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The doghouse

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Original poster

Said goodbye to my soul dog

35 replies

NormaLouiseBates · 01/02/2023 10:58

We had to let our beautiful Dalmatian go last Friday and while it was 100% the right decision it's broken me in ways I'm not sure I will ever recover from. It's like a physical pain in my heart. An emptiness where he lived. He was our first dog and he filled our lives with such joy. The 11 and a half years we had with him were the best of times... he had such a wonderful personality. He would look at me sometimes when I said his name and sigh like I was getting on his last nerve 😭❤️ but he was also my little shadow and never far from my side.

We're going to visit a litter of Labrador puppies at the weekend as the house is just too sad, empty and quiet without a doggy presence in it. We might not choose one... if might be too soon, I think we'll know when we get there.

RIP Alfie, you will never be forgotten 💙

Said goodbye to my soul dog
Said goodbye to my soul dog
OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 01/02/2023 11:02

I’m sorry, he looks lovely.
I lost my “heart dog” over 30 years ago and while I have had other dogs I loved very much since he will always be The One!
I have no idea whether you need to fill that dog shaped hole yet but if you go and visit puppies it’s very likely you will get one
xxxx

boniobiscuit · 01/02/2023 11:06

Oh, what a beautiful boy he was!!

So sorry for your loss. My heart boy is entering his twilight years and I know there will never be another like him, but there will be others.

Be kind to yourself x

EcoCustard · 01/02/2023 11:16

Gorgeous boy. So sorry Op. They leave a void. I lost one of my boys in November and it still hurts. My shoes are always where I left them, miss his cuddles it’s so hard. Luckily his brother is still here so the house isn’t empty but don’t think it will be long. I hope you find another pup to give a wonderful life to.

Rainbowqueeen · 01/02/2023 11:17

Bless you. It’s never easy.

sandranista · 01/02/2023 12:02

I so feel this. My best ever dogs have been dalmatians. Such beautiful cuddly boys. So,very sorry for your loss

Shampern · 01/02/2023 12:06

What a lovely dog.
You will never replace him but if you're anything like me you won't be able to live a week without a new dog, which in a way is a compliment to him.

SirChenjins · 01/02/2023 12:10

I'm so sorry, you must be heartbroken. What a beautiful dog he was, and what a lovely, happy life he had with you.

Original poster
NormaLouiseBates · 01/02/2023 12:35

Thank you all. I know I'm certainly biased but he was such a handsome boy 💙 the reminders of him are everywhere. Everywhere I look I expect to see him. We haven't been able to move his bed or any of his toys yet but they're a strange sort of comfort.

It was the right time for him. He was tired and he'd had enough. He had hemangiosarcoma which was a cancer of the blood vessels. It was very peaceful at the end, we sat on the floor with him at the vets and he laid his big head on my arm and just slipped away quietly.

OP posts:
twitterexile · 01/02/2023 20:36

So very sorry. They take a piece of us with them when they go but they also leave a piece of them behind with us. He will always be with you.

ilovesushi · 03/02/2023 23:18

What a gorgeous boy. ❤

Nannyfannybanny · 03/02/2023 23:57

We also had our little toy, Phalane PTS last Friday. He would have been 18 in march. He had cataracts, rotten teeth for a couple of years, the vets wouldn't operate. That didn't stop him eating. He had CCD, which was worse,all last year,he started barking/howling in the night, then whimpering. It got to 3 or 4 times a week. DH and I took turns in getting up to sit with him. He had no arthritis,and often wanted to go for a walk. A couple of weeks ago,it was to the beach. I took a video. We thought long and hard all last year. First time in 33 years I ever saw my Sarf London DH cry. We still forget he's not here. Thankfully,we have a 7 year old border collie as well. Got a lovely card from the vet yesterday,who did the deed

Railwayroad · 04/02/2023 05:36

This made me cry. So sorry.

We got a dog last year. It’s amazes me how much I love him. They get under your skin.

agutrew · 04/02/2023 05:55

So sorry. We lost our beautiful 17 year old JRT two weeks ago. She went downhill very suddenly and it was the hardest decision to make and I am so lost without her. She saw me through so many ups and downs. Dogs play such a special part in our lives and show such unconditional love. I am also already looking at getting another dog as our house doesn't seem a home anymore.

itstrue · 04/02/2023 06:08

We lost our lovely chihuahua at 16 years old 5 years ago. My heart was so broken. 6 days later we picked up a poodle puppy. I thought I'd end up spending months on a waiting list but best decision ever. She didn't heal my heart but taking a new journey with my second heart dog was healing.

