Who else reads......

The stories from the Rainbow Bridge areas and Cries for each one?
I have a habit of checking it every day and reading the new stories about pets who have passed on, and my DH thinks I am nuts for sitting there crying over it. 'Course, I am the same one who sat in class as a kid and cried when the teacher read 'Ole Yeller to us. Prozac doesn't even stop this kind of response to other folks' pain, go figure!

I try to stay away from it because I know I will cry like a baby.

I try to stay away as well because I don't think I'm strong enough to handle it. It makes me feel guilty, though, because I know I have the compassion and understanding to lend words of support to those who need me. But, sheesh, I cry when I see any dead animal on the side of the road. I can't even stand to see dead pigeons!

I will definitely work my way into that forum though. It's a great support system, and we will all need it some day.

I do, but then it is part of my job description here. I don't respond to each one, if there are others who have responded and said all the right things, I usually don't interject. I do try to help those who are struggling with the grief, and often, it opens up my own stream of pain remembering when Shredder, or Bartee died. But I believe that the Bridge is a necessary part of this board, because death is a very real part of living with animals. A lot of people don't want to deal with it, and I understand and respect that too. All I can say is if there wasn't a place like this special forum a lot of cat owners would be broken in half quickly.It helps to know others have suffered with you, or walked before you and that they care enough to come into the Bridge and share with you their own survivor stories of how they healed their hearts.

I am also afraid to go into that site . When I read some of the sad story's I am already in tears and cry . I agree with you Hissy , there has to be a place for a griefing person to go to . I have bin heartbroken before and I wish I had known this place then . But each day I think about going in there , I know one day I will and hopefully I have a comforting word for somebody .

I don't read it because it would be too hard. My Mom gave me a book about cats and all the stories in which the kitties died made me cry so hard that I thought I was going to drown in my own tears. It would be harder reading it hear because I know the people involved.

I visited there once and cried so I never visited again. Also I cry when seeing Animal Planet emergency vet when nothing can be done and they show the pet being put to sleep and the family crying.

I do and yes I cry But people need support so I think we should all make an effort to read and reply.. I know its hard but if was your cat all the support from the friends here means so mcuh..

Animal Planet makes me cry too.. god I'm such a wuss

I joined this board several days after the death of my cat, Midnight. The Crossing The Bridge forum hadn't been created yet, so I had to post my story about Midnight's death in the lounge. My story was moved to the Crossing The Bridge forum when it was created a very short time later. The support I got from other members really meant a lot to me.

I think that this forum is a very valuable part of TCS, and I still go back there sometimes, but not all the time. I TRY to say the right kinds of things to those who are grieving. Being in that forum brings back memories of the loss of Midnight, and also other memories of earlier pets who have been gone for many years.

I don't go there as much as I should, nor do I reply as much as I should. I do most of my TCS time at work, and like many of you I cry at almost all of the heartwrenching posts. It's generally not good to walk into an office and have the person at the front desk bawling. But it is really one of our very important forums here, and where anyone - no matter how knowledgable you are about our furry loves - can really make a difference in someone's life.

I too go the the Rainbow Bridge forum on occasion, and find myself crying over all of the stories. I find it so hard to say the right things to anyone who has had a loss-I've had family pets pass, as well as my Mom (in 1991). Grief and loss is so individual, and saying I'm sorry and saying I'm here for you sometimes feels so inadequate. But, it's nice to know that it's there for anyone who may need to talk about a loved one who has gone over the Bridge.

I know what you mean Kittenkrazy .... I am a very sensitive person, sometimes. I even cried during E.T. The extraterrestrial . I go to the Bridge Forum about once or twice.

I skim them...
I can't bear to read all the details sometimes... I hate to cry.

If it wasn't for the "Crossing Bridge" forum, then I would not be here right now. I found this site last week when I was mourning my recently deceased cat.

I found the support that I needed (Thanks to those of you brave souls who can deal with other's pain) and it really did help me to get through the worst of it. Just knowing that other people out there were just as attached to their animals (that I wasn't being overly sensitive)was a major factor in the healing process.

I work in a Cancer Center so am faced with tragic stories on a daily basis. You tend to grow resistant to it. . . . until it hits home. . . . someone you know or someone who is too young. . . or has too much to live for. . . you get so you think the whole world has cancer and it does get to you after a while.

I think if we can all offer support and kind words to one another in the time of need, that the favor will be returned to us some day.

I know what you guys mean..i cry at the tributes too..however, i believe that once your tears are dried, the owners whose cats have passed on haven't. they need our support to get out of the grieving period and start thinking about the beautiful times that had shared. i believe that all of us want somebody to be there to tell u that everything's gonna be ok and encourage u on...i do go in every day to check things out and see if there's anything i can help to make ppl feel better... somehow, after making ppl feel better, u feel better too...

Originally posted by KittenKrazy
The stories from the Rainbow Bridge areas and Cries for each one?
I have a habit of checking it every day and reading the new stories about pets who have passed on, and my DH thinks I am nuts for sitting there crying over it. 'Course, I am the same one who sat in class as a kid and cried when the teacher read 'Ole Yeller to us. Prozac doesn't even stop this kind of response to other folks' pain, go figure!

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"DH". I've seen that abreviation before. I think I've figured out what it really means: dear husband. I wish I hadn't figured it out. It was funnier before when I thought it meant "dumb husband" Of course, in the context that I had seen it used, dumb husband was just as appropriate.

When I think about my kitties crossing the bridge, I get terrified!
It makes me want to distance myself from them so somehow it won't hurt so bad. I know that is not the right thing to do, but it is funny the ways we try to protect ourselves. I had a cat named Spot from the time I was 11 until I was 17. When I left my parents' house, I had to give him to my best friend and never got to see him again. Recently I realized that Spot must be long long gone by now and that broke my heart!

Originally posted by Hydroaxe
"DH". I've seen that abreviation before. I think I've figured out what it really means: dear husband. I wish I hadn't figured it out. It was funnier before when I thought it meant "dumb husband" Of course, in the context that I had seen it used, dumb husband was just as appropriate.

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Hmmmm, that's quite appropriate too sometimes ! BTW, I wish this site had been started years ago when I had to have Miss Kitty put to sleep, Whole family though me nuts !