Isn’t it amazing how dogs can help people with seizures, detect cancer, seeing eye dogs, search and rescue, emotional support, hunting, military and police helpers, visiting NH and ALF, watchdogs, companions, etc.
My toy Australian shepherd, Maisie, had a rough start in life and I got her when she was nine months old. Took months before she trusted me. When I moved from my home and moved in with Mom as her caregiver, my two Aussies came with me. They learned fast the command "Go Gramma!" and they'd run to Mom and hop up on her lap. Made Mom so happy.
The last couple months of Mom's life, Maisie would hop up on Mom's lap and climb up on Mom's tummy enough to press her right ear on Mom's chest. It felt like a little hug. It made Mom very happy.
After Mom passed and we came back home, I was telling my ex how the dogs made Mom so happy and I told him about the command, "Go Gramma!" Poor Barley, my mini Aussie, raced all over desperately looking for her. I burst into tears.
I firmly believe that animals (pets) have a sort of "sixth sense". They know when we're troubled and they know when a LO is dying. Some animals will grieve for years. That's why it is so important to let the animal lie with/beside their owner after he/she has passed. I've seen dogs/cats react in different ways (sniffing, nudging, nuzzling and licking ) - but once they realize the person has passed, they can grieve, let go and usually go on with life as usual. Where would we be without our devoted, furry friends! 💙
Isn’t it fascinating? Instinct. And intelligence. I have always been a huge fan of nature. I love animals but when my last pet died, retired greyhound I decided to take a break.
My mom interferes too much. She loved him. He loved her. I was pleased about that. But she drove me nuts telling me how to care for him. I fed him every single day! She would ask if I had fed him. I gave him water daily. She had to ask daily if I had. She thought he had to pee every time she did. Oh my gosh. It became stressful which was crazy. Dogs bring so much pleasure, especially laidback greys but she turned it into an ordeal.
We had a cat for many years. I was leaving with 2 of my children for a swim meet. Our oldest was staying home with my husband. Our cat had been failing. Just before we left she very slowly climbed the stairs. Later that day my husband said she went into our son's room and managed to hop up to his bed. She died there. When we returned we had a funeral for her in our yard where we buried her. We were all crying heavily but I'm glad she died where she wanted to be.
My last kitty lived to be 16! When I met my husband to be I had her. She was my baby. He said that he didn’t like cats to which I replied, “Well, I love cats!” He asked me to ask my parents if the cat could move there and I could visit her. I told him, no way, that we were a package deal. He must have loved me a lot because he married me thinking he didn’t like cats. He grew up with dogs. I had both. My sweet cat won him over.
I took her to the vet because she wasn’t herself. He told me it was time, that he couldn’t treat her. She died in my arms at the the vets office. I asked if I could hold her when he gave her the shot to put her down. He said, of course I could. Was crying so hard I had to wait to drive home.
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Truly amazing!
The last couple months of Mom's life, Maisie would hop up on Mom's lap and climb up on Mom's tummy enough to press her right ear on Mom's chest. It felt like a little hug. It made Mom very happy.
After Mom passed and we came back home, I was telling my ex how the dogs made Mom so happy and I told him about the command, "Go Gramma!" Poor Barley, my mini Aussie, raced all over desperately looking for her. I burst into tears.
Your dogs sound precious! I would have cried too.
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Isn’t it fascinating? Instinct. And intelligence. I have always been a huge fan of nature. I love animals but when my last pet died, retired greyhound I decided to take a break.
My mom interferes too much. She loved him. He loved her. I was pleased about that. But she drove me nuts telling me how to care for him. I fed him every single day! She would ask if I had fed him. I gave him water daily. She had to ask daily if I had. She thought he had to pee every time she did. Oh my gosh. It became stressful which was crazy. Dogs bring so much pleasure, especially laidback greys but she turned it into an ordeal.
What a sweet story. I believe that too. They love us as much as we love them.
My last kitty lived to be 16! When I met my husband to be I had her. She was my baby. He said that he didn’t like cats to which I replied, “Well, I love cats!” He asked me to ask my parents if the cat could move there and I could visit her. I told him, no way, that we were a package deal. He must have loved me a lot because he married me thinking he didn’t like cats. He grew up with dogs. I had both. My sweet cat won him over.
I took her to the vet because she wasn’t herself. He told me it was time, that he couldn’t treat her.
She died in my arms at the the vets office. I asked if I could hold her when he gave her the shot to put her down. He said, of course I could. Was crying so hard I had to wait to drive home.