My dog, Gabi, crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. One of the lights in my life has been extinguished. I wrote the following six months ago about her aging. She turned 16 on December 12, 2021.
This is us riding in Chicago’s Bike the Drive a couple of years ago.
As a sports fan, I have often heard the announcer say of a great athlete, “He can beat anyone but Father Time.” So, it seems with the rest of us non-great-athletes, too.
Who better to talk about the ravages of age than a guy who turns 82 in January?
Here is my perspective: Some 15 years ago I adopted my daughter’s puppy. It had been behaving wildly at her house and I feared that its life with my daughter was going to be cut short. You can read the entire story of my adoption of Gabi in this post I wrote in 2012 – Anatomy of an act of kindness .
This is Gabi as a pup in 2006.
So, puppy Gabi is now senior citizen Gabi. At 15 plus years, she qualifies. I know that the “rule of thumb” is one dog year = seven human ones. That…
Tony, I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet Gabi. My thoughts are with you. I’m hoping with time, the happy memories you had with her will make your heart smile again.
It really is! Losing my sixteen year old cat a few years ago was some of the hardest grief I knew. I have a friend who is alwlays saying she would rather get stabbed in the eye with a needle than face euthanasia of a pet. I have to say I somewhat agree with her!
Thanks, Gail. I think you have to be a pet owner to ‘get it.’ We take care of them like our little children and they often act like 4-year-olds. I still can not speak about it with anyone and keep it together.
As a veterinarian, Tony, I will tell you your feelings are very normal (not being able to speak about it with anyone and keep it together). Take as long as you need to grieve. I feel expressing our grief is SO important right after a loss, so let it all out. It will get easier in time. I will tell you, when I lost my cat back in 2013, it was a full year before I could think of him and not cry. I cried every single day for an entire year! I felt like I HAD lost a son. I was starting to think I was stuck in my grief though and that wasn’t a healthy place to be, so I did seek the help of a therapist. I’m not sure that really helped or why it changed after a year. Maybe just time helped, but also I think maybe getting two new kittens helped as well. And that was never my plan. For a while, I swore I was not getting any more animals (another very normal reaction after the pain of losing one). These two just sort of fell in my lap.
I’m thinking about you and am truly sorry for your loss Tony.
Thanks, Gail. I hadn’t known that you were a vet. Wow. That gives you whole new insights into the situation. Thanks very much for your explanation. Very helpful. I am finding comfort in my bike riding as I do it alone and can ride and cry all I want. There is a release there. I definitely am not close to considering a new pet at this point. Thanks again for sharing your experience and understandiing. I really appreciate it.
As one who has lost a beloved pet, my heart breaks for you. I wish there were words of consolation to make you feel better but if there are I am at a loss to know them. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you deal with this horrendous loss. May you be comforted by the memories and encouraged by the knowledge that you are such an inspiration for how to live life well. Kind regards, Penny
So sorry to hear about your beloved Gabi. I know she meant so much to you. Keep her alive in your heart and mind and she will always be with you. And it’s certainly ok to grieve but as Dr Seuss said , “ Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Take care.
Dear Tony,
I am so sorry to hear of Gabi’s passing. Without actually knowing either of you, I feel so sad. Please, be safe as you bike and grieve for Gabie.
My condolences,
Valerie
Dear Tony,
I am so sorry to read that your dear companion has crossed the rainbow bridge. Gabi brought you so much joy. She brought joy to many others as well with the stories you shared about her over the years. We’ll all miss her.
I think it’s true that the loss of a companion leaves scars on your heart that never fully heal. However with time, your sadness will begin to heal into fine lines that lace together all the joy your heart held while Gabi was with you.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jenny. I really appreciate them. Right now I am doing one day at a time. I know what it means to be broken-hearted.
Wellness Secrets of a SuperAger 
You have my condolences, good sir. I wish you nothing but fond memories. God bless and please continue to take care of yourself.
Thank you for contributing to our better well-being. I and my family appreciate it all.
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Thanks very much. I appreciate your thoughts.
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Tony, I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet Gabi. My thoughts are with you. I’m hoping with time, the happy memories you had with her will make your heart smile again.
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Thanks, Gail. This is like losing a child.
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It really is! Losing my sixteen year old cat a few years ago was some of the hardest grief I knew. I have a friend who is alwlays saying she would rather get stabbed in the eye with a needle than face euthanasia of a pet. I have to say I somewhat agree with her!
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Thanks, Gail. I think you have to be a pet owner to ‘get it.’ We take care of them like our little children and they often act like 4-year-olds. I still can not speak about it with anyone and keep it together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a veterinarian, Tony, I will tell you your feelings are very normal (not being able to speak about it with anyone and keep it together). Take as long as you need to grieve. I feel expressing our grief is SO important right after a loss, so let it all out. It will get easier in time. I will tell you, when I lost my cat back in 2013, it was a full year before I could think of him and not cry. I cried every single day for an entire year! I felt like I HAD lost a son. I was starting to think I was stuck in my grief though and that wasn’t a healthy place to be, so I did seek the help of a therapist. I’m not sure that really helped or why it changed after a year. Maybe just time helped, but also I think maybe getting two new kittens helped as well. And that was never my plan. For a while, I swore I was not getting any more animals (another very normal reaction after the pain of losing one). These two just sort of fell in my lap.
I’m thinking about you and am truly sorry for your loss Tony.
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Thanks, Gail. I hadn’t known that you were a vet. Wow. That gives you whole new insights into the situation. Thanks very much for your explanation. Very helpful. I am finding comfort in my bike riding as I do it alone and can ride and cry all I want. There is a release there. I definitely am not close to considering a new pet at this point. Thanks again for sharing your experience and understandiing. I really appreciate it.
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I can understand, bye bye sweet little Gabi. We will miss you always!!
“Todo”is already there, you can meet him there.
With love from
Uncle Raj.
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As one who has lost a beloved pet, my heart breaks for you. I wish there were words of consolation to make you feel better but if there are I am at a loss to know them. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you deal with this horrendous loss. May you be comforted by the memories and encouraged by the knowledge that you are such an inspiration for how to live life well. Kind regards, Penny
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Thanks very much, Penny. I appreciate your kind words. Right now this is simply an open emotional wound.
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So sorry to hear about your beloved Gabi. I know she meant so much to you. Keep her alive in your heart and mind and she will always be with you. And it’s certainly ok to grieve but as Dr Seuss said , “ Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Take care.
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Thanks very much for your kind words. I appreciate your positive ideas. At this point I am going one day at a time.
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Dear Tony,
I am so sorry to hear of Gabi’s passing. Without actually knowing either of you, I feel so sad. Please, be safe as you bike and grieve for Gabie.
My condolences,
Valerie
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Thanks, Valerie. Much appreciated. I am at the one day at a time stage.
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Dear Tony,
I am so sorry to read that your dear companion has crossed the rainbow bridge. Gabi brought you so much joy. She brought joy to many others as well with the stories you shared about her over the years. We’ll all miss her.
I think it’s true that the loss of a companion leaves scars on your heart that never fully heal. However with time, your sadness will begin to heal into fine lines that lace together all the joy your heart held while Gabi was with you.
Ride and let your spirit soar.
Sending my condolences for your loss,
Jenny
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Jenny. I really appreciate them. Right now I am doing one day at a time. I know what it means to be broken-hearted.
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