It has been a week since Herbie left us. The hardest part of this ordeal is every time I go to work every morning and when I go home after work. Every morning I always said goodbye to Herbie and touched his head when I left for work. That's one thing I miss. Right now, an empty space greets me every morning. The most painful is when I get home from work. There is no Herbie waiting and looking out for me when I arrive and greets me with his happy face and wagging tail.

CAN YOU SPOT THE PIECE OF PAPER AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PICTURE? THAT'S THE LETTER MY MOM WROTE HOW THANKFUL SHE WAS TO HAVE HERBIE AS OUR PET.

Losing a pet is so painful and I thanked those friends who were there to listen to me talking about Herbie's memories.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU LOSES A PET?
If you are not a pet person...
1. A simple pat or rub in the back is a consoling gesture. Even if you can't relate how they feel at least you let them know you are there for them.

2. Lend them an ear. We love to talk about our pets. Even if after sharing our pet's life when they were still alive makes us sad after because we'd miss them I'd say talking is still a good therapy because it's like we are remembering them and spreading how good and obedient they were when they were still alive.

3. Never mock our pet's death. That is just disrespectful.

4. Be sensitive. Never laugh because we cried over a dog or a cat. We loved them like a family member so we have the right to bawl our eyes out over our pet.

5. Never compare. Okay so you experienced death of a loved one before but we really don't need your comparison. We are grieving the death of someone who is dearly close to our heart too.

6. Ask them how they are. A simple "How are you?" or "What caused his death?" the day after our pet died goes a long way.

If you are a pet person but haven't experienced the death of a pet before...
1. Never ignore a fellow pet lover's grief. (yes, there were some)

2. Put yourself in our shoes.


THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT HERBIE...

Last week the day after Herbie died, I was doing my laundry and I saw Herbie's things. I miss how he seeks for my attention whenever I do my laundry. He would scratch my back (sometimes a bit painful) for attention then I'd say to him "Herbie, ate (big sister) is still doing her laundry". I would bend down my head for him to kiss me then he would place his head between my upper torso and my arms. After all those sweetness, he would go back to his place and curl down watching me doing my laundry.

I also love how disciplined Herbie was whenever I feed him. Some dogs would just eat right away from their dog bowl even if we are not finished yet putting food on it. I gotta thanked CESAR MILLAN. I learned from him tips on how to discipline a dog. I guess every dog lover knows him. With Herbie, he would always wait until I finished putting food in his bowl.

I also miss how he goes "UP" and hold my hand in a standing position and goes "DOWN" if I told him to.

I miss how he goes to me running after he got free from our gate. Then he gives me dog kisses.

MY MOM AND I HAD BEEN KEEPING GUARD ON THIS GATE FOR 5 YEARS BECAUSE HERBIE WOULD JUST RUN FREE OUTSIDE WITHOUT A LEASH.

I will miss his playfulness. Sometimes when Herbie got free from our gate, he usually runs around near our block. I would call him to go home but he still wants to run around. Sometimes when I call his name, he would stopped running and just looked at me with those mischievous eyes and smiling and panting face then he would ran away again.

I also miss how he scratches our door whenever he hears my foot steps going down the stairs every morning.

I also miss how he sits in front of the gate facing our window waiting for either me or my mom to come out.

I also miss how he curls down near my legs whenever I spend time with him chilling and sitting outside our house but just inside the gate.

Most of all, I will always miss Herbie looking out inside the gate waiting for mama and I arriving from work. It is just heartbreaking.

SONG DEDICATED TO HERBIE...

HERBIE AFTER TAKING A BATH.

It's like a safety net was gone when I lost Herbie. Every time I go on videoke sessions with my friends, from now on I will not miss singing I'm Missing You by Meja. I actually sang it last Saturday and I will always dedicate it to Herbie. Here are some of the lyrics:

I miss your love, since you've been gone
I find it hard to go on
The summer sky don't mean a thing
I thought I'd always be strong
I got a feeling inside
and it's making my heart cry, cause

I'm missing you
and it's making me blue, yeah
I'm missing you
but what can I do
Thousand miles away, from you

I will always miss you Herbie. Till we meet again near the Rainbow Bridge.

-Jen

#ADOPTDONTSHOP

ASPIN DOG LOVER LOVE and LIFE PET DOG

9/04/2016 10:44:00 PM

If you are a dog lover, I hope you would take the time to read this entry. All I need right now is the consolation and company (even online) of a fellow dog lover.

