I've lost my shadow...

[Bette]

What a beautiful boy and all that he taught you and all of us by reading this. Dogs are so smart - they have it down - they are loving, loyal, kind, considerate, respectful. Who says they don't know?

May Chance always live in your heart, may you always have room in your heart for another and he will be at The Rainbow Bridge.

Your story made me cry.

[kek1993]

Thanks for adopting Chance. You will miss your shadow. I still have a "catch" in my throat sometimes when I think about Sam. Take care of yourself right now, there is nothing wrong with being sad about Chance, but if you feel really depressed, go see a dcctor.

[elston]

"Don't Cry Because It's Over....Smile Because It Happened" by Dr. Zeus.

This is a good way of looking at loss.....but it takes awhile and many tears before I got there myself....when I lost my Darlin' Companion....I had other dogs before and dogs I love now....but there was one special one....the gold standard....we met at a time when we both were in desperate need and "love walked right in".

Now some 5 years later....I still get choked up when I picture her and think of her many kindnesses....but I also "smile because it happened". I smile for her....and I smile for the graciousness of the Universe....that introduced us.

Hannah....you are such a good girl and I will never ever forget you!

[big daryle]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

We first noticed Chance along the side of our rural dirt road and like many dogs, Chance seemed to make a point of looking into the car as if he was expecting to see someone he knew. My wife and I drove separately to work the next morning and she called and told me that when she saw him again and stopped to look for his tags he tried to get in the car with her. Being on the way to work and running late, she could not do anything for him at that time and told me how bad she felt in driving away and having him chase after her.

We both looked for him that night and again the next day when we drove to work separately but neither of us saw him and we hoped he made his way home. That night when I drove home, I slowed at the spot where we had noticed him previously. Up popped his head out of the deep grass and as I stopped and opened the door to get out he bounded over me into the front seat. My wife was in the driveway with a not-too-surprised look on her face and Chance sitting next to me like an unexpected guest for dinner.

We checked with all of the neighbors in the area and kept our eyes out for “Lost Dog” postings over the next several days. One of the neighbors said they saw abandoned dogs somewhat frequently in that area and suspected that the close proximity of a freeway rest stop may be a factor in the frequent sightings. He seemed to imply that the dogs were not so much runaways as abandonments.

We decided to keep Chance and he became the third member of our pack, joining a Golden rescue and a Rotty we had gotten as a puppy a couple years before. That pack eventually swelled to five as we added a German Shepherd and a very-scruffy, worn-out little poodle that we found in virtually the same spot as Chance two and three years after wards.

Chance immediately bonded closely with me. For the next fourteen years, Chance never left my side while I was at home. If I was watching TV, he laid behind my chair. If I was working in the den, he laid down at my feet. When we went to bed, Chance laid on my side of the bed. If I got up in the middle of the night, Chance would follow me back downstairs to watch TV at my side. If I was taking a bath he would barge his way in and lay down behind the tub. If I was in the yard he was nearby. If I was mowing, he would assume his position under the big Oak until I was done. Chance was at the door when I went to work and was there or on the deck to be the first to greet me when I got home. For fourteen years.

Yesterday we had to let go of Chance and although I miss him more than I could ever put into words, I wanted to let you all know what a good boy! he was.

My condolences. Your friend Chance is away for the time being, but you will see him again someday in Heaven. Please let that console you in this difficult time.

[zugor]

Ghengis I am soory for your loss. You wrote at the end of your post that Chance was a good dog but from all that you said about him it's obvious that he was a great dog who was lucky enough to find a new, great owner worthy of him.

[SXMGirl]

Chance was such a handsome young man and you were all very lucky to have found each other. Your life together was apparently meant to be. I am so sorry for your loss and my thoughts are with you all.