When Your Dog Dies – Tips From Pet Owners Who Understand
When Your Dog Dies, You May Be Surprised by Your Grief
When your dog dies – illness, old age, or an accident – healing from the heartache can be surprisingly difficult.
These tips are from pet owners who understand. Their dogs died and they share what helped them cope with the grief.
Here’s how one journalist handled the death of her dog:
“When my precious schnoodle, Puccini, died, I channeled my grief into a project I’d been working on for 13 years-a series of children’s books called Adventures With PawPaw,” says Diana Scimone. “After Puccini died, I pushed the project into high gear. About a year later, the first three titles in the series were published-and more are on the drawing board.”
Not everyone can publish a book about their pet’s death, but reading about how pet owners survived loss can help.
When Your Dog Dies – Tips From Pet Owners Who Understand
Surround yourself with people who understand pet loss
“I’ve got four boxes of ashes on my book shelves – three dogs and one cat – for the pets I’ve had to say goodbye to over the last dozen years,” says Carol Hodes. “Each was an important member of my family [I have no children]. I am of the belief that you have to accept that the grief will be as profound, if not more so, than if you lost a human member of your family. And you need to surround yourself with people who understand that. Folks who don’t share your love of pets will not understand your sense of loss. In most cases, I had to make the decision to euthanize the pet and I also find that to be both a uniquely challenging and, sometimes, uplifting aspect of the experience. You got to be there for the pet and give the ultimate gift of a peaceful and pain-free end.”
Cherish your other pet — whether they’re dogs or cats
“I have been lucky that I’ve always had another pet at home to help me through the sadness – and they do feel the loss of their friend, too,” says Carol Hodes. “And I have gone on to get other pets to fill the void. I don’t understand the perspective of some people who, when they lose a beloved pet, won’t take the risk of getting another pet to love because they might eventually have to cope with the death of their dog or cat. Two years ago I lost my Pembroke Welsh corgi, Chip, to cancer. I knew that by the spring I would have “puppy fever” and sure enough, I got a puppy at the end of March. Scooter is a border terrier who is now a year old.”
Explore a different breed of dog
“One thing I have done that may work for some people – I don’t replace one dog with another dog of the same breed,” says Carol. “There’s no way to replicate your last pet and why have the next one held up to comparison all the time? It’s easier [for me] to enjoy the charms of an entirely different type of dog.”
Remember the funny stories about your dog, and make an album
“We have to put our 14 year old dog to sleep two weeks ago. Not sure how, but he broke his femur bone and he would have had to undergo major surgery to put pins in his leg, or if the break was caused by cancer they would have to amputate and hope the cancer didn’t spread. Neither choice was good for a 14 year old. I had to explain to my children that “Floyd” wouldn’t be coming back from the hospital. We had a funeral and memorialized our dog by telling her funny stories about him-how he liked to chase chickens, how he rescued (by barking to a neighbor) another dog that was drowning in our pool, and how he like to sleep in Mommy and Daddy’s bed with his head on the pillow. We found several pictures of him and made a little album. This helped us heal when our dog died”. – Roni Jenkins
Embark on a new endeavor
“I’ve owned Doberman Pinschers for almost 25 years and each time, the loss of each one was crushing,” says Sherry Stinson. “When I lost my oldest Dobe, Tyler, I was numb with grief. He was old, I knew that, and had lived beyond the average age a Dobie lives, but his passing was still devastating. To pull myself out of the all-consuming grief, I decided to start a pet greeting card company and name it TylerDog Cards. This helped me focus on the wonderful joy I had when Tyler was alive.”
Give yourself time to mourn when your dog dies
“Many people advocate getting a new pet to replace the emptiness, while others say to wait,” says Sherry. “Personally, I think you have to give yourself a little time to grieve pet loss before jumping into a new puppy given they require so much attention. However, that’s just me.”
Let yourself grieve the way you need to
“The most important thing is, don’t be afraid to cry, to grief, to miss your pets,” says Sherry. “Too often people let society deem what’s appropriate to grieve over and what’s not. Pets are an important part of people’s lives today and just as hard to lose as anything else, so it’s very important to just let yourself grieve.”
