I have learned so much from my cherished pets. In the past two years I have lost two dear pets. The hardest loss was my chocolate lab who was my soul mate through thick and thin for most of my trauma digging. I went through three days and 2800$ when she was finally released from this world on the 22 of Dec. 2006.

I miss her the worst when I'm having my tough times. Recently, I feel her presence every day. I have no pets now, It's tough. But I work long hours and don't feel it's fair to have a dog. The cat I had died at 2 years old in December (not a good pet month for me).

I enjoy reading the benefits of our pets from people and can relate to the comfort they can give. Since I currently have no pets and plan to continue this way, starting this thread is one way I can continue to reflect on the benefits my pets have given me.

Casey (my dog) actually saved my life one night, the only reason I stuck around was no one would be there to feed her or let her out the next day. Go figure the rational thoughts when you are totally irrational. ? . Whatever,
I was there the next day for her.

What was one of the best lessons she taught me - enjoy the little things. My favorite example of this is when she would go out into fresh fallen snow and root around with her snout deep into the snow and come up and look at me with a snow shelf on top of her nose with a sparkle in her eye. She would shake herself nose - body - tail, you know the one - whole body end to end and then reach down and start eating the snow. To just enjoy the simple things and take the opportunities in front of us. Carpe Diem.

NO LOSS OF ANYTHING IS TOTAL IF WE HAVE OUR CHERISHED MEMORIES.