When my beloved yellow lab passed away at ten years old the most irritating thing people (unintentionally, just human nature) did was to tell me of their beloved animal's passing. I realized later that my loss was making them relive theirs. I am sitting here boohooing right now. So I will be brief and just say that after he passed I had a small headstone made with his name, date of birth and passing, and a personal epitaph on it. I planted a butterfly bush in the flower garden in his (Albert's) honor and the headstone is laying down near it. I guess it would be better described as a footstone. What I am trying to say is that memorializing our guy in this way keeps him near to our hearts. I feel your pain and pray for blessings upon you.