Share your memories of your dog
“My golden retriever Katie was a huge part of my life for 13.5 years,” says Regina. “We went through everything life tossed at us as a team, including my bout with cancer over six years ago. After she passed away, I hosted a memorial service with my friends. We sat in a circle and each guest told a happy story about Katie. Before each person spoke, I lit a small candle. After that I passed a balloon around and, as it reached each person, they had to express a wish for Katie in Eternity. When we completed the circle, I released the balloon and said that it not only carried our wishes Heavenward to Katie, it would grant those same wishes to every pet who had ever been loved and lost by anyone in the group.” – Regina Leeds
Visit a dog kennel
“We had to put down our beloved dachshund, who was two weeks shy of his 17th birthday. I almost immediately went online searching for dachshund rescue sites to see what dogs were available. I had no intention of replacing Joplin immediately but just found comfort in doing this. I also read up on how to cope with pet loss. Naturally, it’s a very individual thing and people respond differently. The house was eerily quiet without him and 4 months later, my husband and I adopted a wonderful 2 yr. old rescue. We still have photos of Joplin around the house and I do sometimes feel guilty loving Charlie as much as I do, but it is possible, at least for me, to be able to love this dog as much as I had Joplin.” – Jane Cohen.
A final tip for before your dog dies: make a clear plan when all is well
“We recently lost Shirley, our cocker spaniel/poodle of 17 years, about a month ago,” says Abby. “My family is still very sad. We have tried to keep it as lighthearted as possible by laughing about her strange habits or funny times when she was around. We did make one mistake the day she passed away. My dad found her body and panicked. To ensure my mother would not arrive home from work and panic also, my dad reacted quickly and buried the dog in the backyard. While preventing my mother from having to watch the burial was thoughtful, it was not what worked for the grieving process. We learned to have a clear plan in case something happens and everyone is not around to make the decision together.” – Abby Harris.
If you don’t know how to help your child when your dog dies, read Kids and Pet Loss – 5 Ways to Help Children Cope With Death.
In Letting Go of an Animal You Love: 75 Ways to Survive Pet Loss I interviewed veterinarians, grief experts, and pet owners who survived their pet’s death in sometimes surprising ways. A book like this will help you grieve, show you you’re not alone, and give you ideas on how to memorialize your dog long after he or she has left our world.
If you have any questions or thoughts about healing when your dog dies, please comment below.
Feel free to share your story – because writing can help you heal.
Category: Dogs & Doggy Care Tips, Grief & Recovery Tips, Pet Care Tips
I had my bright eyed Kayla put to sleep on New Year’s day… the worst day of my life. She was a beautiful long haired Belgian Shepherd of 10 years 3 months. She had to have a hip operation at only 9 months old, so we were really blessed to have her in our lives for so long. She had suffered from arthritis for years and was given the best food and all sorts of supplements which I think really helped to extend her life. We live on a 3 acre property with 4 other dogs – her sister Jade, 2 GSD x Siberian wolf Luka and Kira (brother and sister), and Jack the Jack Russell.
My problem, other than missing her TERRIBLY, is that I keep thinking of the last moments of her life – me holding her in the back of my car, telling her that it would “be all right” while the vet injected her to take her life. She pulled her leg away twice while she was being injected, so had to be injected a third time. She leant forward towards the vet – I think she thought it was me as she also had long dark hair – I don’t know if she was trying to say goodbye, thank you or ask for help. Then she fell back and stopped breathing immediately. It was so quick. I had help her and kissed her before, but did not have the change for my final goodbye. I keep seeing her blood mising with the green anasthetic in the syringe and her leaning towards the vet. I cannot get these images out of my head. Think of “happy” moments just make me cry more. I am devastated. She was by baby. WHen she was a puppe, my 2 Jack Russells attacked her a few times and I had to rush her to the vet for stitches. Since then, I have been fiercely protective of her and I think that is why she became my favourte, my bright eyes. I have dreaded her passing for so long, but it has still been such a shock and I am not coping at all. I cry all the time and it has only been 4 days. I dreaded driving my car for the first time after New Year, but instead of getting upset (I wa armed with tissues), I felt strangely peaceful and felt that she was in the car with me, to the extent that I was driving slowly around corners as I would with one of the dogs in the car. I think her spirit was there, but then maybe I just wanted it to be.
I feel for all of you. I just wish I knew what happened to their souls once they die. I KNOW I made the right decision as everyone keeps telling me, but that does not make me feel any better. I feel like I betrayed her and the guilt is terrible, even though I know it was what had to be done. I am just trying to cope, one hour at a time in the hope that it will get easier.
At least I no longer feel alone in this. Big hug to all of you. xxx
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog’s deaths.
I wish there was something I could say or do to make it easier…but take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Coping and healing when your dog dies is hard and heartbreaking, but it DOES get easier.
