Saying goodbye

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This afternoon my parents put our family dog to sleep. We got him when my brother and I were teenagers and we’ve since moved out. I’m absolutely devastated but he was very, very old and it’s been a long time coming. I’m so glad he’s out of pain but he’ll leave a huge hole in our hearts. He was around for almost half of my life.
I feel a bit silly talking to my friends without pets about it; hopefully some of you will understand.

Mines not been so good again today. Sitting here bawling again. So gutted, he looked OK yesterday. Still not an easy decision, he's not that bad, he's just not that good either.

I've got a fund raising walk tomorrow for a hospice my friend died in, then my friend's funeral on Monday. Looks like Ddog might have to go soon too.

💔

Very sorry to hear that Honeyroar 😔. I think that’s the really tough bit, not that bad but not that good - without a definitive line - it is so hard.

What a sad week this thread reflects on.

The fourth morning without BoxDog, it feels like I will never get used to not seeing her face when I open the kitchen door.

We had the same routine every day, switch coffee machine on, hug BoxDog, let her out for a wee and then watch her skip back down the path like a spring lamb for her breakfast- she was still skipping, albeit a tad slower, on Monday. 💔

Our beloved boy was put to sleep today. Sadly the meds didn’t work enough and he didn’t seem quite himself so husband came round to letting him go. It was one of my best friend’s wake today, we had intended to have him pts tomorrow, but one of my other dogs was really sick on Sunday and the vet wanted to check her today, so we booked a home visit for both. I had to go to the funeral but my wonderful husband stayed with the dogs. My gorgeous boy is now buried at the end of the garden next to his best friend with a Xmas tree planted over him. I can’t decide whether I feel relief, after this fortnight of should we/shouldn’t we, or just want to bawl. My husband left him in his bed until I got back from the wake and my little dog sat with him all afternoon.

Hope you’re all feeling ok.

How very sad Honeyroar, I am sorry 😢. What a traumatic day you have had.

It is odd how life without BoxDog becomes the new normal. I am still counting, my sixth morning without her when I come downstairs.

I am trying to adopt a cat - the process is painful. Neither of the rescues I have contacted have either responded by email or telephone. A third wouldn't rehome a cat with me because I work and can't install a cat flap.😳. I have got huge French doors, 8ft high with double glazed panels. My windows are all huge double glazed sashes. The cat will either be in or out.

I have had three cats, took them round the world with me, they lived very long and happy lives. How sad will it be if I have to buy a cat when there are so many in rescues. I don't even want a kitten, I want a cat.

So sorry Honeyroar

It’s a week today for me. I noted the time and text my dd. His ashes are by my bed. But I miss so much.

Tomorrow will be the first year anniversary of when our lovely lurcher was put to sleep. I miss him every day. I spend too much time looking at dogs that want to be rescued.
At the start of summer, we got two kittens as the house felt very quiet and we couldn't face getting another dog. They have made a huge difference to us, are so much easier to have than a dog, and we love them to bits. But they're not a dog.
Losing your dog as devastating, but you know when it's time. 💕

@LifeOfBox

Lots of rescue places will have cats that need to be indoor cats. It took us about 3 months before we got our kitty's.
We have a cat flap fitted in our French doors. Cost us about £200 and we still have the complete pane should we witpsh to get rid of the cat flap.

I’m awaiting my home check for fostering.

I don't want an indoor cat though - It can go out in the morning if it wants to, I can pop home at lunchtime if it does or doesn't most days, I can work from home a couple of days. I live on a dead end road with 10 acres of parkland outside my front door.

I just think its slightly ridiculous, I know what an animal needs. Never mind, I will buy one if I have to.

I don't want a cat flap, my cats made it into their late teens without a cat flap.

Hugs to you all, I still get a lump in my throat over my parents dogs from my childhood, my first and Only dog (baby) is old now, had a very bad year health wise. I can’t even think about when the time comes, no more pets for me. I can’t bare the loss

But the heartbreak of the loss, awful though it is, is cancelled out a million times by the love, devotion and enjoyment that you get from a pet, especially a dog.

LifeofBox I found my cats on Preloved. There were loads of adverts for cats free to good homes. My two were from a lady that used to get alerted by the RSPCA when they had no room. My cats had belonged to a family that couldn't afford to feed their animals, so they didn't. The RSPCA confiscated their dogs, but left the cats there as their cattery was full. The lady took them in, spent her own money neutering them and feeding them up, then found them a home. She didn't want any money. Not everyone on Preloved is dodgy..!