Yesterday, August 26, 2016 my pet dog, Herbie, has passed on to the next divide. He was a family to us for 5 happy years. He came into our lives in 2011. I was scared of dogs because I was chased by a dog when I was 6 years old and that trauma has stayed with me ever since. I know that dogs are beautiful creatures to take care of and so October of 2011 I decided to take in Herbie. He was named Herbie because by the time he was delivered by (he was given..I didn't buy him) our neighbor into our home, my mother and I were watching the movie Herbie Fully Loaded. Yes, the Volkswagen car Herbie. Same with other dogs, he was loving and fully protective of our home. He was closest to me. I was his Ate. My mom was his Mama.

HAD I KNOWN...
Herbie was still not vaccinated with anti-rabies but don't you worry guys he was a good dog and haven't harmed or bitten anyone. There was a free vaccination in our barangay last August 25, 2016. Before he was vaccinated, he was already not feeling well. He was a bit weak and he didn't ate his dog food. He would only eat if I feed him with my hands like a baby. I told my mom to proceed on with the vaccination and at the same time have him checked with the vets. After the surgical procedure was done, Herbie was so weak due to the anesthesia, the stress of surgery and the anti-rabies vaccination. Ok so they say that's normal.

When I arrived from work last August 25, 2016, my heart just broke at the sight of him. He doggy cried (silently but I still heard him) when I arrived. Even if he was so weak he still stood up just to greet me at the gate. His face was so weak and full of pain but his tail wagged so happily from left to right. I told him to not stress himself and lay back again for him to relax.

I accompanied him thru the night. There was this bad instinct I felt at the sight of him. There was blood near his organs due to the surgical procedure that was done but my friends said it was normal. So I relaxed but the bad instinct stayed. I didn't want to go to sleep because I just want to be with him. If I could just sleep beside him all thru out I had already done it. My mom went home to our province and told her to go back in the city as early as possible the next day because I don't want to leave Herbie in that position when I go to work the next morning.

The day HERBIE LEFT US....
Morning of August 26, 2016, I woke up and the first thing I checked was Herbie. He was still weak and the sight of blood just scared me even more. They say it is normal for a dog to be weak 2-3 days after the anti-rabies vaccination and neutering but that bad instinct never left. My mom and I let him took the prescribed medicines. Anti-biotics for his surgical wound and ascorbic acid for his immune system.

When I left for work, I was at the gate and took a last look at Herbie. He looked at me too and that was the last image I had of him. Until now I still imagine that look and I can see the pain in his eyes. It was my last encounter with Herbie.

My mom left for work too. I texted her 12:21 PM:

"Ma, ayaw bya i si Herbie=("  (Ma, don't leave Herbie alone =( )

At noon, she went back home to attend to Herbie. My mom said his condition didn't improve. She stayed by his side all afternoon and that one text message confirmed that bad instinct I felt the night before. My mom texted me 3:24 PM:

"Inday, tawaga department of vet medicine and fisheries. Kutasan man Herbie" (Inday, please call the department of vet medicine and fisheries. Herbie is always out of breath.)

I called them but there was no doctor available. There was no one I could ask why Herbie's situation was like that. I texted my mom to always hydrate Herbie with water and texted her again 4:25 PM asking how Herbie was and that I will be calling again the Department of Vet Medicine but my mom replied at 4:45 PM:

"Inday, sorry au RIP na Herbie. Ako na ipalubong. Maka uli ka sau?" (Inday, sorry Herbie has RIP. I will arrange his burial. Will you be able to go home early?)

I was still at work when I received the message. I BAWLED. I never felt so much pain before. My father and lolo already passed away but it is a different pain when you get to be with them EVERY SINGLE DAY. My mom and dad were separated so I didn't get to spend much time with my father. My lolo lives in our province so I always don't see him everyday. With Herbie, it's different. I get to see this loving dog everyday! Who always waited for me to get back from work at the end of the day! Who happily wags his tail whenever he sees me!

HEARTBREAKINGLY SILENT....
When I went home after work, my tears would just fall. I rode a taxi since I know I will still be bawling out of Herbie's death. I didn't want to ride a jeepney. When I arrived home, my mom was cleaning Herbie's place where he stayed when he was still alive.

I stopped at the gate looked at my mom and looked at that empty space with no Herbie laying down and I cried like a baby. I decided to just let my mom proceed with Herbie's burial. I think I couldn't take watching Herbie dead. It was so eerily silent when I arrived home last night. There was a death atmosphere within our home. My mom and I lost a family member.

Now an EMPTY SPACE...

Herbie, ate Darling will always love you, miss you and remember you until eternity. I'm sorry you had to die in pain. ='( You will always be my one and only baby dog.

I love you, Herbie. ='(

-Jen

#ADOPTDONTSHOP

ASPIN DOG LOVER HERBIE LOVE and LIFE PET DOG

8/27/2016 10:33:00 AM