I have lost both of my dogs in the last two years. I haven't gotten over either one. My dalmatian Domino passed just 4 months ago and my pug Josie the year before that. It doesn't get any easier but the happy memories do help. Funny enough I buried Josie's ashes with a copy of that very poem and I intend to do the same with Domino when I get up the will. If you want to talk about it feel free to get in contact with me. I try to remember a line from some of the great music that came with the animated Return of the King movie, " It's so easy not to try, let the world go drifting by, if you never say hello, you won't have to say goodbye". I would rather have the memories and the pain than to have never known them at all. The song is "It's So Easy Not To Try" performed by Glenn Yarbourgh, I would have some tissues handy, the subject and his voice can be depressing at the best of times.