I had a little bit of a crying jag this morning...

[Phentex]

I had a paw print keepsake made from our lab that we lost back in January. The plan was to give it to my husband for Christmas since she was his little diva. WHY did I wait till today to wrap it? I hadn't even opened the box until today.

It would have been ten years of Christmas with her and it just does not feel the same. No tail whacking ornaments off the tree. No chewed up cardboard. No dog licking the cookie crumbs off the kitchen floor

My big bear is hanging in there although he still hates to be alone. We do a New Year's card with the kids and it'll be strange with just one dog this year.

Enjoy all your furry ones while you can!

[TorchTheWitch]

1. Holiday time can be the worst missing loved ones

Furry or otherwise.

Hang in there.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Yes, hang in there and have a very Merry Christmas.

Have positive thoughts of your fur baby. I will too.

[polly7]

3. I'm sorry Phentex.

It's so hard not having them here anymore, but those memories are priceless.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

[grantcart]

4. You earned those tears.

Like all pain they reflect that you really did lose something valuable.

So even though we know it is painful we also know that we were enriched then and we still have great memories now.

It took us months before we could go through an In and Out Drive In. Champ just loved being in the back seat knowing that he was going to get a few French fries. He was just one of the kids.

What was your lab's name?

[Aerows]

5. I lost "the fluffy one"

my cat this year. She was 16. She ALWAYS got into the Christmas decorations, and I didn't notice until you posted this because I was too busy to put up a tree this year. My other sweet cat, a feral I rescued, transitioned seemlessly to being the house cat, and I feel bad because I just ... forgot.

I loved her, but she was always a difficult pet. I loved her all the same. Now I feel like a shitty pet owner because I didn't mourn her more. I kept her a few weeks longer than I should have, but maybe I should have tried harder?

I hope whereever she is, she can knock some balls off of trees, bite some toes and leave hair all over everything, because I missed that this Christmas.

[roody]

7. 16 years is a good cat life.

You did well for her. Your life with her is what counts for her, not your life after she is gone.

[roody]

6. Maybe you are ready for another one.

If so, please adopt.

[orleans]

8. "Enjoy all your furry ones while you can!"

i did
i lost my little one in june
and nothing is the same

i'm sorry for your loss.