Old dog PTS, just feel so terrible and sad

[NotJustAnyOldDog]

I loved her so much. It’s been a few weeks and every time I think of her I feel sick, I can’t breath and my chest hurts. I need to pull myself together. I don’t think a day has gone by where I haven’t cried. I can’t look at her photo without physical pain. I know everything has been heightened because of lockdown. I’m trapped in this house which feels so empty and lonely without her. I don’t express any of this IRL. People don’t understand but she wasn’t just a dog, she was my world for 12 years. I just want to bury my face in her soft fur and hear her snoring. I’m writing here because I know you lot will understand!

Yes, my dear, we understand

The heartbreak caused when they go is so bloody awful. So sad. So painful.

It does ease, it does. And soon you are left with the overhelming joy of having known them at all and the happiness at telling the stories of their antics.

But, by God, it hurts before then. Go easy on yourself. Grief will take the time that grief needs.

So sorry for your loss.
They leave a big hole in your life when they've gone, OP.
😥
Time helps, it helped me but it's horrible. Really horrible.
Hope you feel better soon 💐

I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s made me cry just thinking about it. Tell us about her @NotJustAnyOldDog - what kind of dog was she? xxx

Aww hope ur ok...I had to make the decision to have my horse PTS 3 years ago...there was no other option as she'd had an accident at the stables but it was honestly so hard...I will never forget what happened but gradually with time it got easier...I just wished she had gone to sleep on her on during the night and not woke up rather then having to make the decision to PTS...my sister hasn't really got over it and dreams of her terribly...it will get easier with time and times a great healer...the loss of a pet is so upsetting so I completely understand 💐 xx

I totally understand

Can you get another dog? That saved us when our old girl was PTS.

Thank everyone. I knew you lot would help. I don’t really have doggy friends and I know they just don’t get it. She was the most ridiculous creature on earth. Truly she was. Anxious, barky, scared of her own shadow but so fiercely loyal and protective of her family and so wonderful with my children (well, her children really). She loved them so much and for all those years in her little head she protected them from strangers and the postman. I just feel like we failed her by having her PTS. She was old and had cancer but the cancer was a sudden terminal diagnosis and I thought she still had a couple more years. It was devastating.

I can’t imagine having another dog in my house. It would feel like a betrayal. The thought of that makes me feel sick too. Plus I don’t think my heart can go through this again.

I had my lovely old girl pts 3 weeks ago today. She was nearly 14 and I'd had the joy of loving her for 12 years. She saw me through my divorced and was never fair from my daughter's side.

For the last year she was a bit of a princess and either slept on the bed, or one of us would sleep on the settee with her. We did it happily - my partner adored her!

Just remember the love and years of companionship. It's only natural being heartbroken, they're such a big part of our lives and families and they steal our hearts

I’m so sorry OP. 💐

I could cry just reading this. I really do think when my boy goes I'll be more traumatised than losing a family human member 😢😢. Dogs are the greatest joy you can have. You done the right thing for her....it just hurts you more

It wasn't until I had a dog of my own I fully understood the depth of love dog owners have

You have my deepest sympathy and I hope somehow the pain eases for you x

I'm so sorry NotJustAnyOldDog for the loss of your wonderful dog, she was a member of your family and never just a dog. It's a heartbreaking thing to go through and I hope in time the pain will ease and you will remember all the joy she brought you all.

I understand Op. And I am so sorry for the loss of your girl. They are such a huge part of your life and world and for a very long time. Never just a dog, always part of your family. I can talk at length about the wonderful dog whom I grew up with and died some years ago, and i still miss him!
It’s heartbreaking and no one should ever under estimate the pain of losing such a close companion because ‘they are a dog’.

I hope your pain eases Op,

Came on here to look for such a thread. My beautiful 14 1/2 year old boy was Pts this afternoon. I understand you 100%.

So sorry to hear about your loss OP, @sweetgenevincent1 & others.
It’s awful isn’t it, the void they leave, they truly take a piece of your heart.

Someone on here said recently that ‘their absence is everywhere’ and that’s how it feels.

No advice really but I feel what you feel x

My sympathies to Sweet and Jenga too. It's such a sad and painful thing to lose a beloved dog.

It’s awful. The worst part of owning them. One of mine died in September and I still can’t look at pictures of her without crying x

You may have seen this already but it really is so true

Op, I do not understand as I have not yet experienced the crushing pain of loving and losing a dog. But I know how much I love my boy and how my heart would break if anything were to happen to him. You have my deepest sympathy

So sorry for your loss

Thank you. I’m sorry for everyone else’s losses too. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in feeling like this. Her loss is felt everywhere. Every metal jingle, every doorbell, every piece of food dropped, every cupboard left open but not raided, every warm spot not stolen, every click of her nails on the wooden floors, every patter of her feet up the stairs coming to see me in bed, every door nosed open, every bit of post that I can now safely pick up, every bite of my food now goes unwatched, every walk is a waste now. I hate it.

I understand totally. I feel the same. We have wooden flooring in our lounge diner which just had one big rug. As he got stiffer and has trouble getting up we woild put a rug there, Next night he would lay in another spot so then we'd get another rug. But you could still hear the tip tap as he went over the gaps. Jingle of his collar. Mad barking if he saw someone by the door. Used to be when the doorbell rang but he was deaf by the end. It's horrible. I miss him so much

I had to throw away some sausages the other day. They were her favourite.
I hope it get easier. It’s nearly 4 weeks and I just feel empty. I’ve been looking for a puppy but it won’t be the same. They’re irreplaceable OP. No advice really but I know how crappy you feel xx

I’ve looked at breeders but it just feels wrong. It makes me feel sick the thought of a puppy in her bed.

Cooking a roast is awful. She’d always be waiting for bits of chicken. Now any scraps just sit there and make me cry instead.

Everyone says it gets easier. It’s been a month for me too and it’s still really hard. I can’t think about her at all without crying. I’m crying writing this. It’s ridiculous.