How does this fit in with buying a golden puppy? It is because the majority of the puppies I sell, easily 95%, are purchased to be replacements for beloved goldens that have gone onto the rainbow bridge.

I speak with many who are going through this very painful grief process, some with the support of family and friends, others without this assistance. We find that outsiders and even some family members often do not understand what we are going through, they will say "it's just a dog" or you will soon forget and move on. This is not true! We will always carry the wonderful memory of our "furry friend" forever!

Please read this story: A Six year old talks about his Dying Dog

We as guardians of our dogs do all we can to give them a wonderful healthy long life. But as is true with all living things, life does have an ending and we must all go through the pain of this grief process. It is at this time that we need the support of family and friends as well as our other four-legged friends.

It is true we can never replace the beloved friend that has left us, and many feel that he or she can never be replaced, and that is true. However, many have found that bringing in a new puppy is actually a tribute to the wonderful golden that has gone before. One must understand that the new puppy is not a true replacement, but instead is a new friend with a different personality and new quirks. But none the less, a wonderful golden friend, who will assist in healing our shattered heart!

If you wish to memoralize your pet, you might want to look at Memory Glass' website. They create beautiful hand-blown glass pieces with a small amount of your pet's ashes.