There has never been another so deserving of our love, affection and respect as the animals that grace our presence and brighten our lives. Some of the best times in our lives can be remembered with our furry family members at our side, and we all have moments of sadness and tragedy during which these friends console us with something more valuable than words. When the time comes for us to let them go, tears could never fall for a more appropriate reason. It is OK to cry, whether in happiness over memories or sadness over lost time. It is common to experience a feeling of madness or anger at them for leaving us too soon, or feelings of guilt over things we could've or should've done or didn't do; one more walk or one less donut; maybe that would've made all the difference. But instead of regretting each moment we fell short on, remembering every time we gave all we could is the best way to occupy our thoughts at such a time.  Each and every one of us grieves in our own personal way, but whether internally or externally expressive, always remember that you are NOT alone and there is always someone out there willing to lend an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on or a heart to console with. Feel free to visit the following sites as part of your bereavement process, whether to learn about others or to tell your story of love found and lost.  The animal community has some of the purest hearts you will ever encounter, a most deserving and ideal way to immortalize those friends who have forever left pawprints on our hearts.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France