Has anyone lost their best friend?

I lost my good friend Paul a few years ago when I lived in NJ. He was a great guy and loved by his family and all who knew him. We'd go to audio club meetings together and invite eachother over to listen to our latest musical finds.

But he developed a rare form of skin cancer that took him out in a couple of months. It was very sad.

I've since moved to Tucson and haven't made a friend like Paul here as yet. Everyone seems so self-absorbed and too busy to drive 20 minutes and spend an hour or so listening to great music. That's pretty sad as well. I can still hear Paul's laugh. So don't take your friends for granted. The day you will miss them comes all too quickly.

We had a Miniature Poodle, Spike for 14 years. He was my wife's dog before we even married. He passed away in October 2006. We were so sad(I actually cried, beleive it or not), that I did not think I will ever want another dog. After much debate, we finally decided.
Did some research, found a breeder and I was on my way. Actually drove for almost 4 hours one way. Total of 8 hours of driving in one day.
Picked up a black/silver Miniature Schnauzer puppy boy in December, almost 1 and 1/2 years after Spike. It's amazing how quickly these guys become part of our lifes. He's so much fun, my son loves him(he was missing Spike big time) and he's just becoming a great companion.

For what it may be worth in comforting you. Dogs are one of God's best creations. The love unconditionally. We could learn from them on what true love really is. When my best buddy goes, it will devistate me. I thank God for giving him to me for this short time. We have a pact that if he goes first he will be there waiting for me, and if I go first I will come get him when he needs me.
If love could have saved your friend, he would have lived forever.
Regards,
Michael

As a dog owner my whole life (currently have 3) I have loved and unfortunately lost a number in my 51 years. Each loss hurts so terribly, it seems unbearable.

An old country vet told me something many years ago when we had to put my beloved "Booker" down. She was 15 and had begun to suffer. This old vet looked me in the eye and said

"dogs don't fear death- that's a human affliction. This girl is old and sick, and to leave this world is a natural and intuitive part of her life's path. Your job as her buddy is to let her go calmly and peacefully""

Sure, it seems obvious, but I found comfort in the fact that she didn't fear her end as she left me.

Hang in there buddy. That love never leaves as long as YOU'RE still alive.

I can also relate...

We lost Dune (gave him that name because we found him on the beach - lifeguard brought one of the pups with him to work one day), a German Shepherd in 2001 after 16.5 years.

Things come full circle as we found Scout at a championship breeder almost 2 years ago. She was a rescue dog, as the home where they originally placed her was just crazy. It's been a lot of work getting her to trust us, but the end result is worth it. My father was DEAD SET AGAINST us getting another dog in the most angry of ways, as he felt Dune couldn't be replaced. That all went up in smoke in about 2 milliseconds when he saw that she looks EXACTLY like Dune, except for the fact that she's twice as big. It's uncanny...