Our dog died at the weekend

[WhatTimeIsItCuckoo]

Just that really, she died suddenly and was the most fantastic, wonderful dog - a rescue and we'd had her for just over five years. We are a family of five and are all absolutely devastated 💔 Please tell me it gets better, I am so, so sad but trying to cope for my kids' sake 😓

I am so sorry

I’m so sorry, they become part of your heart, don’t they?

I still miss our darling cat who was hit by a car 3 years ago, but it gets easier, I promise, Before too long you will be able to look back and just feel happy that you knew and loved them and that they knew and loved you back.

Our much loved cat died 6 days ago. I have not stopped crying yet. Hugs to you.

Thanks both, this is making me cry. I honestly feel heartbroken - the house just isn't the same without her - she was so funny and characterful 😞

Thank you again, we lost a much loved cat too some years ago and it was awful. This dog though, she was something else 😞

I bet she had the best life with you and your family.
It will get better but it's OK to be devastated and feel as sad as you do.
Maybe plan some ways to mark her memory with the family.
Have some nice trips out of you can, and be kind to yourself.

I am so sorry to hear this. It is so hard losing such a beloved family member. They bring us so much joy in their time with us.
Thinking of you and your family xx

Thank you, I know she did have a good life with us but family days out always included her and we have a dog friendly holiday booked for next week which I just don't know if I, or any of us, can face now

I’m sorry, it’s such a horrible thing to go through.
We had a dog friendly cottage booked for the month after we lost our girl suddenly (somewhere we’d been before with her several times so lots of memories). I won’t lie and say it was easy and we did nearly cancel it, but in the end we decided a dog’s view of life is to just live life every day until it’s gone and that to see us all sat around miserable would have confused her. So we went and it was difficult at times, but we were glad we did it in the end. If that helps at all?

That's so tough.when you've planned your holiday around her.
Hopefully, you'll come to a decision about what's bets for all of you.
Take care

Thank you @Saucery, yes that does help a bit. We've never been to this place before but every UK holiday always involved her so it will be hard knowing she should have been with us. Perhaps we should still go though..

Thats awful I'm.so sorry for your loss, if you can face it (maybe email may be better) i would tell the holiday cottage people that you are now not bringing a dog. I know a lot of dog friendly places provide little treats for the dogs and I honestly think if I was you that would tip me over the edge of holding it together for the holiday.

So sorry for your loss which can be hard for ‘non doggy’ people to understand. I lost my little dog 3 weeks ago suddenly, she collapsed at home and what made it worse was I wasn’t allowed to go into the vets because of covid rules so I’m filled with guilt and sadness that I wasn’t there for her. She was devoted to me and the gentlest little soul ever and a rescue that came to us from a horrendous life. I was literally ill from grief and sadness the first 2 weeks and now have food and bad days . I’ve lost a dog before but he was 17 and the vet came to our house and he went to sleep with me next to him in his favourite spot. They really do break our hearts 💔😔 but it will get easier, it’s a testament of what a good dog mum you were that you are so upset x

I'm so sorry for your losses @NinaLu, @Theoldwoman and all other PP's who have lost pets. We had to just hand her over at the Vet's door too so never had the chance to say goodbye 😔 I feel terrible but have had some kind messages from family and friends and I am already thinking about another rescue to help us move forward and heal, and to give another dog a home too obviously. My older son (16) says no - he's still very much hurting - but my other two (15 & 10) say yes. My husband thinks we should wait. I'm not sure but everything feels so sad without her. Has anyone any thoughts or experience of getting another pet soon afterwards? I absolutely don't want to forget or try and replace her because she was one of a kind, I'd just like to have a dog again sooner rather than later as she brought us so much - and us to her I hope. Any advice/experiences welcome 🙏

WhatTimeIsItCuckoo , my opinion on another rescue would be absolutely yes. There are so many beautiful dogs who are in desperate need of the love and care they would get from people like you and your family. I have 4 other rescue dogs now, 3 are elderly and one in particular will destroy me when she goes but I think I will always take in another rescue because we know the difference it makes to their lives. Take your time though because you might not enjoy your new dog as much while you’re still hurting badly. xx

We waited 18 months before getting another dog. The hole she left was huge and dark and coincided with the horrendous year that was 2020. I felt quite adrift tbh.
We updated our details with the breed specific rescue we already supported (we’d looked into a second dog but none came up that were suitable while our old girl was alive) after 6 months. Unfortunately, we weren’t matched with any of their dogs so in Dec last year we made the decision to get a puppy of the breed instead. The Rescue still gets our donations.

I read something on here once, about the ‘right’ time being when you miss having a dog more than the dog. At what point that happens varies from person to person.

Should have said, we didn’t get our puppy until April this year, just started looking into breeders in the Dec.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your lovely dog💔

I lost my old girl in early 2019. She was the last of our 'old ladies' (3 sisters) and I felt like my heart would never mend. I cried myself sick. Now I can look back and smile when I think of them, although it still hurts.

I know it doesn't feel like it now, but one day you'll be able to think of your lovely girl and smile at the memories you made together.

Thanks @Saucery and @SilverOtter. Your posts made me cry - my heart hurts so much. We still have her things around as we can't bear to put them away yet but it's a double edged sword as it hurts to see them - she was so funny and playful so had lots of toys, even dilapidated ones that she kept retrieving from the bin. Though we all loved her, I was her main carer (got her when my youngest started school) and I just feel so sad and lost 😞

I’ve just got back from our annual ‘dog holiday’ and i was balling on the walks without my pooch who we lost in Feb (hol booked last year). We took new puppies but it wasn’t the same, so I really do feel for you.

I would recommend getting a new dog to fill the physical space, and in time it will take over and fill everything- like they all do

I’m so sorry for your loss OP.

We lost our dog last year and couldn’t cope without him. We took in an older dog a week later. I felt really guilty at first, it felt like a lack of respect to our late boy. But it has been wonderful to have this (very different) dog stay with us and he has bought joy back into the house.

@GCAcademic yes that's just how I feel - guilty for looking at what rescues are available and imagining taking one in as though we're erasing her memory, but then being so tempted too because we miss her and having a dog so much - it's complicated. I hope the right one will come along at the right time, that's what happened with her and she was perfect. I still can't believe she's gone, it was far, far too soon and so sudden 💔

Firstly sorry for your loss. Its so hard.

I really advise waiting a bit when you lose such a wonderful dog so you chose a dog because it is what you want rather than to replace the dog shaped hole.

Sorry for your loss. We lost our little dog after 10 years at the end of July are we are still heartbroken. It's just so hard

We put our dog’s toys etc in a plastic box and rearranged the kitchen a bit because the space where her bed used to be was just too painful to look at. Although all the spaces she used to be were painful to look at tbh. Some of those toys we have given to our puppy, some will always just be Madame’s and not used again.
When your leisure time is built around doing stuff with and including your dog it is incredibly difficult and only Time will make it less raw, really.