When I put my first dog down due to cancer, it was heart wrenching. She was much more a part of my life then I had ever realized, and the void that was left after her death devastated me. It was important for me to immediately change my life routine, and daily activities so that I could help remove the blatant reminders of our time together. I would avoid the places I would walk her, and the parks we would go play at until at least a few months after. Time DOES heal all wounds, but everyone needs their own amount of time to adjust. Within six months I had two new adopted dogs to care for. They did not replace my first dog, but they did help me move on. Now these dogs are hitting middle age, and I see that their time is winding down. My main focus is to treat them with as much love and care that I possibly can. I never say I am too busy or make excuses to avoid their daily care, attention, and play time. Even though my family and friends consoled me and told me what a wonderful pet owner I was, I was still hunted by my own guilt after my pets death. I was continuously asking myself if I truly gave her the beast I could, because she gave such unconditional love to me. Now, I got to go hug my dogs, and cat!