When an owner loses their dog, along with the shock and emotions of the whole thing comes the need to honor the dog they have spent their lives with. The years of loving and being loved by one of the most selfless beings we will encounter in our lives are over in an instant, we are not ready, we still have love to give but now we have a "hole in our heart where once was a love of a dog" as Gary says. Out of this emotion people look to honor their dogs in both small and big ways.
You grieve as you live, work and breathe, putting one foot in front of the other day after day. So many people have written that when they honor their dogs, the grieving process moves along. It helps to move forward with something, more than to stand still and watch the world keep on living while you have had such a significant loss.
These people who move through their grief to honor their dog by sharing their story, handing out check your dog cards or even by fundraising for a cure become an inspiration for others. They inspire people to monitor their dog’s health, educate themselves and others, or even to try doing a fundraiser so they too can make a difference. They even inspire people to move along in the grief process by knowing they are not alone.
By honoring, grieving and inspiring they begin to heal.
This is also how the National Canine Cancer Foundation got here; 20 years ago we honored Bailey, we grieved him and in the creation of NCCF we have inspired others and we are healing too. We are honored to be here and to have met so many people who have had to journey through cancer and to keep striving for a cure for cancer in our dogs.
Together, We Are The Cure –
Join us.
