Chimpanzees' grief caught on camera in Cameroon, page 5

Originally posted by Confused and Dazed!
We had a dog that was a member of the family for 15 years. She was loved, and given every respect you would accord another human. She was never punished, scolded, or ignored. Not once.

She was absolutely devoted to us. She was funny, and intelligent. She was full of character. She let us know when she was ill, or hurt. She would lay next to you, waiting for you to wake up in the morning, and then be so happy and excited when you said "HI" to her. Sometimes, if she had to go "potty" she'd give you little nudges with her nose, to let you know, she needed to go out. Yet, she was so respectful, and gentle about it.
She was so unhappy, and let us know it, whenever we had to leave the house. She would watch and wait for our return, from her favorite chair in the living room window. One of her greatest joys, was going "Bye-Bye" or "for a ride". She loved to visit family members. She knew what Christmas and birthday presents were, and would open them with great excitement, to see what she got! She understood grocery bags, and knew one of them held her treats, and she'd look for them. Once we forgot, and she was very unhappy that her "nummies" weren't in there. It was all over her face.
( I made a special trip, that day, to go and get them )

When we talked to her, she'd pay attention, and look us in the eyes, shifted attention between those where speaking. She had command of understanding complex sentences, and questions.

She knew our moods, unhappiness, and when we had a head ache, for she'd stay close by. Watching! Coming to you, to check on you.

When she was dying of a brain tumor, she refused to go to sleep for three days. She held on, staying awake, little by little, getting weaker and weaker. She wouldn't eat, drink, or even go out side. She just wanted to be next to us. Finally, she looked at us, with her eyes wide open, tearing, and then she gave a small exhale, and relaxed, closed her eyes, and died in our arms.

We were crying as we lost her, and then held onto each other, as she lay next to us on the bed, gone forever. We lost our beloved little girl. She past on to whatever there is for animals once they die. We'd like to think, she went to some sort of animal heaven...because she deserved it.

She is laid to rest, in an animal cemetery.

How or why anyone could torment an animal, is beyond my comprehension.

What a loss for you. She sounded like a true member to your family.

We do grow fond of them.

What I see, what it looks like to me, is when one give more personal attention your pet, they become almost like a child in your house. They do not grow up as human adults in the family but they do have their role. Intelligent to the point where you can talk with them and they understand what you say. They make you happy and look at you with those supporting eyes just when you need them.

Sounds like you miss you doggy a lot. Get a new puppy. You would be amazed what you can learn to him/her, since you already know already so much about them!

It's sad they don't live as long as we do. On the other hand it's perhaps better for them if they have a bad family?