Coping with losing our beloved Athena

[all4paws]

Our little Athena was only 2 years old. She was our daughter's "baby". Athena quickly became the love of all our family. My husband was "grand dad", I was "nanna" and our son was "uncle". Saturday evening, Uncle took Athena out to potty. Depsite his calling for her to come back, not to go into the road, she had her little nose to the ground and in a moment she was gone. Hit by a speeding pick up driver that never stopped. We live in the county and our road is not traveled heavily. Those who do drive down our road will often speed. Living on a farm, we have many animals. We have lost many other loved pets but pain of losing Athena is so very intense. This pain is beyond understanding for most people. I have practiced as a registered nurse of over 20 years and fully understand about death and dying but this is so very different. I am at a loss as to how to help my daughter, son and husband. The tears continue to flow and our hearts are broken.

[Irminsul]

I am so sorry for your loss. Please learn from this tragedy. You can not expect a hunting dog to 'stay in the yard' and never stray. :hug2::hug2:

[Joyce]

My heart breaks for you. Sending a :candle: for your little love Athena. I have been where you are and know it is more painful than we would ever know. Time will help and try to remember the laughs and fun you had with little Athena it will help. :hug2: for you and your family.

[Camilla]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. It's so very tragic when something like this happens. It really does us all a service by posting it b/c we can learn how important it is to keep our little ones fenced or on a leash. I almost lost my Clyde once, last summer, when he took off after a squirrel. THREE BLOCKS LATER I caught up with him (thankfully I'm a runner!) and I never ever leg him off leash again. Lighting a :candle: for you and sending :rayz: :rayz: to your family.

[Julian&MistyMom]

Oh no. I'm so very sorry. Words are inept at this time. Please know that our :pray: and thoughts are with you and your family.

[catstamm]

I am so sorry for your loss. Please learn from this tragedy. You can not expect a hunting dog to 'stay in the yard' and never stray. :hug2::hug2:
Agreed..... and I'm sure an untimely death hurts deeply :hearts:
Sorry for your loss.... there are many others here who know the pain of losing a companion.. I for one focus on the fun times :candle:
Godspeed Athena :pray:

[oscarforevermom]

Lighting a :candle: in memory of little :angel: Athena.

Blessings & :pray::pray::pray::pray: for your family to help heal your broken hearts. :hearts:

[Tucker's Mom]

Welcome to our DBB family. I am so sorry for your loss of Athena. These little long dogs have a special way of crawling into our hearts and when we lose them, a piece of us goes, too. I hope that as your pain begins to ease, you will remember her with great joy. :candle:R.I.P. little one.

[all4paws]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, expressions of healing and well intended thoughts. Along with the grief goes a terrible sense of guilt, especially for our dear son.

[catstamm]

Thanks to all of you for your replies, expressions of healing and well intended thoughts. Along with the grief goes a terrible sense of guilt, especially for our dear son.
I can't even begin to imagine... :sorry: But all we can do is learn and carry that wisdom with us forever :hearts:

[IzzyandWillie]

I lost my little Yorkie, Stella, the same way. I saw it happening and there was nothing I could do to stop it. If I could have thrown myself in front of that car, I would have. I still think about her often and I still think about the "if onlys". If only I had put a leash on her, if only we hadn't walked out the door at that moment, if only, if only, if only ........ But like Cat said, all we can do is learn and carry that wisdom with us forever.

I have many fond memories of Stella and we talk about her often and laugh at the things she would do. Sometimes I think that if it weren't for the loss of Stella, I probably would have never learned about rescue and I would not have my three babies that I have now.

As your pain eases, you too, will remember the fun times with Athena. I'm lighting a :candle: candle for Athena.

