Pet Bereavement

[lauren890]

I feel like a bit of a fraud writing this knowing people on here have lost parents, siblings and children but here goes. I had to have my dog put to sleep yesterday and I just can’t cope I cry all the time and I’m not really a crying type of person, I lost my job 18 months ago and am suffering from depression, she was all I had to live for, she would cry at my door every morning giving me a reason to get up, I also used to take her out for long walks which was the only thing that made me feel a little better. Today I could barely drag myself out of bed and just laid on the sofa all day, when I finally made it to the shops I went down the pet isle and just burst out crying left the shop and went home. I can’t ever think it will get any better.

You are absolutely not a fraud.
It is hard enough when everything is going well but you clearly relied on your dog for support at a difficult time in your life.

Can you post a picture?

Oh love, you are in no way a fraud. The loss of a pet can be massive. I cried for days when my cat died and had a long thread on the Litter Tray about it. That thread kept me going while I grieved and I will always be grateful to MN for that support

Maybe you could try the same

You're not a fraud, you've lost something you loved and spent a lot of time with. It's only natural.

It's horrible and it's hard. I lost my dog just before Xmas (nearly two months now ☹) and we still miss her like crazy. We spent the first few days reeling. Things do calm, the shock goes and the hurt starts to fade, but I still have days where something starts me crying again. I'm lucky in that I have two other dogs, one of whom was incredibly depressed at the loss of his pal, so I had to do a lot of looking after him and taking them both out, so it kept me a bit busy. I used to feel guilty that the dog we lost wasn't with us.

We buried our dog at the end of the garden and planted a Xmas tree over her. I go and talk to her regularly. Could you plant something in your dog's memory?

Sorry if I've waffled, but I know where you (emotions wise) are and am sending you a big virtual hug.

Thank you to both of you she was 10 but all my other dogs lived until 15/16 so it was a big shock, I don’t have any other family apart from my mum, dad and brother (who I love so much) so I’ve never had a big loss in my life before, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel better.

Oh what a gorgeous girl!

We all have our different ways of coping but I found that focusing on a way to remember our boy really helped. We bought a rose bush and scattered some of his ashes in the pot

Sometimes it helps to get another cat/dog, sometimes it doesn't. My DH was initially against rehoming another cat so soon but I felt like I needed to. He will never replace our previous cat but I think they would have been friends (and the latest rescue!)

There is no rush at all, but perhaps giving a rescue dog a home at some point might help

I really feel for you

Also, it might be worth posting this thread in the Doghouse as a lot of posters will understand what you are experiencing.

I know it's hard, but do try to get some sleep

I’m so sorry for you, pets are such a huge part of our lives I did a quick google and found a pet bereavement phone line. Maybe they will help you, it may help to be able to talk?
www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss

What a beauty. You are absolutely not a fraud. If anything, I think it's harder than losing a person (sometimes and dependent on your background/situation) because they're just full of love and don't have a bad bone in their body. They're just permanent sources of joy. Take your time with the whole process and definitely speak to someone, even if it's a general helpline like the Samaritans.

Thanks everyone for your support, I have reposted in the dog house.

Oh I hope you didn't see my suggestion about the Doghouse as a criticism, it wasn't meant to be. I just meant that it helped me to chat to other cat lovers.

Wishing you the best OP and thinking of you

Keep posting here if it helps

I'm so sorry. Don't feel like a fraud. I'm going to say something I've not told anyone and that's having my cat put down was for me more traumatic than losing my Grandparents. Pets can become everything to us.

I loved my mum and dad to pieces but I cried harder at a loss of a pet every time OP. It's just they are so dependent on us I think and in some way we feel like we failed I suppose ? We didn't obviously but it's so very hard. Lots of love to you.

bummy same here