I can hardly believe it's a year today since I last looked into your eyes and listened to your last breath. You were taken so quickly we never had chance to say goodbye.  Not a day has gone by when I haven't wished you were still here.  How I long to be woken early on a Sunday morning again with you telling me you want to go out. 

I know our time together in this life has come to an end but I know you will be waiting for me and we will be together again one day.

You were one in a million Fagin and the memories of our time together will stay in my heart forever.

I miss you so much, but know you had to leave.  You were ready, I saw it in your eyes, I just wish I could have been brave enough to make your passing less painful.  If I had known how things would end I would not have let you go through that.

I will never forget you, you were my special 'puppy'.

Happy Birthday Fagin.

Love you always,

Your 'mum' Julie.

It must have been a hard day for you Julie. You never stop missing them (I still get teary when I hold my first dog's collar and it's been 20 years). Big hugs.

Julie,
What a lovely tribute to Fagin...
I hope the memories were more happy than sad.

R.i.p Fagin x

Much love
Donna x
(and charlie who is r.i.px)

Thank you for your messages, it was a difficult day which I had been dreading, but I got through with many tears.  It took at least 1/2 an hour to type my tribute as I couldn't see for the tears.  I have lots of happy memories and am slowly beginning to smile when I think of him rather than cry, but it is hard (here they come again). 

This website has been a lifeline to me since I lost Fagin and the kind words of members reallly do help.  If it hadn't been for this site and the great advice I found on here I think we may have lost him a lot sooner.  Thank you all for that extra time we managed to steal.

Thanks again.

Julie

Oh I do feel for you Julie. I lost my beloved (3rd) golden retriever a year ago on the 22nd Dec. He was only 5 & had a very short illness (cancer) which ravished him in less than a week.  I still cry & the 22nd this year was hard - I can't even think of other dogs dying without crying. Did you watch 'After Thomas' on tv the other day about the autistic boy & the golden retriever -it was lovely, but I still cried at the end when they said he'd passed away earlier this year & I'm currently reading 'Marley & Me' & know I will bawl at the end of it when he goes.
Anyway the point of reply is this:- have you got another dog yet? We got a puppy in April, 4 months after Chester had died & it really does help the pain. I could cuddle my big pup on the 22nd Dec this year & he licks me back grateful for the lovely cuddle whatever the reason & he isn't Chester, but then I wouldn't want him to be - he is his own dog. My father only ever had one dog - a GSD who died of leukaemia very young & my Dad said it was so painful for him he could never have another dog, but the fact is that dogs DO have a relatively short life span, but each dog I have makes me a richer person for knowing them. So if you haven't replaced Fagin yet then do think about it - life goes on.

That must have been terrible for you, 5 is so young.

I surprised myself actually, I managed to watch 'After Thomas' without bawling my eyes out, think I would have if I hadn't have fought it back but managed to keep myself composed.

I read 'Marley and Me about 5 months ago.  I had to put the book down for about a week until I plucked up the courage to read the last part.  I knew it would be hard reading it but decided one night "tonight is the night" and that was it.  It was a great book and some of the things Marley got up to really reminded me of Fagin's character, he could be just as naughty as Marley when he put his mind to it.

We haven't got another dog, I just haven't felt ready yet.  My partner keeps hinting every other day and I have been thinking about it but as you can probably tell I am struggling with the loss of Fagin and like your dad not sure if i could go though this pain again.  I think we probably will not be dogless forever, but just need a little more time.

Julie