Losing a pet

[RobinBHM]

Or more precisely, losing a dog

I don’t want to make a miserable thread .

I lost my dog yesterday and I can’t believe how hard it’s hit my wife and myself….it feels silly feeling this way.

I wondered how other people found it.

 

[Cozzer]

"Gut wrenching".

I truly feel your pain.
I wept more for each of mine over the years, than I did when my parents died.

Anybody without pets won't understand.
Anybody who's lost a pet will totally understand.

God bless you.

 

[Hypnotic Chimera]

I feel for you, mate, and it can be an overwhelming emotional experience.
And I agree that those without pets might not be in a position to be able to understand it.
I think this is partly to do with the way that dogs, in particular, give you all of their love and attach zero conditions to their loyalty, which can bring a more visceral loss than losing a human - because our human-to-human relationships often contain so much baggage.

Much sympathy.

We found that finding another family dog helped. In some ways. A bit. Not as a "replacement", because you can't replace that loss, but it does fill a gap.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I remember Peta, Heidi, Helga, Poppy, Daisy, Suzi, Pansy, Dolly, Lulu, Jezebel, Bella, Dagmar, Tonto, Minnie, Blue, Freddie, Cleo, George, Moose ................. fifteen of them I took to be put down. A little of me died every time.

 

[Hypnotic Chimera]

I remember Peta, Heidi, Helga, Poppy, Daisy, Suzi, Pansy, Dolly, Lulu, Jezebel, Bella, Dagmar, Tonto, Minnie, Blue, Freddie, Cleo, George, Moose ................. fifteen of them I took to be put down. A little of me died every time.

The most difficult for me and my Mrs was Zach the Staffy, because I was deployed to Afghanistan at the time, so Mrs had to deal with the logistics on her own, and the emotions that came with it, without support, while I didn't get to say goodbye

 

[Tris]

They are part of the family, we grieve for them just the same. Hurts like h*ll. Don't be too hard on yourself

 

[Blackswanwood]

It's a particularly grim experience - don't feel silly about it.

 

[niall Y]

Kipling sums it up all too well in his poem 'The Power of the Dog' - " Brothers and sisters I bid you beware, of giving your heart to a dog to tear"

 

[Sideways]

Our last to go was a 16 yr old cat. I was the one who had to take her to the vet. Walked there with her tucked inside my jacket and didn't feel ashamed to cry my eyes out in public.

I could wish for someone to help me go that quickly when it's time.

 

[Windows]

Dogs are people. We feel the loss when people who are important and familiar to us die. You’ve suffered a bereavement and you’re grieving. It’s only natural. I’m sorry for your loss.

I’ve been hit hard emotionally when losing our dogs and cats over the years. I’ve mourned their loss as individuals. I’ve also been struck by how each of them represented a different period in my own life and their loss also marked the end of that era. It’s a big deal. It’s good to acknowledge it.

 

[justinpeer]

After growing up with dogs, it was much later in life that I had my own. We have two now, 11 and 8 years old. The first one, I’m not sure I’ve ever loved anything as much as I love that dog, I’ve never had kids but I imagine this is what you must feel if you do.

I know in the next few years she’ll go and that thought fills me with dread but oh she has given me so much love and joy in our years together and I hope we’ve given her a good life here on the farm.

My heart goes out to you for your loss.

 

[selectortone]

I've had cats in my family since I was a kid. I'm 73 now but I remember them all.

One, who we named Henry, was a stray kitten a friend found in the road and phoned my wife to ask if we'd take him. They brought him round in a shoe box and he was a pitiful sight, a tiny little bag of bones, filthy dirty, covered in fleas and very sickly. But he was a tough little b*gger. We nursed him back to health and he grew up to be the happiest, most affectionate cat you could ever imagine. He grew up with my three kids and lived to the ripe old age of nineteen. He was as much a part of the family as the rest of us and joined in with everything. We were all devastated when he passed.

I feel your pain Robin.

 

[Amplidyne]

We lost our dog in 2007. I don't think I felt any worse grief at the passing of my parents long ago.
We have just lost an older cat who had in the last couple of years "adopted" us. The "owners" knew all about it.
She was old. I still look for her, and listen for her little greeting.
It's all very sad.
So no, I don't think it's silly at all.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Fortunately I suspect these two will outlive me.

 

[Stigmorgan]

I've grieved every one of my pets from my first pet rat when I was at college, I did animal welfare for 2 years and he came with me most days, I'd wear a fleece and he would curl up in the collar and sleep on the way there, everyone loved him.
We had a few dogs growing up, mostly German Shepherds but they were work dogs as mums partner was a security guard, after leaving the army my first dog Bonnie was a border collie, we were everything to eachother and was probably the hardest one to lose. Then a couple years ago we lost our Springer spaniel Mya, she was 15 and had such an amazing calm temperament, still hurts but our other 2 keep us going although they are both approaching their later years, Olive is a Cockerpoo and is 11 and Tia a Romanian rescue is an Anatolian Shepherd we think is between 8 and 10.

 

[BentonTool]

We miss them all... the more, the merrier...

 

[scooby]

Or more precisely, losing a dog

I don’t want to make a miserable thread .

I lost my dog yesterday and I can’t believe how hard it’s hit my wife and myself….it feels silly feeling this way.

I wondered how other people found it.

It isn't silly. They are part of the family. Ive lost 3 dogs (all lived to a good age) and each time it hurt badly.

 

[Lons]

Sorry to hear that, it's very natural to feel the way you do as your dog was a member of your family.

It's 20 years since we lost our previous Labrador, buried in the field and my wife still doesn't go near her grave. 10 years passed before we got another when she retired and this one is now 10 years old and will be our last dog. I know what's going to happen and am dreading it as my wife especially will be crushed. It doesn't matter that when getting a pup you know the inevitable outcome it still hurts.

 

[jetsetwilly]

Grew up with dogs, including one that I rescued when I was 12. To be an adolescent nursing a sick pup is to get a glimpse of the all-consuming love of parenthood I reckon. It's impossible to relate if you haven't been through it, but lots of us have and we feel for you. If it's possible to judge a person from forum posts, I'd say your dog probably had a good life, which will be a comfort in time.

 

[Fergie 307]

Or more precisely, losing a dog

I don’t want to make a miserable thread .

I lost my dog yesterday and I can’t believe how hard it’s hit my wife and myself….it feels silly feeling this way.

I wondered how other people found it.

Nothing silly about it.
We lost our Heinz 57 terrier last year at the ripe old age of 17. Very sad.
One of the worst things was seeing our other dog looking around the house and garden wondering where he had gone.
I feel for you, it is awful.