doubleshotcappuccino · 04/02/2023 06:18

What a beautiful boy and what a lovely way to describe your boy -- soul dog .. I'm so sorry for your loss xx

Original poster
NormaLouiseBates · 04/02/2023 07:13

Nannyfannybanny · 03/02/2023 23:57

We also had our little toy, Phalane PTS last Friday. He would have been 18 in march. He had cataracts, rotten teeth for a couple of years, the vets wouldn't operate. That didn't stop him eating. He had CCD, which was worse,all last year,he started barking/howling in the night, then whimpering. It got to 3 or 4 times a week. DH and I took turns in getting up to sit with him. He had no arthritis,and often wanted to go for a walk. A couple of weeks ago,it was to the beach. I took a video. We thought long and hard all last year. First time in 33 years I ever saw my Sarf London DH cry. We still forget he's not here. Thankfully,we have a 7 year old border collie as well. Got a lovely card from the vet yesterday,who did the deed

I'm so sorry 😢 it's the worst pain imaginable isn't it? I'm wondering if Alfie might have been starting to show signs of CDD... for the last 18 months or so he'd started waking up in the very early hours howling and crying for his breakfast (we thought) and for the last 6 months it was every single night.

OP posts:
Original poster
NormaLouiseBates · 04/02/2023 07:18

itstrue · 04/02/2023 06:08

We lost our lovely chihuahua at 16 years old 5 years ago. My heart was so broken. 6 days later we picked up a poodle puppy. I thought I'd end up spending months on a waiting list but best decision ever. She didn't heal my heart but taking a new journey with my second heart dog was healing.

A couple of friends have been a little judgey, saying it's too soon for another dog, that we need time 😢 This has been the hardest, saddest time in my life. Even worse than when we lost my Dad 4 years ago and I never thought anything could be worse than that. I feel like I've got all this doggy shaped love inside me but no where for it to go 💔

OP posts:
Original poster
NormaLouiseBates · 04/02/2023 07:20

doubleshotcappuccino · 04/02/2023 06:18

What a beautiful boy and what a lovely way to describe your boy -- soul dog .. I'm so sorry for your loss xx

Thank you 💛 he was a family dog but he was mine more than anyone else's simply because I work from home so was with him all the time. I was his main person for sure. He was never far from my side... I rarely even went to the toilet alone!

OP posts:
Original poster
NormaLouiseBates · 04/02/2023 07:22

This was Alfie 💙

Said goodbye to my soul dog
OP posts:
BouncerFish · 04/02/2023 07:29

We lost our gorgeous lab boy at 12 years old two years ago. We were so broken. Like you, we had a dog shaped hole in our lives.

About 8 weeks after we said goodbye, we took home a puppy. He could never replace our sweet old man but he helped us heal. We love him for himself and he makes us smile in so many ways.

I never thought I would get another so quickly, but it turned out to be just what we needed.

Thinking of you x Your handsome boy wouldn’t want you to be lonely

Toooldtoworry · 04/02/2023 07:36

💐

Alfie was stunning, and I am sure he would want you to give a good home to another pupster when you are ready so that they bring you the joy that he did xx

Batcountry8 · 04/02/2023 07:42

NormaLouiseBates · 04/02/2023 07:22

This was Alfie 💙

That's so lovely.

I know exactly this with mine.

Your heart does need to be filled and to give to another. I always mourn my pets and take comfort in that love being able to love and fill another pet's heart.

I do hope your love will find another fuzzy friend soon.

Love to you xxxx

BeagleMumma · 04/02/2023 07:58

I had to send my soul dog over the bridge at the age of 8. He'd had two cruciate ligament ops in his time (bouncy beagle) and was riddled with arthritis.

He looked at me one day and I could just see that he was so tired and that he'd had enough.

Two years ago now.

We still had two other dogs but soon adopted a pair of rescues. And I ended up with another little soul dog, your heart just makes room. I see so much of my Bailey in her, I know he sent her for me.

Your Alfie sounded like he had a lovely personality, which means he had a good life. He would want you to give a home to another dog, he'd want to share your love x

userxx · 04/02/2023 08:05

We lost our Alfie very recently too. It hurts like hell 💔

twitterexile · 04/02/2023 09:05

Everybody grieves differently and some people have to wait before another dog, others can have another straight away. It is no reflection on how much you love the dog you lost and people should never judge.
I have a friend who lost his collie 20 years ago and cannot bring himself to have another dog because he does not feel that he can handle that pain again. It is a shame because he could give a dog a wonderful life. We are all different.