Dogs gone in 2020

[petlangsyne]

Anybody else finding themselves ruminating over pets they've lost at the turn of this year?

Looked at too many photos of my lovely dog we lost in January this year and missing him terribly.

Think we'll look to get a puppy this year, won't be at all the same but it's time, things are too quiet without him.

I still talk to our boy. We have his ashes in the living room so he’s with us all.

JazzyGeoff

Thank you. It does feel very unfair to have lost him so young. We have lost a few dogs and cats at much older ages, and although it is always very sad, in time I have always been able to deal with my grief. I feel like losing our lovely pup so young will be something that I never fully recover from. We’re very lucky that we have other dogs but months on, I still cry. I honestly don’t think life will ever feel ok ever again. Some days are just so hard. It’s affected our children so much which just adds to our pain.

I’m so sorry that you lost your lovely boy too. It sounds like he was very loved. ❤️

I lost my boy yesterday aged 12, just got home from work and he wasn't there to greet me. I hope it gets better but just feel so hurt and devastated.

@user1472145047

I lost my boy yesterday aged 12, just got home from work and he wasn't there to greet me. I hope it gets better but just feel so hurt and devastated.

I’m so sorry

@MyDogsAreBeautiful - my young fellow was only 6. When the specialist imparted the awful news I actually laughed. Laughed. I was so shocked. The usual vet thought he had a slipped disc and my chequebook was out to pay (anything!) for surgery. I didn’t dream something terrible was wrong with him.

@user1472145047

I lost my boy yesterday aged 12, just got home from work and he wasn't there to greet me. I hope it gets better but just feel so hurt and devastated.

I’m so sorry. It really is devastating. It does get easier, I promise. I do still cry months later, and some days are still overwhelming but I can think of our boy and smile now. Sending love. ❤️

[quote IrmaFayLear]@MyDogsAreBeautiful - my young fellow was only 6. When the specialist imparted the awful news I actually laughed. Laughed. I was so shocked. The usual vet thought he had a slipped disc and my chequebook was out to pay (anything!) for surgery. I didn’t dream something terrible was wrong with him.[/quote]
It’s just so devastating. 6 is still so young. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
On our first vet visit, we were told our boy had hurt his back play fighting with our other dogs. Just 2 weeks later, we were holding his paw whilst he was put to sleep. Cancer had spread and was inoperable. Chemo wasn’t an option. It is just not something you expect in a young dog. Life just isn’t fair sometimes.

Lost our 12 year old dachshund cross to cancer in February. Hardest decision I've ever had to make. Still can't bring myself to open the little box of fur the vet clipped off for me.

I am finding it very hard to keep painting a smile on my face when inside I feel empty and deep sadness. Our pup was just over a year old when we lost him suddenly in a really awful road accident. My children and I had been enjoying a lovely walk with him and he got carried away and strayed further away and found a way onto the road (it was blocked all along except for a weak point which he found). He ignored my recall commands and got tragically hurt and had to be put to sleep. I'm not sure I'll ever forgot what we heard and witnessed and the trauma of seeing him hurt and having so many strangers being so kind, but so mentally overwhelming at the same time and now I just have emptiness and pain as he's gone. I cry most days but I keep trying to feign being ok for my children's sake as they need me to be strong.

He was such a beautiful, lovely, gentle soul and he was cheated out of a long happy life with us.

I hope you all find ways to ease your loss and make peace with it. I hope that for me and my family too

I’m so sorry for everyone who has lost their beloved pet, this year and all before. We lost our beautiful Toby this year right at the start of lockdown, sudden renal failure, we weren’t even allowed in to hold his paw at the end. We lost his brother in 2017 and I’ll never forget the amazing support from MN. The pain losing both of these pure hearts will never leave us and every day I try and turn it into fond memories, not there yet though 😪

no, it isn’t fair. We all went to have dog put to sleep and held a paw each. Oh, no, that’s set me off...

Our darling Bruce went to sleep on his 11th birthday. Miss him terribly everyday.

All these lovely chaps and chapesses...

Can I ask everyone who got another dog - did you ever feel guilty for it? It's been over 4 years since I lost my boy and I would like another dog because I love dogs and so does DP, but I still feel like I would be replacing my previous dog and I can't shake that guilt.

Someone help me get over that please lol

We lost our lovely girl in February aged 16 1/2. We also lost a horse in January, just after new year.

Both had the the kindest, sweetest nature and we love and miss them every day.

@Missingjigsawpuzzle I'm so sorry, that is heartbreaking.

@Missingjigsawpuzzle So sorry

So sorry for everyone.

We lost our beautiful boy on 13th June this year, after an 18 month battle with a horrible auto-immune condition. He was 7 years old the week before.

Miss him every single day and Christmas was very hard without his antics.

Here’s a picture of him before that evil disease got him.

Lost our greyhound suddenly in November, he was 11 1/2 but it was unexpected - we all miss him dreadfully. Thoughts with all of you who have lost your beloved dogs.

no, it isn’t fair. We all went to have dog put to sleep and held a paw each. Oh, no, that’s set me off...

❤️ sending love. Sometimes I feel a bit better after a bloody good cry. x

Can I ask everyone who got another dog - did you ever feel guilty for it? It's been over 4 years since I lost my boy and I would like another dog because I love dogs and so does DP, but I still feel like I would be replacing my previous dog and I can't shake that guilt.

We had another dog who missed our boy so much. She stopped eating and seemed depressed when he was pts. They were the best of friends, played and slept together. She was completely lost without him. 😔 We decided to get another dog to help her, and us of course. Like you I felt terribly guilty for even considering it, I tortured myself that he’d be looking down thinking he was being replaced. In the past we had waited much longer when we had lost animals before getting another and at first when we lost him, I did say I would never have another as the pain was just too much. I couldn’t eat or sleep properly for months. But we made the decision to get another and the new dog has settled in so well. He’s beautiful. Our other dog loves him and is so much happier now which has really helped us.
It’s a very personal decision, but for us, it was the right one. I decided that I had done all I could for our boy whilst he was here and we had a lot of love to offer another dog. I have our other dogs ashes in the living room, I talk to him all the time, he’s very much still part of our family. People may find that weird but that’s just how we feel. I don’t feel guilty anymore for getting another dog, but I feel sad that he’s not here and I don’t think that will ever go. Our newest addition is a total joy and he’s made life feel very worthwhile again.

Guilt is a very negative emotion, I would say if you would like another dog, then don’t let guilt get in the way. Guilt can’t bring your lovely boy back but it could rob you of something very special in the future. ❤️

Yes. I couldn't sing Auld Lang Syne this year as I lost mine in November. I didn't want to see in the new year at all. I'm still heartbroken and I miss him every day.

@DoTheNextRightThing

Can I ask everyone who got another dog - did you ever feel guilty for it? It's been over 4 years since I lost my boy and I would like another dog because I love dogs and so does DP, but I still feel like I would be replacing my previous dog and I can't shake that guilt.

Someone help me get over that please lol

I saw this and I thought it was lovely and helps rationalise the idea of getting another dog.

I saw it suggested to talk to the new puppy or dog and tell them all about your last one so that you don't feel you've replaced them and forgotten them. If we get another dog I will be doing this as well.

I'll also be keeping some of his ashes, but I'd like to scatter some on his favourite walks. I don't feel strong enough to do that yet though.

Oops here's the picture I mentioned above

@TheDogsMother and @JazzyGeoff thank you