Yes, it is a wonderful and reassuring thought that when we die we’ll meet all those we’ve loved in life - human and non-human. Angst? I’m not religious, but I do have a degree of spirituality, as you might guess from my writing. It’s only angst if let ourselves worry over something over which we have no control. We don’t worry about the sun not rising tomorrow, though we could, so why worry if when we die we no longer exist? When it happens, we’ll either be able to laugh about how absurd life was or we’ll simply vanish. The thought of smply vanishing is what bugs many people, but that’s just ego - how could someone as special as them not exist!?

Where you sound to gain over many people is in that you appreciate the time you have in the here and now, especially with your animals. If more people could cherish the present, instead of praying for a better tomorrow, maybe they wouldn’t be so fearful of what comes a microsecond after death - everything or nothing.

Thanks for furthering the conversation, Lori.
Steve

If the problem is that you feel you constantly question and never receive any sort of answer, maybe you’re asking the wrong questions and are expecting too much of yourself when you don’t find the full answers. Is there a God? Belief aside, how can anyone ever hope to answer such a question and know that answer to be an absolute truth? (Note, I said ‘belief aside’ so no relgious debates, please! Unless you can provide that ‘absolute truth’, of course. An autographed photo of God would do nicely, thanks.) The point is, don’t beat yourself up because you can’t answer unanswerable questions. Simple.

I hope that helps. Good luck,
Steve

Sarah? It’s a year on now, but I still think of her when I pass the place in the park where we found her. And we kept the little box she loved to sit on in our bathroom. It’s strange how things that are so fleeting in our lives can touch us so deeply.

It’s always great to hear that someone has given a rescue dog, or any animal for that matter, a home and a better life, so good for you, Lori. As for strange behavior? Who knows what animals can sense that we can’t? They have quite extra-ordinary senses, many of which we are only just coming to understand, many we can still only guess at. I’ve known animals that could sense when a person was sick. I’ve read of dogs that can ’smell’ cancer. I’ve heard stories such as yours. To think that they are only ‘dumb aniamls’ only proves who the dumb animal really is. They are extra-ordinary beings that, hopefully, one day we may come to fully understand and appreciate. Then, who knows what secrets they’ll finally reveal to us?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lori.
Steve

When I adopted my Golden Bello through a rescue, it was a real journey and I love him more than words can say. A few times he had acted strange. I had to sadly put down my two dogs eight months apart (they were very old and had good lives, but I mourn all my pets and family and friends to this day who have passed on). One evening, he walked up to my bar stools, looking intently and ‘woofed’ at something, although there was nothing different. Another time, he walked towards the door and tentatively walked forward looking up towards the ceiling, backed up, and looked up again. I thought (due to many psychic type things that have happened in our family) that maybe my two precous dogs were visiting. Bello has his own personality but also exhibits the very unique to each dog mannerisms (each dog was so different in mannerism and personality), and it is very interesting that he manifests some poses, preferences, and habits pertinent to each dog. Even my ‘logical’ dog sitter has said that it is so uncanny when he does these things. I like to think that my Rainbow Bridge gave my boy some pointers. Each time he does something that is uncanny to one of my other dogs, it reminds me of them and I cherish the memory. He even looks like a fusion of the two somehow. He’s a beautiful boy who had a tough start in life and I love him so much, words cannot say. I think we are given unique experiences to ponder and appreciate the wonder of animals and reflect on how lucky we are to have them in our lives. Take care and take heart that you gave love and care to one of God’s creatures and though there was sadness, there was joy in helping a living thing in need.

Yes, I believe you’re right - we will see them again. And what a day that will be!

This isn’t the end of this discussion. I have plans for another post once I get all my thoughts together on it and have enough to say that people haven’t seen before here. It’s a topic that is amazingly close to so many people and yet one on which there is very little said. I don’t know why. It’s a pity as the pain people suffer from the loss of a companion, be it human or animal, cannot be differentiated much of the time. I know some people won’t get that at all, but animal lovers will.

Thanks again, Elanor. Hope you’ll be back for that coming post. Enjoy the rest of your week,
Steve

I know how you feel. My condolences on Sarah’s passing.

A small dwarf hamster I brought home two nights ago died the same evening, and the pain I feel now cannot be described.

I believe every life is unique and precious, and just like humans, when they live out their physical life here, their soul spark continues to live in another dimension. We’ll see our animal friends again when we join them.

I’ve seen that dimension, fleetingly before, just once many years ago. So, I know everything will be ok. But at the moment, it doesn’t lessen my sadness…

Sorry for your loss. Take care.

I don’t know if you read the first post of this nature - the link in the first sentence - but equally that has brought very mixed emotions, as you can imagine. I haven’t been back to Poland yet and I’m not looking forward to going, to be honest. Things just won’t ever be the same.

Thanks, Bonnie. And, yes, I’ll feel for that breeze!
Steve

The love and the care that the three of you shared together is a priceless gift, one given for a very special reason…it made a difference in your lives.

I truly believe that each animal that comes to us, comes for a reason and each one has a valuable lesson to teach, a unique lesson that reminds us that we are all part of the same Universe, all connected.

I have spent my entire lifetime rescuing, nursing and caring for domestics and wildlife. They found me, I did not find them and there is a reason for that. Each life saved is a precious gift, time spent with the dying is also a very precious gift.

Call me crazy, but notice that tiny flush of breeze across your cheek when all the windows are closed…it will be Sarah.