To any pet owners...

[ricoFlame]

I love my dog, he's been there for every major event in my life in recent times both good and bad, and he's my best friend. this letter woulda made me cry anyways, but as a dog owner/friend, it's tough.

[underGRADFlame]

Damn, I haven't felt like full out crying in years but I had to fight it back reading that.
And burn_baby_burn, I feel sorry for you that you feel that way about a living creature. As its been said over and over in this forum before, many people look at they're pets as children, but unlike children, your pets never talk back to you, never scream at you, and show nothing but loyalty and affection. Yes it may be easier to physically easier to replace a pet than a child but the emotional effect on people can be just as devistating.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

That letter is ridiculous. Its a dog, not a kid. Accidents happen, buy another puppy.

A man's life is best judged in his treatment towards animals.

[HalifaxDrunk]

I'm gonna go hug my dog right now....

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by HalifaxDrunk

I'm gonna go hug my dog right now....

I wish I could do the same

Originally Posted by fotze

Why is that rainbow bridge thing familiar? I swear I have heard something like this before.

I went into my e-mail and went back to when Turk passed away, and found the e-mail one of my best friends sent me when she heard about my puppy.


Just this side of heaven is a place called RainbowBridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to RainbowBridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross RainbowBridge together....

[burn_baby_burn]

Forgive me if I don't share the same sense of loss as some of you here. Most people on this forum have lost pets. And yes when an animal dies that is very close to you it is a sad ocassion. But I feel that this letter is a little over the top and just a call for sympathy and attention. If any of you, and I'm sure there are plenty of you, have lost a loved one or someone that is very close to you. The pain from that is much, much worse than the pain of losing a loyal pet. If I got a phone call that my dog had died I would be sad, but I would get over it pretty quickly. But if I recieved a phone call about, god for bid, one of my children dying. I don't know if I could handle that. I can't help but think of the many people out there in the world today that have lost a child. It makes this letter about a dog getting run over seem very trivial.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Damn, I haven't felt like full out crying in years but I had to fight it back reading that.
And burn_baby_burn, I feel sorry for you that you feel that way about a living creature. As its been said over and over in this forum before, many people look at they're pets as children, but unlike children, your pets never talk back to you, never scream at you, and show nothing but loyalty and affection. Yes it may be easier to physically easier to replace a pet than a child but the emotional effect on people can be just as devistating.

I'm sorry but this is going a little too far. I can appreciate that people love their pets and it is a terrible and painful loss when they die, but the death of a dog or cat simply cannot be compared to the loss of human child and the devastating emotional effect that would have on the parents. The idea is almost insulting.

The woman who wrote the letter in question is obviously quite upset about the loss of her dog, but I'm sure she's not quite as sad as she would be if one of the kids she mentioned in the letter had darted out into the street instead of the family dog.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'm sorry but this is going a little too far. I can appreciate that people love their pets and it is a terrible and painful loss when they die, but the death of a dog or cat simply cannot be compared to the loss of human child and the devastating emotional effect that would have on the parents. The idea is almost insulting.

I agree.

There are only 2 kinds of people that would sincerely believe that the loss of pet compares to the untimely death of a loved one. Most are people that have never experienced the untimely death of a loved human companion. The others... well, I'm not going to go there right now.

[underGRADFlame]

Well my aunt would disagree then, she lost a son and just recently her beloved dog. In her heart the loss she felt was equally as painful, her words not mine. Lossing a loved one is never easy reguardless of the life being a human or canine.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Well my aunt would disagree then, she lost a son and just recently her beloved dog. In her heart the loss she felt was equally as painful, her words not mine. Lossing a loved one is never easy reguardless of the life being a human or canine.

You are saying that this means she brought the love of her animal to the same level as her son. Anything's possible I guess. Of course, there is a less flattering way to look at it as well.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You are saying that this means she brought the love of her animal to the same level as her son. Anything's possible I guess. Of course, there is a less flattering way to look at it as well.

It all depends what type of relationship you have with your pet. Some people consider them just their pet and although they feel bad about them dieing they can shrug it off easier. Some people consider them family members and when they die it's absolutely devistating. People who just consider pets "pets" have a hard time understanding it though.

