I completely understand. Been there myself. After loosing Purdy (our last dog/Dalmatian) I'd be ok (after the first few days) but I'd walk in the door from work and go to pull my boots off and she wasn't there to give me my kisses and it was like having the wind knocked out me all over again. I've never had a bond with any animal like the one I have now with my little border collie and she's still in her prime but I dread that day. Scott and Big Dave make fun of me when we go hunting for more than a couple days because I start missing her. They definitely add a lot to the quality of our lives.

...our animals bring us such joy, it's hard when we lose them. But that's the package that we sign up for when we take them into our lives. The simple fact that we live so much longer than they do means that we will, eventually, watch them die. It's hard, but the joy they bring us (and we give to them) makes it all worth it. I raise a glass in Mr. Big's memory, Salud! He had a good life and he died quietly, and peacefully, in his favorite chair. Doesn't get much better than that...

(PS, I suspect that our household will be going through something similar in the not too distant future. Hoppie is getting older and older, almost daily.....)