They are part of the family and as such, it is painful to see them go.
My sympathies on your loss. I too, lost my baby (see tagline) in July. It was sudden and ugly. She waited for me to get home to her before she passed. She was my rock after losing my mom 3 yrs earlier. We mourned mom together. Now I mourn Sandy. But I did get another dog, completely opposite of Sandra Sue. Sandy was a chow/rott mix and weighed 90 lbs. Cody is a Shitzu and weighed in today at 7 lbs. (4 mos). I too believe we shall all be together again in heaven. I know Sandy is with my parents just waiting for me so we can be together again.