Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have got upset

30 replies

Hai1988 · 01/07/2010 20:26

Today i had to take my hamster to the vets to be put down as she was paralysed after doing some silly acrobats climbing up the top of her cage.

I actually cried in the vets and i felt quite silly, the receptionist was very nice gave me a tissue and told me to take my time before walking outside as i was there last customer of the day.

My DH thinks i was silly but my mum and the receptionist understood.

What do you recon?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 01/07/2010 20:29

Nah, I cried when I took my cat to be put down...the vet was very nice about it.

wickedwitchofwaterloo · 01/07/2010 20:30

YADNBU

When my hamster died I was beside myself, I cried my eyes out when we buried her. She was a rescue hamster bless her, I saved her from a life of no attention and I still miss her now x

Original poster
Hai1988 · 01/07/2010 20:32

I think my DH thinks that just because it was a hamster that i should not be as upset as if it was a cat or dog.

As i did point out that a few years ago he cried over his cat

Havent told ds yet, hes 4. What should i say??

OP posts:
TrillianAstra · 01/07/2010 20:32

Well, yes, you are a bit silly, but understandably so.

southeastastra · 01/07/2010 20:32

no you're not silly! sorry about your hamster

herbietea · 01/07/2010 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Hai1988 · 01/07/2010 20:44

Thanks glad im not the only one.

RIP Mollie

OP posts:
olderandwider · 01/07/2010 20:47

We had a sweet hamster who died at the grand old age of 3. She was adorable and we all blubbed when she went to that great hamster wheel in the sky

ChippingIn · 01/07/2010 20:53

YADNBU - she was a living thing you loved & cared for & she died ... it's natural you be upset - your DH ea being heartless - tell him he's on tea/wine service all night!!

Sorry about your wee furry girl x

lazarusb · 01/07/2010 22:04

Your dh is heartless. I'm crying just reading this thread. It's sad when a pet dies, no matter what species it is. When our hamster died we told ds (then 5) that it was old in hamster terms and that it had died which is a normal and natural process. Fast forward 6 months and he wanted to dig it up to see it's skeleton

darkandstormy · 01/07/2010 22:31

all pets are members of the family, wether they be cats, dogs, snakes whatever.Nobody is in the slightest bit silly to be upset and devastated when they die, especially when it was in a tragic way.So sorry to hear about your hamster, lets hope she is in little sunflower seed heavenpoor thing,and don,t let anybody make you question your feelings, you are upset because you CARE.

millimurphy · 02/07/2010 13:48

Why shouldn't you be upset because your pet was a hamster and not a cat or dog? Is it a size thing - the smaller the pet the less remorse when he/she passes on?

You are allowed to be upset when your pet goes - think your hubby could have been a tad more sensitive. Let him tell your son. I still shed a tear when I think of my last budgie.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 02/07/2010 13:51

I bawled like an infant when I had to have one of my chickens put down. It is horrible taking something to be euthanised, regardless of what it is.

MiladyDeScorchio · 02/07/2010 13:57

I had a hamster years ago who had some sort of tumour. Was incredibly surprised to be told that no neuro-surgery is generally not performed on animals which cost about a pound to buy

He died the day I was due to take him to be put to sleep - in my very hand as if he was waiting to say goodbye

Original poster
Hai1988 · 02/07/2010 14:19

Thank you all for ur lovley comments.
I am going to tell my ds when he comes home from nursary.

I am thinking maybe 2 gerbils might cheer him up.

But not sure if it is too soon

OP posts:
bobblehead · 02/07/2010 14:24

After my rabbit was put to sleep (I was not there) my vets sent a sympathy card with a beautiful little poem inside, basically saying it was ok to be sad and grieve for your pet no matter how big all small. When I went in to collect her ashes they were all very serious like they expected me to cry, so I'm sure they are used to it.

Actually my friend was telling me the other day her dh took there hamster in to be pts and HE was sobbing like a baby!

Tillyscoutsmum · 02/07/2010 14:26

YANBU (or silly)

I do however remember my secretary taking 3 days off when her hamster died and I was a little bit

mistressploppy · 02/07/2010 14:29

YANBU

FortunateHamster · 02/07/2010 14:33

YANBU

I have always kept hamsters as am allergic to animals (so would be worse with bigger animals) and have grieved for them in the same way I would with any pet.

My previous hamster died after a urinary infection. She lost the use of her legs and we had to have her put to sleep. I wept at the vets and even though it was ten years ago I still cry when I think about it (like now).

My current two get into silly scrapes sometimes and I get very upset just thinking about them going.

I don't care if they're small and don't live long. I love them.

diddl · 02/07/2010 14:35

I cried when we lost our rabbit recently-I will be a blubbering wreck when we lose the cat.

We have three dwarf hammies & I thought we had lost one a bit ago & cried.
It had gone into some sort of hibernation -so I´m sure I´ll cry when they go as well.

Lauriefairycake · 02/07/2010 14:41

yanbu

My rabbit is nearly 12 and I will be very upset when he dies as he has a fantastic personality and 12 years is a loooooooong time to love something

I was actually heartbroken and took 5 days off work ten years ago when my cat died. I had never loved anyone or anything more. He was literally the only constant in my life after my abusive parents and abusive ex.

Love comes in many shapes and sizes.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 02/07/2010 14:43

I cried when the first of my son's tropical fish died.

Picklepants · 02/07/2010 14:48

YANBU. Sorry about your hamster Pets leave a wee hole in your life when they die, no matter what species they are.

herbietea Oh my goodness, your story made me well up.

I dread the day my cats go as I will be heartbroken. Esp the smaller one - she was the runt of the litter, so she's tiny, and she follows me around like a shadow, so I call her my daemon. I can't face the thought of her going

JenniPenni · 02/07/2010 15:06

I love my lil Chewy (golden Syrian hamster) very much and the thought that she will probably die within the next year is painful.

YANBU (big hug)

Original poster
Hai1988 · 02/07/2010 15:37

Thanks, i have just told my ds that molly is no long with us here anymore and that she had gone to a place to play with lots of other hamsters and diffrent animals and was very happy.
He then asked me if we could go and see her with the other hamsters when daddy gets home from work

I had to tell him that he could not go and see her but that she was very happy and she thanks him for looking after her while she was with us.

He was fine started talking about his day at nursary after that and he was excited about his new class that he will be going into next year so happyley there were no tiers on his part

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread