Nugget - Taken before his life had really begun.

[Margie-Rex's Mom]

Robin...your story of little Nugget carrying home an envelope has given us a wonderful visual image of your adorable little boy. Your avatar photo of him is so precious; I can see him with the envelope!

Thank you for sharing him with us. His life was short, but was full of love. Sending hugs to you and Charlie.

[nuggetsmom]

I know I'm probably just being silly, but I'm having a hard time today, and thought I would vent here where I know people will understand. It's two weeks today that we had Nugget put down. We moved his crate out of the bedroom, and have donated most of his toys and his food. I've washed the blankets he shared with Charlie. And now thte carpet shampooers are here to clean up the messes that Nugget made in his last few hours. This is the silly part. I'm really hurting because they're removing the stains where Nugget couldn't hold his bladder very well and had diarrhea. Those stains were created by him (not necessarily in a good way), but still. They are the last little bit of him, and they're going away, too. Silly, as I said. But as I look around my house, there isn't really anything left of him. He was here for such a short period of time.

I guess I should go print out some pictures of him, and hang them on the fridge. Thanks for letting me vent. -Robin

[Phyrie]

Robin, take your comfort however you like. If you want to save something of Nugget's, I say "Go for it!". Before I took our last dog (a Sheltie called Lacey) over to be put down, I cut some of her long fur off, and the "brush" at the end of her tail. She was a very vain dog, and I thought it would be a nice remembrance for my husband. When I showed him later what I had done, he thought it was weird, and a little creepy. So I have Lacey's fur in a little plastic bag in the bottom of my jewellery box, and every now and then I take it out and touch it and smell it, or just look at it, and think of her. Weird? Creepy? Maybe, but who cares?!

[caramel]

I don't know you Robin but I feel your pain and am sending you hugs.
I kept a blanket from both Chloe and Amos, whenever it was unbearable I would wrap myself into them and have a good cry.

[RayC]

Robin - Please don't beat yourself up in expressing your feeings about Nugget's passing. I find it so very humbling, the impact these little creatures have on our lives. I have never been in the situation you find yourself in but one day it will happen. I reserve the right to hang onto any and all memories, good or bad, of my furry friend. I know it's a huge cliché but time will heal your wounds even though you feel right now that you can never get over the loss. Nugget was some character and although he is no longer with us his spirit lives on in our hearts. God bless you.

Ray ( North Wales, UK)

[virgilsmama]

Dear Nuggetsmom,

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved baby and I am sorry to know how your heart aches. I hope the pain goes away as quickly as possible and makes way for the fond memories of your Nugget. I want to thank you for telling us the envelope story, that was very sweet and it is tales like that that help with the grieving. Not just yours but mine as well as I recently lost my handsome Virgil and that pain is still hanging around. We miss them forever but we know they no longer suffer. Here's wishing you peace in your life and luck as well. From DP friends, Liz, Daisy and Buddy.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Robin, I apologize for being absent. My internet went down and I was without the ability to come on here from the 5th until yesterday.

As I'm sure you already know, grieving is a process and there is no right or wrong way. It ebbs and flows and sometimes when we least expect it, the pain comes back with a fury so fresh and raw, and even more painful in some ways than when the loss originally occurred. Cry your tears angel, and know that we are all here to offer support in any way we can.

Other days, you will be reminded of something silly or goofy that sweet Nugget did that makes you smile. Share those times with us as well, if you wish. I learned a long time ago that we never "get over it", we just "get on with it".

I am so sorry for not being here earlier. I am here now, and I am sending all of my love. ♥

[nuggetsmom]

Thanks again, everyone. The last two nights have been kind of hard for some reason. As Deb said, when least expected, a wave of grief washes over me and, I just have to cry. I just miss him so very much. For four months, I was with him 24/7 and now he's just not here. I'm a consultant, and usually am traveling for work. But I was very fortunate/blessed to have had a client for the last six months that allowed me to work entirely from home. I believe that was planned, because otherwise, I couldn't have taken care of Nugget. But it's very hard on me now because I miss him so much. I have two cats and Charlie, and they do help. But Nugget was my little baby. Several times a day, I would sit cross legged on the floor, and he would come over and sit in my lap and cuddle. That's what I miss the most. At 110 lbs, Charlie just isn't a good lap dog.

I do try to remember and focus on the funny and happy things he did, though. Other than carrying the mail for me, he was very much a little boy. We have two large, fluffy dog beds, one in the bed room, and the other in the living room. And as Nugget got older, he wouldn't just step onto them to go to bed. He would run and jump into bed.

And he soooo wanted to be like his big brother, Charlie. Whenever we go for our daily walks, Charlie has to take his soccer ball. He packs it in his mouth for about a 1/4 mile, and then drops it. He then picks it back up on our way home and carries it the rest of the way. One day, when Nugget was just barely bigger than the soccer ball, he grabbed for it, and was able to get a bite on a torn piece of the cover. Nugget had to hold his head high to get the ball off the ground, but he carried the ball for about 20 feet. It was hilarious, because he could barely walk with the ball hanging out of his mouth. But he was going to do what Charlie did no matter what.

It's amazing how big of an impact one little puppy can have on a person's life in only four months. And for one born so small, he had a HUGE personality. I miss you little man!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Robin, the image of Nugget trying to carry that soccer ball made me smile. His time on this earth was too short, but he certainly left his paw print on many of our hearts in a huge way, for such a wee fellow.

Nugget was so fortunate to have you as his Mum! Your total devotion to his care, and your unending love and commitment is what being a Mum is all about. I know you'll miss him forever, but I also know in time, it won't hurt quite as much as it does right now.

Know that you are being virtually hugged. xo