[Burninator]

Okay you people that are saying that the letter is over the top need to leave this thread and grow a heart. Lots of people are very attached to their pets. Not everyone has children. Some people don't want/can't or are not ready to have children. A pet can be a substitute for that type of companionship and love. It is not hard to have similar emotions for pets as do some people for children. I am not saying that people and pets are on the same level. Far from it. I am saying that is normal for people to attach strong emotions to pets. I come home and usually the first greating I get is from my dog. It's been like that way for the past seven years. I would be sad if I came home and didn't see him because he was no loinger there.

The women that wrote this letter is not looking for attention to gratify her grief, nor is she saying that people and pets are on the same level. She is looking for people to show some compassion towards animals. Despite the fact that some people look at pets as furniture and others as a member of the family is a moot point when you hit one with your car and don't have the courtesy or thought to consider for a second that, that animal is a very important part of someones life.

[Peanut]

Here's another story about the Rainbow Bridge, if you're interested:

Rescuer's Rainbow Bridge

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.

But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred, he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge.

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see" said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed her towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer." The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of her work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.

(Author Unknown)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Inferno

It all depends what type of relationship you have with your pet. Some people consider them just their pet and although they feel bad about them dieing they can shrug it off easier. Some people consider them family members and when they die it's absolutely devistating. People who just consider pets "pets" have a hard time understanding it though.

Alright.

But most people I know who lose pets mourn, then in a few weeks, they go out and get a new one, and after a few months, they have pretty much forgotten about their old one. They certainly don't wake up crying years after the fact.

Everyone that I know who has lost a human loved one, never forgets and mourns forever.

I don't doubt the feelings of loss are intense when someone loses a pet (I have experienced both more than once), but I have a real hard time believing that they are as life altering, enduring, or tragic.

I would love to hear opinion of people on this board who have children and either have a pet, or have... and whether or not they could choose between them.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You are saying that this means she brought the love of her animal to the same level as her son. Anything's possible I guess. Of course, there is a less flattering way to look at it as well.

I can't even believe I read that. Are you really that low that you would say that about someone greiving for the loss of a beloved pet? That you would even bring that type of comment into this thread is disgusting.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Alright.

But most people I know who lose pets mourn, then in a few weeks, they go out and get a new one, and after a few months, they have pretty much forgotten about their old one. They certainly don't wake up crying years after the fact.

Everyone that I know who has lost a human loved one, never forgets and mourns forever.

I don't doubt the feelings of loss are intense when someone loses a pet (I have experienced both more than once), but I have a real hard time believing that they are as life altering, enduring, or tragic.

I would love to hear opinion of people on this board who have children and either have a pet, or have... and whether or not they could choose between them.

It's not about choosing. It's about loving equally but differently.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

But most people I know who lose pets mourn, then in a few weeks, they go out and get a new one, and after a few months, they have pretty much forgotten about their old one. They certainly don't wake up crying years after the fact.

Not everybody is the same though. I might not wake up crying but there's certain things that remind me of the pets that I've lost and sometimes it chokes me up. Having two new cats certainly helps but it doesnt completely replace the cats I've lost because there's certain things that they did that my new cats dont do.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I can't even believe I read that. Are you really that low that you would say that about someone greiving for the loss of a beloved pet? That you would even bring that type of comment into this thread is disgusting.

Well, that is kind of how I felt when I read that someone loved their child as much as a pet.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Well, that is kind of how I felt when I read that someone loved their child as much as a pet.

So you're saying you love your children that way?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by FireFly

So you're saying you love your children that way?

I don't have any children of my own. I have 3 nieces and a nephew, 2 of which I directly helped raise, and I can say beyond any doubt that I love them more than I could ever love an animal. I would give my life for them. Never could I imagine doing that for a cat or dog, and I question the rationality of anyone that would. The time and experiences they would lose if something happened to them is incomparable to that of a cat or dog.

We had a family cat for 19 years until it was hit by a car. It was absolutely devastating at the time, but nothing compared to when my mother passed away suddenly shortly after. Not a child, but I think the comparison is apt. In fact, losing a child is probably way worse. It's the type of thing that puts many people in hospitals for psychiatric treatment and therapy.

But I get it, everyone is different. Although I have never met anyone who has lost a pet that seems all that affected by it in the long run. Can't say the same thing about people I know that have lost close friends or family members.