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Original poster

My amazing dog has died… When to take away bed and toys

42 replies

RappelChoan · 03/01/2026 10:17

I don’t think I’ve titled this right but I had to put my gorgeous dog to sleep today. It was 100% the right time, he was very poorly and had a great life until very recently. Showed me overnight that he was in pain and his favourite vet put him to sleep as soon as they opened up. Now I am looking at his bed and toys and thinking I can’t bear to get rid of them. My kids are young adults and I need to do what is best for them but I can’t think straight.

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 03/01/2026 10:18

Put them in the loft if you have one until the pain is not so raw.

ChocolateBiscuitsandaCuppa · 03/01/2026 10:20

I am so sorry.

Be gentle with yourself. You have to do what's best for you too, and let yourself grieve his loss. You said you can't bear to get rid of them, and I'd feel the same way. If you have to move them, can you move them into another room/somewhere where you know they are?

Also, your children will likely want to grieve too, and might take some comfort from knowing his things are still there for now.

Contycont · 03/01/2026 10:20

Sorry for your loss 💐

I think it's fair to say that you should take the time to grieve for at least a few days. Wash food and water bowls today and leave them to dry. Then in a few days bundle up anything that can be donated and put the rest in bin. Maybe keep his collar or favourite toy. But I expect you'll feel more able in a few days.

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Justbecauseyoucandoesntmeanyoushould · 03/01/2026 10:23

My elderly dog was put to sleep yesterday. I'm so sad to lose her but it was the right thing to do.
I'm not ready to move her bed yet. And that's OK.
Do it when everyone is ready.

PashaMinaMio · 03/01/2026 10:23

We left our dog’s stuff tidy in the corner for a while. We did collapse his crate & put in the loft. Gave away excess food.
Do you need to rush it?
You will know when the time is right.
It’s such a painful loss. Takes a while to get over. 💔

Muddywelliescleansocks · 03/01/2026 10:24

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s good to take comfort that your darling dog had a good life and was very loved. There’s no need to move anything right now unless you want to. I would move things to another room until you decide what to do with them. Maybe choose a favourite photo and get it printed and pop in a frame somewhere. I lost a dog as a young adult and was very upset about it.

FrostyFlo · 03/01/2026 10:27

We had to have our beloved cat put to sleep and although I'm not surprised my husband is taking it hard ( he wasn't allowed pets as a child ) nearly 7 months on we still have some toys , beds etc here .
Tbh some of the larger items I think should be put away or donated but he's not having it and gets almost teary at the thought .
I think you have to do what is right for all of you , but in hindsight I think within 4/6 weeks should be about right.
Sorry for your loss .

FlibbertyGibbitt · 03/01/2026 10:27

Oh Op, I’m sorry, I had my cat pts before Christmas as she had cancer ☹️ have just got her ashes back but I need to chuck her cat tray away and it feels really sad, even though it was a cat tray ☹️🌈💔

WorriedAboutArthur · 03/01/2026 10:33

I’m so sorry for your loss. You have to do what feels right for you, personally I think I’d have to get someone else to take them away for me so I don’t have to do it. It’s still so soon after he’s been put to sleep so be kind to yourself 🫶🏼.

EnjoythemoneyJane · 03/01/2026 10:52

I’m so sorry. Lost my beautiful boy to stomach cancer 5 weeks ago. It was shockingly fast and unexpected, just a few days between diagnosis and having him PTS in my arms. It really blindsided us and I’m having trouble processing the loss and grieve him every day. I initially left everything where it was, but ultimately found that moving most of his things out of our living space was helpful, as there weren’t constant reminders everywhere I looked.

I was very resistant to letting it all go, but we made enquiries locally about shelters and eventually (about 2 weeks later) went and donated almost everything. This was motivated by the weather getting colder and knowing that lots of other animals could benefit from his blankets and bedding and toys, and all his unused food and treats. It gave me a bit of peace to know it was all being used and appreciated, and I’m thankful we got it done in one go, as I’d find it even more painful now to suddenly stumble upon any of his little things.

All you can do is what feels right for you. Right now it’s far too raw to be making big decisions. In a few days you may feel more able to go through his things and decide what, if anything, you’d like to keep. I’m so very sorry for your loss 💐

HoppityBun · 03/01/2026 10:56

It’s taken me over a year to take food bowls to the charity shop. I still have little bits and pieces around the place. Some people make a memento of photographs and things like colours that can be framed and put on a wall.

I suggest today is far, far too early to think about this.