In sympathy,
Laurie
Yesterday, my 2 and a half year old bull mastiff, Stanley passed away. He had gotten into some trash a week ago and had eaten something that caused an obstruction in his bowel. He had gotten sick and I took him to the vet, however the vet just thought it was inflammation of his stomach. He stopped eating for a couple of days. Then the night before he began to breath heavy. I rushed him to the vet who then did an x-ray to see there was something stuck in his intestine. Before they could operate Stanley passed away. I did not even get a chance to say good bye to my dear friend. I loved him so much. The grief and guilt I feel is too overwhelming for me to stand. I wish I could back in time. I miss him so much.
Ummm, I don’t know why I am typing this. All the websites I have read said I should talk about my loss .. I can’t talk. I can’t stop crying. Yesterday (Christmas morning) I lost my baby girl, Charlie-Bear. “Think of the fun times” .. it hurts too much. She suffered from epilepsy for 9 of her 12 years and Christmas Eve, to ease her stress from multiple cluster seizures, I brushed her to sleep. The next morning, I held her paw and told her how much I loved her while she went to sleep forever! I told her Thank You and the Vet thought I was talking to her, I wasn’t but it is OK, Charlie-Bear knew I was thanking her. OMG I can’t believe how much this hurts. I can’t talk to my friends, I can’t stop crying .. I miss my baby and I want her back!
I found this poem today….
My best friend closed his eyes last night,
As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain,
And it was hard for him to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH…his many charms.
Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense “I love you gaze”,
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, “you should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
He’s installed a “doggy-door”!
by Jan Cooper
Sahar, Jade ~
I am SO sorry that your dogs died….it’s so heartbreaking.
Different people find different things helpful when they’re coping with their the loss of their dogs. Me, I just cried all the time — I couldn’t seem to stop crying. After a couple of weeks, I cried less…and eventually got to the point of just feeling bad. Now, I think about her with love and a bit of sadness.
The best healer is time. And, letting yourself feel and express your emotions. Writing how you feel is great, because it helps you process your thoughts.
A pet memorial can be very helpful, especially if it adds “closure.” When our pets are taken suddenly, we have no time to prepare If we decide to put our dog to sleep, we at least have time to think it through…but a quick death is jarring and shocking. So, a pet memorial stone or even a funeral can be a very healthy way to grieve.
I’m very sad for you. I know how hard it is to say good-bye to your dog. I invite you to share more about your dog here if you’d like, and hope you know that you’re in my thoughts and prayers.
In sympathy,
Laurie
hi,I had to have my dog put to sleep last night, i feel awfull because i left him with the vet as i just took him in a at 10pm and he had to be put down at 10:30pm and i never thought of bringing him home with me i was wondering if it would help me if i had a memorial made for him in the home or if this pain i am feeling will go away soon, this is the frist dog i have ever had and the way i am feeling will be the last i can’t belive how much it hurts any advise on how to cope
hello , am sahar .. my dog died 3 weeks ago , and i visit her grave daily almost, i just cant let go , am so sad and i have crazy thoughts comingto my mind , sometimes i feel that i just wana dig her up and hold her i just dont want her to die and leave me alone , she died in a heart attack according to 2 doctors , she was 7 years old and 10 months .. i still cnt believe she’s gone , i want her back , i cry day and noght ,, i speak to her for hours .. when i visit her grave .. i just cant imagine my life without her .. she has a dog friend , she used to love him , and her trainer told me to take him because he was her friend and used to play .. the dog is for the trainer and he wana give his dog to me just to make me feel better and close to my dog .. i feelthat the world has come to an end to me ,, i dont know they say i lost my mind an must see a doctor , may be .. bit onething for sure , i lost my heart with her , i just keep thinking that i must die after her , i miss her like crazy and i stillcant let go or understand that she is not coming again , i even became afraid to sleep cause she used to sleep beside me since the say she was born , she was 10 days old when i got her casue her mam died and my friends brought her to me as abirthday present .. she is the most beautiful thing in my life ,, she is and will always be ,,, my baby my happiness .. but now am alone and feel so in pain and my heart aches really over her ,, i just want her back am sleepless without her am sad without he i miss her i wana hold her and play with her ,, i need help what shall i do , ,shall i die ? shall i get that dog ? shall go to a dr really?
am sad and depressed i miss her and dont know when i will wake up from this nightmare i wish i died and she stayed alive .. she is my daughter for real , i was her mame , thats how much i loved her , i till do .. i need an advise please
I’m so sorry to hear about your dogs’ deaths…it’s heartbreaking. I can’t believe how long it takes to get over it — and some people never really “get over it.” Like me.
