He died on Thursday and I'm just so sad

[catinb0oots]

My JRT was 15 and passed away after being poorly for 2 days. I've lost two of my three dogs in less than a year.

My heart physically hurts. I'm never getting another dog. I'm going to get a lizard. I don't think you can get attached to lizards.

I'm so sorry for your loss catinb0ots. He looks like he was a lovely boy. He was so lucky to have had someone who loved him and cared so much for him for so long, especially so because of his blindness.

I know exactly how you feel. It is the worst pain losing a dog, especially after so long.
We lost our JRT earlier this month, aged 16. His passing has broken my heart. I think about him all the time, and see, hear and feel his presence, then get that awful sinking feeling when I realise it's just my memories. He was such a presence in our lives for so long that it's so hard to know I won't see him again.
The pain has eased slightly, I don't cry every day now, but I don't think I'll ever truly get over his loss.

I have found it's helped spending time with our other dog, particularly just now when I don't have work or other normal life activities to focus on and distract myself with. I collated all the photos and videos I have of him (took a while after so many years!). It helped to remember the many happy years we had with him, and diverted my attention away from my sadness.

For now, just take it slowly, do what you need to in order to get through the days and most importantly, be kind to yourself. Cry if you need to, smile at the memories, but know you feel this way because you loved and cared for him so much, and that is something very precious.
You have my utmost sympathy

You have lost a family member be kind to yourself, bit just be cautious if you have a big heart to love a pet, you will love a lizard/ hamster/goldfish the same 😭

I feel so sad for you. We lost our loving, nutty boy at 14 in November. When he first left us, I was adamant that there would be no more hounds.

After a couple of weeks I could understand why people get a new pup straight away- the empty feeling was too much, the house was too quiet, I had far too much time on my hands- Still I couldn't see us with a dig that wasn't our fabulous old boy.

Fast forward until now- Our new rescue pup comes home to us this week. We are ready.

Losing such a big part of your life is devastating. Give yourself time to grieve for your beautiful boy and when you feel stronger, maybe you will feel like going for it all over again.

to you. He looked as though he enjoyed a fabulous life with you xxx

I am so sorry. What a gorgeous boy. I totally understand what you mean about your heart physically hurting - it was like I had a knife in mine when we lost our wonderful old boy last year at 16, and it's so much harder when it's sudden - we lost our sweet girl at 13 four days after a cancer diagnosis. They take such a huge part of you with them when they go.

So sorry for your loss - it never ever gets any easier 💔
This thread is a breath of fresh air after the one about regretting having dogs - they are so special and irreplaceable.
Hugs to you you OP - be kind to yourself 💛

What a gorgeous boy. I’m so sorry for your loss

💓💓💓 thank you everyone

catinbo0ts how are you coping now? I hope you're doing ok

Hi @Nomoreofthisnonsense

I'm okay thank you for asking. This sounds so sad but I've put my garden chair next to his grave. Every morning I go outside with my coffee and fag and sit with him. DS1 came home from uni yesterday. He was stuck in his house during lockdown but the lease was up so he's back here.

We cried together a lot. And looked at all the vids and pics. We picked him up from the rescue when DS1 was 5. He's never known life without him.

I was 25 when we got him. I'm 40 now. What a life. So much time.

And I love hearing about all your wonderful mutts. Every single one of them is your one in a million. We are all so lucky.

He was just the one in my million.

Aww, catinb0ots I really feel for you and your son. I was in my mid 20s too when we got our boy, in my early 40s now when we lost him. Our dogs were our companions for most of our adult lives, losing them takes some getting used to. Cry if you want to and share stories with your son. It's good you have him home now to keep you company. Hugs to you both

It just hurts so much. I can't believe I'm never going to see him again. Ever.

Just coming on to say I understand . We lost our darling old boy on Sunday - he died suddenly at home. We are devastated. I'm not exaggerating when I say it feels as though we are living in a different house without his presence. I still haven't taken it in properly. He was with us every single day and night for so many years. It hurts so much. Sending you kind thoughts.

Oh @Doggiehasgone it is a physical pain like no other.

How old was he? And what breed? I agree the house feels so strange. I have that 10 seconds when I wake up and everything is normal. Then I remember xxxx

@catinb0oots

My JRT was 15 and passed away after being poorly for 2 days. I've lost two of my three dogs in less than a year.

My heart physically hurts. I'm never getting another dog. I'm going to get a lizard. I don't think you can get attached to lizards.

You can , I had Ernie for 9 years, broke my heart when I came down and saw his little face looking at me. Then I realised he was dead.

@catinb0oots He was a Cavalier, and past fourteen and a half which is a really good age for the breed (it is a tiny comfort that we had him for longer than we might have expected). We'd had him since he was a pup - for most of my husband's and my life together, so everything we did we were used to doing around the dog - now he's gone it's as if our ship has lost its anchor.

Yes, waking up in the mornings is horrible - the moment when it crashes down that he's no longer here, then going downstairs when normally the first thing I'd do is let him into the garden then make a cup of tea while he was bumbling round and wait for him to scratch to let me know he'd finished. It feels as though the pain will never stop and you're so right that it is a physical pain .

I still feel physical pain over my rescue girl. I still ache when I think of her and tears are never far away.

She died very very suddenly. And I didn’t get to say goodbye. I feel so much guilt that I let her down in her last hours - even though she had the best life (after a horrendous start).

She helped me live when there was nothing else to live for and she made my heart beat.

I try not to regret anything in life but I will never forgive myself for not being there. I’m scared she didn’t know how much I loved her.

I know the pain you are in but I get from your posts that he was as loved as much as my girl was. Lucky wee lad

Another one here who understands and is going through it too. Had to PTS my beautiful gentle old boy of 14 years two weeks ago.
Can relate so much to above comments, the physical pain, and ache to have them back. The routines that remind you they are no longer here.
Sometimes I can distract myself for a while and not think about it, but then it hits me hard with a crushing sadness. And missing him desperately.
I know my dog had a long and great life with us, and it was the right thing to do for him, but it is so hard to accept.
You can tell from this thread how much our pets were loved and the good lives they had. I know we will take comfort from that in time.
Sending lots of sympathy for everyones losses

@Awrightdoreen

She helped me live when there was nothing else to live for and she made my heart beat

This sentence made me cry so much. Of course she knew how much you loved her. She would have definitely known x

@Freddie28 tell us more about little Ernie 🥰