Objects are connections and at some point you’ll be able to let some things go. Perhaps other little things will stay with you forever. But what I do suggest is that at some point you might be able to donate some things to an animal charity so that another animal can use them. Also, you don’t want them being put in a skip when you move or when your own life is drawing to a close. So that’s a reason to take control when you feel able to do that. Which is not now.

I’m so sorry. I have experienced the loss that you feel, several times.

Original poster
RappelChoan · 03/01/2026 10:57

Thank you for all the kind replies and I’m sorry for all the other losses too. It’s really hard but the advice is appreciated.

OP posts:
Nosnowhere · 03/01/2026 11:00

Devastating so sending you a big hug. 🤗
We’ve done this on the day or someone else has done it for us or we’ve don’t it for someone else. A vet can suggest a support forum for you. 🌺

JanetareyouokareyouokJanet · 03/01/2026 11:01

My dogs coats and wash cloth with her name on are still folded on the stairs. She died March last year. Don’t rush anything, especially not today.

sending you lots of love ❤️

TwooooDoooozenRoses · 03/01/2026 11:01

Gosh I’m so sorry. I had to have our darling old boy put down on Monday and while I know 100% it was the right thing to do for him, it still feels just gut wrenching. They leave such a hole. I actually put him in his bed with all his precious things when we buried him, but I think if I’d not have done that, I’d have needed to put them away somewhere safe. I couldn’t bear to look at them, I already feel his (missing!) presence absolutely everywhere.
The charity idea is really lovely, giving another dog the comfort your dog enjoyed rather than just chucking them away.
Best wishes, and my deepest, most heartfelt sympathies 💐

TOWGA · 03/01/2026 11:01

We had to have our Labrador put to sleep on Christmas Eve unexpectedly, at the moment the bed, bowls and lead are all together in our bedroom still, not sure when I will feel up to moving them, we are awaiting for his ashes to come back atm

Bryonyberries · 03/01/2026 11:03

It’s very hard losing a dog. We still had another dog when ours was pts last year so it was easier in that most of their things were shared anyway. We put her collar and other bits away with her ashes. Give it time. It can feel weird and there is no rush, do what makes it easiest for you to process and cope with the loss.

FrostyFlo · 03/01/2026 11:17

I've posted up thread but just remembered when I had to empty my mum's home after she died , I came across her dogs lead and collar and he died in the late 1970s .

countdowntonap · 03/01/2026 11:18

Three years on, I still have my girl’s bed, bowl, coats, toys, etc. Fortunately I have the suave to store them.

Soontobe60 · 03/01/2026 11:20

I was having a clear out the other day and found my old dog’s collar - he died 4 years ago. I asked DH what he wanted to do with it, as I would have thrown it away. He got upset, took the collar and has put it in his wardrobe.
My point is, everyone has a different feeling on what to do, so do what’s right for you.

tinyspiny · 03/01/2026 11:25

Sorry for your loss , we lost our dog last year as an emergency and we moved his beds to the garage the same day as it was too hard to look at them , the rest of his bits we sorted over the following couple of weeks .My husband has a little shrine in the garage with some of his bits and some of it is packed away in the loft . His ashes are in my bedroom .

Silverstag · 03/01/2026 11:33

I am so very sorry for your loss, it’s heartbreaking and you need to take things at your own pace.
we gradually moved things into the utility room and then when easier we decided what to keep. We have a box of his bits in the garage, his lead is still hanging in the utility room. My adult children wanted one of his toys each so they got washed and given out. Basically do what feels right for you and your family. No need to rush anything. Flowers

redfairy · 03/01/2026 12:41

I'm so sorry about your dog. It took me a while to slowly reduce down my DDogs belongings. Initially I kept everything. After two years I still have a couple of her favourite toys that I can't bring myself to relinquish, and my cats use her bed everytime they go into the cattery when we go on holiday. I've only recently disposed of her KC certificate and registration papers. There's no rush.

Freysimo · 03/01/2026 12:45

I'm sorry for your loss. My old girl was PTS three months ago. I've kept her beds (in the garage), collar and put her identity disc on my keyring so I carry a little part of her with me. I still have her ashes, but plan to scatter them in spring.

Rowgtfc72 · 03/01/2026 15:31

Sorry for your loss.
I buried my girl in her collar, jumper and scarf. She was wrapped in her favourite blanket as I didn't want her to get cold.
Following day I binned the bed and years old grubby toys and bowls.
I've kept her lead and favourite toy. Also cut a square off the blanket she's buried in. They're in the shed. Faintly smell of her six years down the line.

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