42 Comments
Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Maybe sometime you will share videos of all your different pups playing together.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

This reminds me of when our Pug Stella died while getting her teeth cleaned. Her Rottie sister looked for her everywhere,and was visibly upset. We soon realized that the only way to fill a dog-sized hole in your heart is by adding a new dog. Arlo could never take Stella’s place, but he helped us heal. Now Arlo is 10 years old and failing. We will end up repeating our story…I hope we repeat the new beginning too.

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author

We can only love them while we’ve got them. But we honor them by loving another dog.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Oh, my heart.❤️

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Oh, my. Baby Moses. 💕💕💕💕

RIP Reggie. You were, and still are, loved. The pain is real. 😟, but so are the glorious memories. 💞

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Thank you. For 9 years, since an orange man rode down an escalator, I’ve cried too often. But this morning, while reading this beautiful piece, I was reminded that there is such a thing as a GOOD cry…it happens when a heart overflows with warm emotions. Your sharing Moses’ story certainly did that. ❤️

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Beautiful story. Brings tears to my eyes. I just love seeing your pictures of your precious pups! Your excerpt from Reflections on a Life in Exile rings home how the loss of one life gives way to birth of new life and how those emotions feel. Made me think of my beloved Aunt Minnet, she passed one month before the birth of my first son, Nelson. It was so very bittersweet! I had so hoped she could meet my baby boy but alas it was not to be. The cycle of life. Thank you for sharing! It is such a beautiful story of loss and hope!

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author

Wishing you the comfort of lovely memories.

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Thank you! ♥️

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Very sweet. Cat parents get it too.

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author

Yes, of course.❤️

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

This brings about mixed emotions- I don’t know if I want to cry or smile. Beautifully written.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

All your dogs, both current and former, seem to have such sweet souls.💜

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Moses sounds like he was an amazing boy. He must have been to win over El Pete. (Descriptions of his grumpiness make me smile and miss him. I can’t wait to share this with my dad.)

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author

Love to your dad.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

My Reggie was a Border Collie named Zach. My first BC. By the time my fourth one was ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge I got my own GSD, Izzy. He is seven now. We never forget them or stop loving them. I relived a lot reading this.

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We lost our Leroy this past Monday. Left Asheville to escape the flood and had to put him down on the way. We are crushed. My heart and stomach hurt so bad. Don’t know how long we will wait to get another. All of your fur babies are just so beautiful and I enjoy seeing your pictures of them

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author

I am so sorry.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

Thank you ❤️ we are safe and sound and our house has no damage (so thankful). But missing our baby we had for 9 long wonderful years.

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author

It’s very tough

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

I truly love your stories about your beautiful boys. Thank you.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

I love this … like the comfort of rereading a familiar fairy tale. Baby Moses. Prince of Egypt. I’ve only heard/read of him, but knew he had your heart and soul, as you did his.

Moses … Moses … Moses.

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I’m with Mark Twain “if dogs don’t go to heaven then I want to go where they go”. There is no more unselfish love than the love of a dog.

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author

Same here. If there are no dogs, it can’t be heaven, by definition.

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Oct 5Liked by J. F. Riordan

What a beautiful story. There is animal grief (by all) and you explained it so well. It is interesting to watch each new adopted dog make their way into the new family and brothers/sisters - and how they learn from their older kin.

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