Our dogs are always in our hearts, every time we see a dog we remember our lost dog. It’s sad…but we really have to focus on how great it was when they were alive, and trust that they’re in doggy heaven, romping with their best buddies…and they’re watching us with love in their eyes.
Yesterday i lost my 3.11 years old BLACKY( A BLACK lAB).i am missing him badly. i cried almost whole night.I dont know what should i do bt i just cant live without him. I tried to save him.but failed and now m feeling that may be i could do more.
My entire family cried ,which made me more sad.
To Katheryne.So sorry.I spoke to people who have pets.It helps.I did a lot of crying in the first few weeks, still do.It has now been 6 weeks for me,really miss him,some days are worse than others.Try and keep busy and each day you will gradually feel a bit better.They are never far from yours thoughts.Let us know how you are going,Chris.
Dixie died yesterday. My parents gave her a mild tranquilizer before taking her to the vet… so she wouldn’t be scared. She was 17. She started getting lumps about a year ago, about 2 months ago the vet confirmed it was cancer. She was still wagging her tail at me last week when I saw her. You had to give a loud clap coming into the room so you wouldn’t startle her…she went deaf about a year ago. I know she was starting to suffer, and I know the pain is over now, but is it wrong that I wish she were here…to swat at me when I stopped petting her, and give a big huff when I wouldn’t share anymore ice cream with her (too much and she would barf…her tummy couldn’t handle the cold) I was in shock yesterday…I tried to go about my business today but I lost it at 2 am and I can’t stop crying. We got her when I was 8, about 6 months after Jack died. I didn’t think it would be this hard…it wasn’t with Jack…that I can rememeber. Again, I would have been 7…I guess coping is different then. I’m lost. My mom always told me she would have to tell me when I was away at college… that Dixie had passed away. Well that stubborn little poodle showed her…she made it through not one, but two University degrees. My mom has been warning me that it would be soon…but I didn’t realize how hard it would be. I can’t even imagine the pain ending. She was such a good little dog. She was the “nurse” when we were sick. Sharing the couch, the cartoons, and the popsicles (then throwing them up). She played with me, walked with me, sat with me, and loved me. I don’t know who to talk to. My boyfriend is wonderful, but never having had a pet he thinks that the best way to stop me from being sad is to tell me “not to think about it.” and I promise he isn’t being insensitive or cruel…he just doesn’t know what it’s like. I am so lost…and so sad.
Last Saturday afternoon, around 4:00pm, I had to have my best friend be put to sleep who has been my right arm for the past 13 and a half years. It was a shock. We knew he was getting old and slowing down, but he showed no warnings that cancer was taking over his body. We had just taken him to the vets recently, had him checked out, shots updated, teeth cleaned, and groomed. He had a great appetite and because I love to grill, he ate really good and was always close by. Saturday afternoon, I cooked hamburgers on my brand new grill. It smelled so good. Everything was great! But something was not right… Where is Java????
I found him laying down in the house breathing heavy. He wouldn’t get up. He turned away from his hamburger. I turned 10 shades of pale. I had to pick him up for the first time to get into the car and my wife and daughter(who was only 2 when we brought him home as a puppy) rushed him to the vet.
I thought, “great, he must have swallowed a bone or something. This is going to cost me. And right before Christmas!”
Soon, I get the call. It isn’t good. Not good at all. They are taking X-rays. I get a second call 10 minutes later. My wife crying on the phone. “It’s not good. He has cancer throughout his entire body. His intestines are all pushed over to one side. His spleen is about to burst so he can’t even come home. They can operate, but it’s going to cost a lot of money, he may not make it through the operation and the cancer is in his lungs and so he will only live another month at the most anyway and we are going to have to do this again soon and he may be in pain. They recommend putting him to sleep now. You have to come down here NOW!”
I hang up the phone and go out to the car. I start the car. I am feeling dizzy. I back the car out. But I can’t drive. I feel really hot and sick. I leave the car running in the drive way, run in the house and barely make it to the bath room. I get sick for I don’t know how long. I am on the floor trying to use my cell phone to call my wife but I can’t. I must have been in total shock because nothing like that has ever happened to me and I’m a 47 year old man. I finally am able to get up and go back out to the car. My cell phone is going off but I can’t answer it. Fortunately, the vet is only a couple of miles.
