To be upset about a dog?

[Hangingwithmygnomies]

We took in a dog a few years ago to save her from being bred to death due to her breed and colour and we were told she was abused and potentially going to be used as a breeding dog. When she was spayed they said her insides were in a terrible mess and her uterus full of fluid. Our son who is now 9 and diagnosed ASD was 3 when we got her and sadly about 18 months ago my PIL had to take her in as his meltdowns got worse and she got increasingly more scared. Originally I had said I didn't want another dog after having to have my first dog PTS as it was too emotional saying goodbye but DH wore me down. PIL have just phoned to say she's been to the vets and has inoperable and untreatable cancer. They are testing to see if it's an aggressive/invasive cancer and if it is they've said the kindest thing will be to put her to sleep. I'm devastated for them as they have absolutely loved having her but selfishly I'm sad for me that I will have to tell my boys who will also be devastated. Do I warn them first? One is only just 3 so won't really have an understanding. I feel really tearful about it and I honestly don't know why as I haven't missed having a dog in the house! AIBU to feel so sad about it?!

Of course YANBU.

Really sad time. You are allowed to grieve the loss of your beloved pet, & have qualms about telling the DCs.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable! Sending all of your family lots of love. It will be the hardest time ( we have been there) but know it was the kindest thing to do for her and you gave her the much better life she deserved until the end.

You showed kindness to the dog don't forget that the best thing for the dog was to be 're homed and it has been loved.

Please grieve for the poor thing you loved it enough to do the right thing

Thank you all for your kind words. I wasn't sure if I was BU when technically she isn't our dog anymore. My eldest has trouble with emotional processing due to his ASD so I could tell him at the time but it probably won't affect him for weeks and then he'll be inconsolable. She really is such a lovely dog given everything she has been through, so we won't let her suffer unnecessarily, she's already suffered enough early on in her life

YANBU to be sad about your dog. They creep into our hearts, we love them and care for them as a parent cares for a child. Of course you are sad. It hurts.
Empathy, in buckets.

Awh... YANBU.

Take time to grieve and you'll know what's best for your DC.

I've seen some real crap when I was serving over the years but consider myself relatively strong emotionally. Dogs, never grieved as hard or for so long when I have lost them.

Hard to explain but you know when the time is right.

Take some consolation that you and your PIL gave her the love and affection she lacked in her early life.

Tell your children that she is very ill, I've found that if they know then it is not as traumatic when she finally goes.
Grieve, they are very special, they bring something to our lives that is wonderful.

Thoughts are with you, it's crap :(