They are indeed so human it's no joke what they say about "man's best friend." Sorry for your pain, Caroline.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Is it not amazing that three of the four "faces" of the four creatures that surround the throne of G_d are those of what we humans call "animals?" Ezekiel 1:10

She had a good run. I remember something Mark Twain said: If heaven went by merit, your dog wold go in, and you would stay out. So very true about our friends, companions, and protectors.

My condolences on your loss. Very sad.

For what it's worth, here are some links:

http://petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm

http://www.lightning-strike.com/forum/index.php

Beautiful doggie. And such a sincere face. *hugs* I know Olivia can't be replaced, but I hope you may be comforted a little by the great love you have in your readers. Your courage and clear-eyed leadership strongly bonds you to many hearts in this world.

im sorry to hear about your Olivia. friendships with our dog companions is so very special. thank you for your writing--i look forward to reading your posts regularly. m

Sorry for your loss. She was a nice looking dog. I'm sure we would like to know more about her. What kind was she? Any stories to share? If that were too personal for your blog, maybe a link to a separate page somewhere.

Dear Caroline. So beautiful and her love I know was unconditional. Thank you for allowing us to share this personal side of you and to offer the comfort you need.

I am so so sorry for your loss, Caroline. Losing a pet is heart-wrenching, devastating; they really are members of our family. Thoughts and prayers.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

So sad :(. My dog maggy is my best friend. She's only 3, but I can't bear thinking of the day when we will have to part. Such precious friends.

Oh, no. So very sorry for your loss.

Your Olivia had eyes as deep and beautiful as yours. What a soulful face - earnest, loyal, and full of love.

I had no idea you had a dog, nor one that was at the end of her life.

I pray HaShem will bless you with all the strength and love you need as you grieve. My arms stretch out to you across the ocean and wrap you in a warm embrace. Thank you for letting us in on this deeply personal sorrow and pain. How I wish I could take it away.

My deepest condolences, Caroline...

It hurts much -- I feel your pain, so sorry Caroline.

The love between you and your dog is still alive. She knows you loved her. You know she loves you. It hurts because the love was so real. The pain will lessen, but the love remains.

I know how attached we can become to out faithful four legged friend's.

I see no guile or phoniness,but great trust,patience and endurance with my loyal 8 year old graying friend,something good that is almost impossible to find in this polluted,treacherous world anymore.
Only my faith in in the LORD and His word will soften the blow when she is gone.
I do thank Him almost every day for the many blessing He has bestowed upon me like a loyal dog however temporary they are because I believe the temporary will be done away with, soon !

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Revelation 21

I know that some people think it's silly to mourn the loss of a dog, but I know from experience that it's one of the most difficult things to live through. She does look beautiful. I'm so sorry.

Death of a pet isn't just sad: like that of one of the family, it's enormously painful. We have to get over it, because there's no alternative. Be comforted in your grief.

(((((Hugs))))) from a fellow dog owner, I understand!

Dogs are the best creatures on earth.

Beautiful and loving eyes.

I have a pair of them looking back at me even now. And I know that soon she will leave us, age having taken it's toll. It is as it must be but it does not ease our tears. We all travel the same road to the same bridge.

condolences and best wishes

My hear goes out to you. I have had to put down 9 dogs over my long life. Not one of them ever gave me anything but love and obedience. When the vet asked me a question about my last dog that I had to put down because of cancer, I told him that there were many people that I would rather put down than this precious animal. Dearest Caroline, I am of the opinion albeit not too theologically sound, that the Lord of heaven has our animals waiting patiently for the reunion.
G-d bless you and yours. Keep up the good work.
Sha alu shalom Yerushalyim,
Michael Bar-tell

Caroline, It's not 'goodbye'...it's 'au revoir.' I first said 'au revoir' to my shadow, Kiwi, on the grounds of the Kennedy School in 1989--the week before I graduated from the Div School. We reunited in 1990 at a Rainbow Gathering in Minnesota. I said 'au revoir' for the second time in Portland, Maine, in 2004, after a long struggle with cancer. We reunited in 2005 when a Canaanite street-dog I found in Nahariya gave birth to a very special puppy! Now Kiwi is Martha. His body is different, but she's the same soul. We love each other just as much; and I'll grieve just as much the next time we have to say 'au revoir.' So, give thanks to the Universe for creating something so precious as the love between humans and dogs and keep an eye out for Olivia...she WILL find her way home!

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Caroline. These creatures are a wonderful gift we get to share for a few years, and I'm sure Olivia was a blessing to you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sorry Caro, i know how painful it is for you. Here in Africa we are not soo attached to canines but we love them still, for hunting antelopes. G-d will provide another good one for you.

Deepest and heartfelt condolences on the loss of your beloved Olivia. May her neshama be eagerly awaiting your in Olam Habah. There is nothing on this earth as wonderful as the love of a dog, and an old dog is as precious as gold. Never forget that "kelev" means "kol lev" - all heart.

They teach us so much every day, our puppy companions. They love us with tender, open hearts, and with all their hearts, always. There can be nothing more precious than such a gift of ever-flowing love from their hearts to ours. And if we're unhappy, they are always there to comfort us. And to play. And play. What great and beautiful souls. You are blessed to have Olivia in your heart, as she is to have you in hers. Please note the present tense, for you will always inhabit, together, an eternal present moment of the heart.

Best always,

VBB

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a sweet, lovely face and such beautiful eyes. My deepest condolences to you.

So sorry for your loss, Caroline.

If the Creator can resurrect the whole human race from Adam, surely He can raise up a dog when He makes Jerusalem His dwelling place. Not only will it be the capital of Israel but the capital of the whole world. This is the hope that we have. Shalom.

Caroline, I am so sorry about your loss. VERY difficult to lose a wonderful pet. Try to find some bit of comfort in knowing what a wonderful life you provided for her. Too few pets get that kind of love, safety and caring. Again, I am so sorry.

I know all too well how devastating your loss is, Caroline: my heart goes out to you in your grief.

Carolyn, I am so sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through, I lost my gal pal of 17 years at the beginning of the summer. Time heals but we never forget. It also helps to get a manic, mixed-breed little $!@%$ of a puppy who drives you absolutely insane - chews, pees, barks, & bites incessantly then looks up at you with soulful eyes at the very minute you decide you have to return him to the Rescue society. I hope you fell better soon, you have many people thinking about you.

I've been reading you for a long while now, and I have enjoyed your witty and knowledge.
Now that I know you had Olivia all this time with you, I can take your thoughts to a different level. I'll be able to feel them more personally... more humanly.
I am sure Olivia has been very happy sharing her life with you.
I am really sorry for your loss.

Caroline, please accept my most sincre condolences for the loss of your companion. Love is always felt and never lost even in death.

Olivia would want you to love another just as much. She will always be in your heart and cannot replaced ..

However, Your heart is big enough to allow for some other puppy or a rescue looking for a forever home. .... There is plenty of room there ....

Caroline, Olivia was blessed to have you for her human. 16 years of loving care! My dear dogs never made it past 7 years of age because of illness or accidents in spite of my best efforts to care for them. Even after such short times together the loss was hard to bear. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you and hope that eventually you will find comfort in good memories of happy times together.

I am so sorry you have to go through this Caroline. I cried reading your words.

Olivia looks like such a beautiful, gentle and giving soul.

It brought back memories of my faithful old dog Darcy who had to be put to sleep several years ago - he was 17 and had a very good life - after my partner and I rescued him (a wriggly puppy) from the pound, on the very day he was to be put down.

Thank you so much for sharing - it adds another dimension to the beautiful person you are ...