By the time I get there, Java can not get up. He can barely lift his head to look at me. He is wimpering. We were all there as a family and we had to make the decision to do it right then and there. Java was not scared. He knew it was time. I said good bye, but I had to go out to the car when they actually did it. I couldn’t keep myself together.
I am still in shock. I am consumed with grief. I just bought all these Christmas lights and I can’t put them up. I am devastated. I keep crying uncontrollably.
Java was very unique. He was a big black dog with big white teeth and had a presence that couldn’t be ignored. He was half black lab and half Alaskan Husky. I bought him for $100 from an ad in the paper – I was looking to get a dog because my wife and I just started a family, a 2 year old girl and a 6 month boy and we were looking to buy a home on some land. It sounded like an interesting mix of breed and so I went to look. He was the last one left. The runt. All the pups were gone by the time we got there except him and another female who was spoken for. The female was much more perky and had the soft fur. But we couldn’t have her. Java was small, sleepy, and had this funny fluffy yet “wiry” fur. But both of the parents were present- both very well mannered and healthy dogs. The mother was a beautiful black lab and the father was a big, gentle, powerful Alaskan Husky. They gave us their blessing with a sniff and a lick so we went for it and took him home. The kids carried him in the back of the van and he was our dog now! Little did we know what was in store for us….
We took him to the vet immediately and found out he was full of worms. After we de-wormed him, he became a completely different dog. There was just no stopping him and he grew and grew and grew! After a couple of years, he pushed out this incredible coat. He looked like a big black grizzly wolf. His tail was incredible and was a huge plume that curled up. He was pure black but he shined like silver. I loved to just bury my face in his neck.
We did end up buying a home on 13 acres in the country. The property had an abandoned professional kennel on it from when some breeders owned it years before. We ended up renovating this kennel and turning it into a nice home business as an exclusive boarding kennel for people who wanted extra special care for their pets. We ran the kennel for 7 wonderful years and we absolutely could not have done it without Java. Java took over and ran the place like a champ. He was my right arm. He also protected and looked after my wife and the kids as they grew up so close to the wilderness. Countless stories!
We sold the place four years ago and moved to a smaller house and of all things we got into the coffee business (hence: Java!). It was really hard on Java to leave the ranch for a small back yard. We lost one of our cats and we just were not happy living in such a tight space. So two years ago, we moved again to a home on one acre and it has been better for him. But he has never been the same. We know he has been slowing down some. But he was always the picture of health. We thought what a great life Java had on the ranch having the run of the kennel with so many friends coming and going all the time. We thought how good the timing was for all of us. We are all getting older. The kids are older. My daughter is now starting to drive. My son is spending more and more time with his friends. My wife and I are slowing down too so we sold the place to take it easy and cherish our memories that we had on the ranch while finish raising our kids in high school. At first we were a little afraid to move back to the city, but not with Java. He is always right there at our side. He always answers the door with us. He was a very nice and well behaved dog- he made friends with everyone, human or animal, fast. But one look at Java and people were usually on their best behavior. And Java never let anybody near his kids without letting them know he was watching.
We had three cats that he loved. Two of the cats we bottle fed and Java helped keep them warm and taught them the ropes as they grew up. He never bit anybody except when he was playing gently. But he could rip any door down if he had to. He knew how to open gates. He was unstoppable if he had to be. And the other dogs knew right away who was boss.
But he never injured another dog- he never had to.
But he was my right arm. My rock. My best friend. And now he is just gone. Without warning.
I have so many stories to tell it is unbelievable. I know I can’t tell them all here, but I really appreciate this site. I really helps to be able to read about others and to be able to write something out. But I am unfortunately still in shock and right now I don’t see how I am ever going to be able to get over it. He got under my skin like nobody else. He ripped my heart out. I know his spirit is around, I can feel him. But it is not the same. Life just isn’t fair. It is just too short. And I knew it when I brought him home that he would only live about 12 years. I just didn’t think it was going to go so fast. I guess I just forgot or I was just in denial about it. And I didn’t know I would love him so much. I thought I was just getting a dog. I thought I was just going to keep him in the back yard. I didn’t know he was going to come in the house and take my heart. I didn’t know I was going to need him and depend on him so much. And now it feels so empty and it hurts so bad and there is really not a darn thing I can do about it. I think in time, I will be able to get another dog some day. But not for a while. I have never felt such a loss before. I will try to focus on all the good times we had and keep it positive. I am trying to be positive for my family. But it is so hard.