[patty23]

We all know how you are feeling right now, I lost my little cocoa last Sept. to a back injury. Then, even tho I hav a fenced in yard my little teensy bolted out the front door and down the middle of the highway. Luckily he didnt get hit before I got to him. They are just so darn fast sometimes, like little lightening bolts. I just have to focus on all the good times with my little girl and it seems to help, not always but most of the time. :pray::pray::pray: for your little one.

[Suzanne R]

I can't tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Please accept my deepest sympathies! Please know your furgirl is in a place of pure love, if that helps at all. :candle::hug2:

[a_page_d]

It's never easy to lose a pet, especially when they're so adorable and make a place as part of your family. I totally understand your feelings as I lost a pet 7 years ago. He was a terrier mix who had a heart murmur. Of course there was nothing they could do to cure him and he eventually quit eating dog food, meat, everything. We had to put him to sleep. My parents took a few days off work and I stayed out of school for a couple of days as well. It's just like losing a family member. Remember the great times you've had and put pictures around the house. I know how hard it is. She will live on in your memories.

Here is a hug and candle for you.:hug2::candle::hearts::angel: You'll get through this. It'll just take time.

[doxi1myheart]

Lighting a :candle: for your precious baby and sending :hug2: to you and your family.

[crock]

It is never easy to lose a "furkid" no matter the age or circumstance. Our thoughts are with you during this time. Hoping a new joy will come into your life soon.:candle:

[LaurieE]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[LucyWyatt'sMom]

I am so sorry to hear about your lost. :candle::candle::candle: to light Athena way to the bridge. :hug2: for you and your family:hearts:

[LUVMYGUNNER]

RIP little one.:candle:

[JunMoll]

I am terribly sorry. How are your daughter and son doing? My prayers go out to all of you. :pray: May healing process take place quickly.
A friend of my husband's niece's baby dachshund was ran over by a family member's car not too long ago. I know it is not an easy thing to get over.
If you need to talk to someone anytime we are here. :hug2:

[andy&abby]

My heart hurts for you and your family. :candle: for Athena

[Lily]

I'm so very sorry. I know how much it hurts. We lost a very special dog three months ago, and I'm the one who ran over her.

We live in a rural area, too, and our big dogs live outside. Our dogs have no fear or understanding of cars because we are at the very end of a long dirt road. I was backing up my truck and ran over Molly, who was somewhere behind my right rear tire, where neither I nor the back-up sensors on my truck could see her. I went right over her.

She was such a wonderful dog, and for the first time, I could understand why someone would want to clone an animal. There will never be another Molly.

Your family, especially your son, is in my thoughts.

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Lily everytime you pull out, you might want to hink your horn. I have heard of people running over their small children.

[Amos' Mom]

I to am sorry over your loss of Athena. I went through the same type of loss over 6 years ago and still can't get through it. I was coming out the door with our male and he knows the sound of my husbands truck (diesel) and my husband was pulling in the driveway and he ran to meet him and with the slippery road my husband ran him over he couldn't stop! He didn't die right away I held him and rushed him in but his injuries were beyond repair. We both held him as he went to sleep. I still cry every time I think about it. I think of all the joy he brought us and that gets me through the bad times. He was my show dog and our pride and joy - I have never shown a dog since I lost him. I just can't to many memories. My heart aches for all of you.:angel:







Thanks to all of you for your replies, expressions of healing and well intended thoughts. Along with the grief goes a terrible sense of guilt, especially for our dear son.

[CoppersOtherMom]

I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[dutchman]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Do you know the rainbow bridge poem? IF not you can find a copy here Rainbow Bridge (http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm).

[oti'smom]

I am so very sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the grief of losing her in this way. I sometimes let Otis out without his harness because of the cold and know that I shouldn't, even though our road is quiet. I have to be more careful.

Here is a :candle: for your dear little girl and :hug2: to you.

[Ruthi]

My deepest sympathy for you and your family! Tell your son it wasn't his fault, these little babies are so fast sometimes,and stubborn-hard of hearing-when they want to be! God bless you and your family!:hearts::hearts: