Hermann Hesse points out, we are all multifaceted, contradictory creatures. It is often when we are forced to face the contradictions that we do not want to face that real growth occurs. Facing such contradictions often makes us feel unformatable,but any real growth is a plus, not a minus.

@wordywalt I understand what pot/kettle means! I didn’t and don’t understand its use in relation to my comments. You completely and coldly dissed an emotion laden remark from the original poster. Your rationale for the dissing was entirely rational, factual, and devoid of emotion and compassion. I pointed this out, and suggested you consider that. That’s all I did. Pray, tell me what part of that was derogatory?

When one’s point of view or expression of it is challenged, that doesn’t make the challenge automatically derogatory. Did I abuse you? Did I make fun of you? Did I attack you personally in any way? No, I did none of those things. I DID attack your point of view, but I’m afraid that there is open season on views and beliefs, etc. Without that, there can be no debate. Or do you actually believe that your view, opinion, whatever, is sacrosanct and unchallengeable? That is the path to megalomania on a good day, fascism or fascistic views on a bad one

@KevinTwining Again, you mischaracterize. I did not "diss" anybody or anything. I merely expressed my personal reaction, which I have every legitimate right to. Please be more careful of how you depict other people and their actions.

@wordywalt I didn’t say anywhere that you dissed a person - you dissed their emotion laden comment. That was not an appropriate moment to go all ‘rational thinking and analysis’ on that person. You’re the one who needs to be careful - it’s pretty clear to me that you neither have nor understand empathy. If you did, you wouldn’t have said what you did.

@KevinTwining You continue to misrepresent. If you will look at my statement, you will see that I stated that I comprehend the snse of loss and sorrow at the end of the companionship of the deceased person, but displayed empathy in pointing out that we will always have treasured memories that will comfort us.

If the grieving person were my daughter or wife, I would tell them that I would prefer that she not use the term "passed away", but would console her and show understanding. You are simply off base with your characterization.

@wordywalt You accept whatever terms the other person chooses to use. Their feelings, their rules, NOT yours. There is no empathy in a form of words that takes away their right to say it any damn way they choose, on the basis of ‘what you would prefer’. It isn’t about you. But you think it is, don’t you?

@KevinTwining You are attempting to impose your perspective on me, not to inform or persuade.

@wordywalt I’m giving you my perspective. I have no ‘actual’ interest in what you think of it, or do with it. I’ve given my reasons - you dismissed them, as you dismissed everything else I mentioned, with nothing but protest and denial. You are unpersuadable, imho. And, again imho, that is because you have no or little emotional or self awareness. Everything you’ve said back to me just reinforces and strengthens what I’ve said, from my perspective. Your last reinforces it even further. You just keep digging away at that hole you’re standing in. To help you out of it, this ends here. For me anyway.
Merry Christmas. Or would you be more comfortable, and prefer, that I say ‘Happy Holidays’? Or whatever. I don’t care about that either. It’s your business.

His things will be out a long time, even though we trip over them sometimes Reminders of love.

We'll probably adopt again in spring. Thanks.

Thank you. You know what it's like.

@tioteo Yes?

@tioteo I have a little chihuahua right now that's nearing his time. He's 14 with heart problems, diabetes, cataracts and takes medicine for seizures. I'm hoping he lasts till after the new year.?

@ronnie40356 I hope so, too.

Thank you. We've been here before also. It's tough, but we'll get through it.

12 years I guess,for most Dogs,the Saint Bernards and the Great Danes,maybe 7 years,but my late wife's Aunt in Washington State had a small Dog for 22 years,unheard of, but it was deaf and blind when it passed away.

@Mike1947 true, that the smaller ones have longer lifespans

@AnneWimsey my dachshund cut me short. He was only 13 when I had to make the call. They will live longer for you... suffering but they will. (If possible) it is our responsibility to let go.

@Zoohome I have in a box,all the Dog collars of the Dogs my late wife and I had together, and information about them,taking them out once in a while,memories of when they were young and full of energy,not thinking of their later years,too sad to go there....

@Mike1947 that is nice! I want to do something with their tags. The two boys went thru so much with me - many chapters in life.

@Zoohome Maybe a shadow memory box,pictures,Dog collars,and their tags?

@Mike1947 nice idea! ?

Thank you. A number of good ideas generated here.

Good wishes for you. We love our furbabies!

Thanks for the thought. We miss him, but time is our helper.

Thank you for the kindness. We loved him for well over 15 years, but he gave it all back.

That's in the future, probably spring. We definitely believe in adopting.

Thanks for your kind words. I'm slowly getting better, more accepting, but mist still enters my eyes sometimes. His bed and toys are still out. We don't have the desire to put them away yet.

@tioteo exactly. That's part of grieving.

I've seen the quote before. Thank you for the kindness in recalling it for me.

Agreed. Thank you.