May God bless all of you who are experiencing this feeling. Other people just do not understand- especially people who don’t have pets. It must be some kind of right of passage or higher learning of the journey of life. Something that could have easily been missed. Something that hurts deeply, yet without any regrets. If I could, I would do it all again! Solder on!
I’m sorry… We did, and we let her go until we came home and she was laying in a pool of her own bile and fecal matter. At that point, a midnight run to the emergency vet clinic seemed in order, where euthanasia was prescribed and performed. It can take a long time for a dog to die on their own this way, if she’s not eating, then basically you’re talking about letting her starve to death. I understand you don’t want to feel responsible for ending her life. But, is it a kindness to let her hang on for a while, or even allow the cancer to spread and become really painful? For that matter, aren’t you prolonging your pain by waiting? It’s not an easy choice. Again, I’m sorry that you’re faced with this.
Thank you for sharing about your dogs here — it really is great to hear how you’re coping and what you’re going through. It helps us know we’re not alone.
We people are all in it together in this world below, grieving our dog’s death…and our beloved dogs are in it together in a different, more peaceful world.
May we remember them with love, joy, peace, and happiness.
Blessings,
Laurie
To Susan.I know how you feel .I loss my little baby dog to an accident ,and went through the same thoughts. Time is the only thing. Dont rush in and get another dog until you have grieved . Give your other dog more attention.Mine happened on 25/10/10.My other dog is missing her mate and so am I.
We just lost out 17 month old Rottweiler, Rudy, today. He went missing a week ago and we put up flyers and searched and notified all of our neighbors, but we couldn’t find him. Until today. We live in a wooded area and we have alot of land, and we found him dead only 200 yds or so away from our house. Wild boars had disemboweled him. I have no idea what to do; I can’t stop crying. He was so young and innocent, he never tried to hurt anything, and now he’s gone. I’m only 16, and one of the hardest things to deal with is seeing how upset my father is (Rudy was his dog; and he was the dog we got after our 9 yr old Aussie Shepard was killed by wild dogs), so this just seem so cruel. The dog we got after a tragedy has now turned into one, and all I can think about is how young he was and how much life he had left to live. Also, our 6 month old mutt is lost without Rudy, he doesn’t understand why he’s gone. I just can’t stop crying, and I’m just so bombarded with memories of the quirky habits Rudy had and how his life was so full of potential. He was an absolutely gorgeous Rottie. Plus, I just don’t understand how life can be so unfair; we had just 4 months ago spent one month and nearly 2000 dollars nursing our beloved Rudy back to health after he got Parvo. I’m just so devastated.
Hi everyone,
My sweetest angel, Lola went to heaven on a week ago today. She went into the backyard to potty, and my husband didn’t know the gardener had left the side gate open. For some reason, my baby ran straight into the street and was hit by a car. My husband heard and rushed her to the vet which is less than a mile from our home. The tried to save her, but the sweetest soul I’ve even known slipped away. My husband was with her. I got a frantic call and rushed home. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. When I saw her little body I felt as if the world stopped and the breathe was taken from me. The pain is immeasurable. My heart is crushed. I miss her so much, she was only 4 years old my Lola bear. Lola, I love you. Thank you for loving my sweet Teddy bear. Wait for me in heaven love. Daddy, me, coco and russ will meet you there sweetface! Xoxoxo
hello, Nash, my miniature schnauzer died 5 days ago. My mother took him to the vet to get neutered bc it prevents testicular cancer in the future. While he was getting the anesthesia he went into cardiac arrest. He was only 4 1/2 years old.
Im having so many emotions about this, especially because this was the second tragic event with Nash. when he was 2 yrs old he escaped from my house and got hit by a car. The person that hit him left him there and someone came to my house to tell us. He lost one of his front legs. My mother and me did everything possible for him not to loose the leg. We gave him all sorts of physical therapy and exersices. We treated the injusry as if it was a person. Nothing worked and he lost all sensations on that leg, so it had to be amputated.
He was a very happy dog. The situation about his leg made me love him even more because to him it was like nothing had happened. He was still the happiest dog and was always there for me and loyal. Always willing to play and to please. Always waiting for me when i got hime with a smile. He moved around as if he had 5 legs instead of three.
Now i feel so guilty about what happened. i know it wasnt necessary for him to get neutered, but i would have felt worst in the future if something was wrong with him and i had done nothing in the past to prevent it. I have been batling for the past week over the decision. Im sure i will keep batling with it for a while.