I agree Honeyroar. I hope you are feeling ok today.

I had seen two lovely cats on preloved, owner moving abroad, free and clearly genuine .... but I only want one. I had three cats before - I now only want one.

I have bought a bed and the worlds swishest litter tray here. Thats the bit about a cat I don't miss!!

Can't have cats as dd is allergic. Mind you she is also allergic to horses but we managed to have those.

How are you doing everyone? I’ve been relatively calm over the last few days, but now back at work and having a meltdown because I’ve found a couple of his hairs on my uniform and don’t want to pull them off as there may never be anymore!

I found one of his hairs and saved it on my glasses case but it’s disappeared.

I’m not good to be honest.

I’m worse than when my parents died as at least I was busy organising things. And when I lost my first horse I set about looking for a new one immediately. When I lost her I still had DD’s horse and the dog. But now I have nothing. No structure to my day. It would have been my mum’s birthday today. The sun is shining. I would normally walk to her memorial tree at the local reservoir but I don’t want to go without the dog.

Sorry. You didn’t need an essay.

That’s really sad. I can understand not wanting to walk. How’s the fostering plans going? Sounds like it would help.

Oh dear god I've just cried on the phone to Jet2!

I'd booked a short break for next year with a friend but they couldn't guarantee a twin room. I rang the helpdesk and after being on hold for ages the lady came back and said she had spoken to the hotel and they confirmed they would reserve me a twin room - at which point I burst into tears. Honestly I am normally tough as old boots so really need to get a grip. Any tiny act of kindness is tipping over the edge!

Had my homecheck yesterday so fingers crossed we will have passed and I get a dog back in my life. I will be fine once I have something to do. I could clean I suppose. Or tidy up .....

You have other dogs don't you? I'm going to see a friend at the weekend so I can play with her two labs.

We had a beautiful rainbow made with our old springer girl's ashes from here. We need to do something with our old boy's as well but not sure yet - DS wants exactly the same rainbow 'so it's fair' but they were so different in life that I'm not sure, although they were always together for ten years.

@coffeeagogo - we lost our old boy in January, exactly a week after my dad's funeral, so your post really resonated with me.

Massive hugs to you all :'(

@spiderlight bless you
We scattered pooches ashes in our park on a lovely long run of daffodils that pop up in the spring - we kept him at home for a couple of months and did it on a cold and sunny day in winter - it was lovely seeing the flowers when they came up

That's lovely coffeeagogo. I planted daffs around our previous dog,C who died 18 month ago, and must add some around this one too. Their Xmas trees are just outside our garden in a little bit of land between the garden and field. My rabbit run is just in front of them so I see them and their trees every morning and say hello. We've my previous dog from a decade ago there too plus two cats. We're lucky to have room. If we ever sell the house and land I will keep that little strip, we can still get at it from a footpath that passes by if need be. My husband said he wants his ashes sprinkled there too. It has a lovely view up the valley.

Yes we have two other dogs left, but the house still feels quiet. He was the ringleader and a very vocal dog. My little dog is better again. I did a charity walk on sat night and she came too. She must have eastern something dodgy on the way and was really sick for 24 hours. I'd dyed her tail pink because we all wore pink, and at first I wondered if she'd licked her tail and I'd poisoned her! Major guilt..

What a worry!

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I'm hoping some of you can tell me you are doing a bit better now? I had to say goodbye to my baby on Sunday. He went downhill so fast. It has totally floored me, I am completely broken. I've never felt pain like it. I can't see my way through the fog at all.

Oh @jamburglar I am so sorry. It is such a sad time and it breaks your heart. It is so raw and painful and the house just isn't the same. I haven't got any words but thinking of you

Thank you. I feel this is the only place I can talk about it, in real life everyone I know would think I was mad because of how badly I'm taking this. I can't bear to go into the room his crate is in. He got me through so many shitty things in life and now he is gone. I think I'm fine for a hour or two and then it just hits me again like a wave, the thought that I will never kiss his little face again. I've never experienced this before, not with other animals or even humans, I just can't put into words how strong the feeling is. My beautiful boy is gone.