I found a support group to be very helpful when I lost Neechee. It really helps to be around people who have been struggling through the same thing you have.
I had an especially close bond with Neechee - he had been with me for 16-1/2 years - we competed in herding and obedience together, visitied hospitals and nursing homes together, and he even went to work with me (I was a software programmer and technical writer). When I broke my back, we became even closer - he was always by my side. He went everywhere with me except the hospital and doctors office visits. I even took him to church with me three times a week. Where I was, he would be. I even made arrangements during one hospital stay to have him come in as a animal assisted therapy dog when I had physical therapy every day. From then on, he was my physical therapy "partner" in outpatient therapy, too. I seriously believe I would not be here today had Neechee not been my cheerleading team! My hubs couldn't understand my deep grief when Neechee died, even though he saw me and my mom crying at the ER vet, and heard me praying out loud for the Lord to take care of my puppy dog's soul as Neechee died in my arms. When my crying had gone on several days, he told me I had to "man up", which just made things worse. I found a support group, and attended for six months. Then I found these forums with all these wonderful people, and found that I would be able to go on and get another Sheltie.
I had an especially close bond with Neechee - he had been with me for 16-1/2 years - we competed in herding and obedience together, visitied hospitals and nursing homes together, and he even went to work with me (I was a software programmer and technical writer). When I broke my back, we became even closer - he was always by my side. He went everywhere with me except the hospital and doctors office visits. I even took him to church with me three times a week. Where I was, he would be. I even made arrangements during one hospital stay to have him come in as a animal assisted therapy dog when I had physical therapy every day. From then on, he was my physical therapy "partner" in outpatient therapy, too. I seriously believe I would not be here today had Neechee not been my cheerleading team! My hubs couldn't understand my deep grief when Neechee died, even though he saw me and my mom crying at the ER vet, and heard me praying out loud for the Lord to take care of my puppy dog's soul as Neechee died in my arms. When my crying had gone on several days, he told me I had to "man up", which just made things worse. I found a support group, and attended for six months. Then I found these forums with all these wonderful people, and found that I would be able to go on and get another Sheltie.