The day it happened my parents came to my house to tell me he had died. i couldn’t believe it. i wasnt able to talk the whole day. I took the dog a week earlier to my parents house bc i was not going to be home for a while, so they were taking care of him, but since my mom loved him so much i left him there a couple of extra days.
Now, everytime im home i just keep staring at every spot in my house and think of something he did on that specific spot. it is very sad when i either leave or get home because he is not waiting for me anymore. it sucks not waking up in the morning to him looking at me and wanting to play with me and take him outside.
Nothing can replace him and nothing that i have tried has prevented me from thinking about him the whole day, especifically when i wake up or when i go to bed, or during the day when im at my place wondering what would Nash be doing right now if he was here. i feel very guilty about the situation, especially when he literally was the happiest dog i had ever met. like my dad says “he was literally a human being” because he felt, cried, and smile as if he was a person.
The one thing that has helped me is love from those around me. my family and closest friends know how important Nash was for me. everyone that visited me was looking forward to play with him when i had a get together at my place. my parents stayed with me the whole day that happened. and my friends have just given me great support. That has helped me greatly. It had also helped to know how much Nash was loved and how important he was to all my friends. They are all very sad too, but their support has been incredible.
Im considering getting another schnauzer, because my experience with Nash and other schnauzers has been great. But I will not be trying in any way shape or form try to replace Nahs, he was unique. i would do so in like a year. Now is not a good idea. First because i will be leaving to go to work to another country for around 6 months and second bc I love Nash so much that dont think its fair for him. I think it would be disrespectful trying to bring another dog to my house so soon. Nash deserves better, he always did and he always will. Miss you and love you unconditionally Nash……A
My baby, the queen of my heart, the princess of my soul, Thalia, she died in my arms this past thursday october, 28th of 2010. She was the first being I saw each morning when I woke up, she was the sweetie pie of my life. Thalia was an angel. The mature baby in the house, first one to come, while the two other babies, Gian Gian and Gandhi were the last ones to arrive and they would always break stuff and play so much haha. We love them all in the house, though Thalia’s death was so unexpected. She was the first baby I ever carried in my arms, the one who fell asleep backwards in her pillow while I held her the first day I got her. The first one to ever amaze my whole life so much. I remember I would wake up in the early morning at times restless, and the thing that would calm me was seeing her there, either licking her pretty paws or sleeping like the angel she was.
It’s been so hard having to deal with this, because mostly I wanted it to be different… but thing is you never really know how things will turn out. My baby got very sick with renal failure, I tried a lot, Reiki, visualizations, veterinarian hospitalization, natural remedies… the day I got her out of the doctor, she came home, that’s what she wanted the most. She had a hard time, she was very delicate… in the morning when I woke up I saw her jumping in her sheets… hours later when I took her to the vet we decided it was best to put her to sleep. I asked to the universe and her soul that it would be amazing for her to leave on her own, I didn’t want her to die because of an injection. I was waiting in the doctor’s room for attending pets, and suddenly I felt everything kicking in, so I started crying almost being breathless from the pain. Seconds after she was brought to me dying. I took out the strength from nowhere seen and told her it had been beautiful the life with her, that she could leave in peace, that I would always love her, and that we would always be together. Now it’s saturday, and I can tell it’s been hard but… I’m in the phase of a little more acceptance than before. I want the world to know all this because no animals deserve to suffer. We should be so careful with them and remember they are alive and feel too… they can be more important than us since we can take care of ourselves but… they can’t.
I love you Thalia, the queen of my heart. I always be. I always will adore you. My baby.
-SLCR-
My beloved dog Hero passed away because he had hip cancer and we did not want him to suffer so we put him to sleep.i was very young like seven years old or eight years old and it was very hard for me and my family.We thought it would be nice to burry him in our backyard but my mother said “no because if we move we wont want to leave him behind”so we didint burry him in our backyard.then my dad just gave him to the animal hospital and they put him to sleep as i said earlier.To this day in our library we have the ashes of our beloved dog and hope to keep them.but when hero was still alive we had another dog named Precious and they used to snuggle toghether in hero’s bed.today since hero died a few years later we got another dog but we still have our dog named Precious and our other dogs name is Bella and she i a yorkie and Precious is a chiuaua and i hope nothing ever bad happens to them.
REST IN PEACE:Hero Sayed Faiqe
I understand your pain and putting your dog to sleep due to serious illness. This video is referring to the irresponsible people who do not spay/neuter their pets, abandon them and buy from pet stores which support puppy mills.
