Goodbye my love Zoe & how I helped the kids cope

Zoe (11.5) was my wife’s and I first baby. We got her as a puppy and she’s grown up with our kids (F10 / F7).

The lovingest, happy, and spoiled dog on earth. In April we found out Zoe had a large tumor in her shoulder. Based on its size, location, and her age we decided chemo or amputation were not options.

We decided to have the summer of Zoe, took her to indoor swimming, many local parks, got family pictures with her, and lots little fun we had.

Zoe took a turn for the worst right before Christmas and we told our kids that she was very sick and didn’t have much time left, many tears were shed. When Zoe stopped completely eating and she couldn’t get up with out much difficulty, she was telling me she was ready to go.

My wife and mother in law took the kids to a play, while I took Zoe to her vet. The animal hospital also has doggy daycare and boarding so Zoe got to play and see her doggy pals and the staff one last time. I cried many tears as she fell asleep in my arms for the last time.

To help the kids accept and deal with her absence, I wrote them each letters in Zoe’s voice and had the vet techs help me ink her paw signature before she crossed the rainbow bridge. I bought them each a stuffed golden and fitted them with Zoe’s old puppy collars and her tags.

I told the kids Zoe’s vet was a pet psychic and dictated the letter to be typed and that Zoe asked me to get the stuffies for the kids. We told the kids that they can talk to Zoe over the rainbow bridge with the stuffies.

The kids keep their Zoe’s in their arms almost all day and night and talk to them all the time. Along with the letters, dolls, we also got the pictured book to read to help the kids coped.

I think these things have helped our kids and I hope some one finds it useful to them if/when faced with this situation.

Right now there’s a fluffy 50 pound hole in my heart.