We must be aware of the problem but I bet there is a wonderful dog in a shelter missing his family as much as you miss your dog. You can’t replace him but I guarantee there is love in your heart for another. I have lost many also but honor him by loving another.
Im sorry to hear about all of your losses i know how it feels and by the sounds of it the exact same thing has happened to Zuki as what happened to Brian Bell above. Today we had to get Zuki our beautiful, calm and caring dog put down. Yesterday we took her to the vets and Zuki was given a injection because she wasnt eating and we were told if she wasnt eating then bring her back in 2 days and if she was eating then a week. I thought she was going to get better because last night she started to eat things. Unfortunatley i came down this morning to find my mum clearing up her sick which had blood in it. I was heart broken and still am. We phoned the vets and they said bring her in so we tried to get her to walk out to the car but her back legs were giving way and she didnt respond to a word you said which was completley unlike her. We turned up at the vets and they said its bad, you can have her put down or take her home and it will get worse and she will start to feel a lot of pain. We chose what we know was the best option which was to put her to sleep. Me and my Mum held her and said our goodbye’s to her she then passed away peacefully and painlessly. We our so devistated about it because only 3 days ago my mum was taking her on daily walks and about a week ago i took her and my other dog down the field together and she was running around like normal. We dont want to remember the bad memories we have of our pets though we want to remember the good ones like when we had our first christmas with Zuki and we put the tree up and turned the lights on she ran over and knocked it over, and the first time we went to a river when we moved from the city to the country side i went to walk across the bridge with her so she decided to pull me so hard i let go of the lead and she swam across the other side. She always use to chase me on my scrambaling bike when i was younger. She always use to chase the cows that scared me when i was younger if they come to near. The house is just not the same without her. My other dog Tily doesnt know what to do she is crying for Zuki just like we all are. I hope Zuki is having fun up there with all the other dogs.
Love you Zuki you were a brilliant dog
On Oct 6th 2010 I had to put down my best friend. She helped me through a long divorce, the death of my Mother and loss of a few jobs.I always assumed from having other dogs who lived to be 14 and 15 years old that my beloved Golden Retriever Bailey would live a long life. She passed at 10.5 years old. On numerous occasions she had been sick from IBD but always bounced back. But this time I wasn’t as lucky and the end came very quickly from hemangiosarcoma, an insidious cancer that can take a healthy Golden and kill them in 4 days or less with no obvious symptoms until you find you beloved pet laying in your yard unable to move. I was horrified and in shock at how quickly the end came..Playing with her 4 days before with no signs of any overt health problems and then boom an ultrasound showed a mass on her liver. They said without surgery it would be a month. With surgery and Chemo 3 months. Well my beautiful blonde Golden had to be put down the day after I heard the news. Her tumor ruptured and I found her very weak laying in the rain in my backyard. The swiftness of this cancer left me with no time to say goodbye..I know I did the right thing for her..I was with her until the end. As hard as it was I did it for her. I wanted to make sure my face was the last thing she saw and my voice was the last thing she heard. I was with her to the very end and heard her last breath.. Humans should be able to die with such dignity. Her suffering is over. My suffering has been unbearable since Oct 6th. Goldens shed a lot and I’m still finding her hair in my house. She won’t be there to bark ( Bailey’s attempt at singing) when I played my drums.She wont be cuddled by my side on the couch watching a movie(her favorite ” Was A Dog Named Skip” or sleeping next to me in my bed. She is gone.. and so is my spirit. They say that the loss of your dog is tougher if your dog had been in your life while you have sufferred losses.It makes that bond so much closer.The empty house–brutal.. To see the dogs she use to walk with all about her same age out of the street with their lucky owners–brutal. I have never sobbed from the depths of my soul like I have these past few weeks. I knew this was going to happen eventually but to lose her so quickly has made me depressed and anxiety ridden. I’ve always had a tendency to think the other shoe was going to drop..And it sure did drop and left me in a haze, not able to sleep well or eat well. Man this is tough, tough. But she is in my soul now for the rest of my living days and soon I will be able to tell another very lucky dog how precious my Bailey girl was to me and all she had met. A sweet, funny, gentle soul.. That was my Bailey Dog.
My little baby dog was run over and killed outside my house 2 days ago .I am finding it really hard ,especially being my fault.He was 4years 6months.My other dog is the same age , they grew up together,she is sad to.Any suggestions ?