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The doghouse

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Original poster

I don’t think I will ever get over losing my beloved little dog.

41 replies

CaraVann · 14/02/2023 09:15

I lost my Archie 6 months ago and still cry every day.

He was my shadow, my best little buddy and 10 years with him just wasn’t enough, no amount of time would have been, I know.
I honestly do not know how I will ever get over losing him or watching him lose his life to the bloody awful cancer which he battled so bravely over 3 years.
He helped me get through depression (which has since returned now he has he left). He got me out and about meeting people, everyone loved him, he was a Pets as Therapy dog too as he had such a kind soul and calm nature. He adored people.

Every photo around the house brings me to tears.
His ashes in his little box brings me to tears.
It is such a huge loss to me, I really feel so bereft and my poor mum who suffers from Alzheimer’s asks about him every day, she loved him too.

We have since adopted a rescue dog as it was something I had always wanted to do. I do love him dearly and will give him he needs but he is such hard work atm but I just crave the comfort from the calming cuddles I used to get from Archie.

How on earth do you get over losing a little soul who was basically by your side almost 24/7?
I can honestly say that I am grieving him more than some humans in my life.

I don’t think I will ever get over losing my beloved little dog.
OP posts:
rrf · 14/02/2023 09:20

I am so sorry for you, and I have no real words, but I do hope things will ease for you soon. It hadn't been too long since he passed, so maybe more time will help. I hope things get better for you soon x

closingtime101 · 14/02/2023 09:23

Just a handhold here OP. It’s devastating and I really feel for you. All I can say is in time the immediacy of your sorrow will fade and you will be left with love and happy memories. He sounds like a wonderful little dog. 💛

GetOffMyDoorJack · 14/02/2023 09:30

I'm so sorry OP, and I totally understand. I lost my heart dog last year and am still bereft. I don't know how to move on either, I feel like I have lost a limb.

SDSS · 14/02/2023 09:40

Oh, OP! You have all my sympathy and love ❤️

Archie looks so beautiful, what a wonderful photo and from your post you clearly had an amazing bond, he must have felt so loved and adored.

I can honestly say that the loss of my boy is the worst loss of my life and over a year later is still horrific. I wish I could say it gets better but it doesn't, however it does change shape, you live around the loss despite still being devastated.

I was in such a state I eventually gave in and got some help from my doctor, I now take antidepressants and feel better for it. I'm not saying it's for everyone but don't rule it out if you feel you're reaching your end point; I was and it was the right thing to do.

Sending you love.

strawberriesarenot · 14/02/2023 09:41

I am so sorry. I have been through that. Allow yourself to love him just the same as if he was still with you. He is in a way. Remembering him will help you with your new needy rescue dog.
I found that writing helped. I wrote down every single thing I could recall, odd splotchy markings, how he moved the curtains to look out of the window, funny things and naughty things. I wrote and wrote. 9 years ago now. I still haven't reread it, but I like to know I could.

DeadButDelicious · 14/02/2023 10:15

Oh OP, Archie was beautiful and I'm so sorry for your loss. I understand. My Lola was the doggy love of my life. I lost her when she was 5 after a year long illness and it broke me. It was much too soon. I felt and feel so robbed, she should have had a long and happy life. She had been my reason for getting up in the morning during some really dark times and losing her felt like someone had gutted me. I miss that dog every single day and it's been almost 6 years.

Things did get better though, it got easier, I could talk about her, laugh about her and remember her without crying. It took some time but I got there and you will too, you just need to let yourself feel it and move through it. We have another dog now, Marina, she's wonderful, she isn't Lola but she is herself and she has definitely helped. As will your little rescue. All the love OP. And again, I am so sorry for your loss.

jtaeapa · 14/02/2023 10:23

He’s beautiful. I think that probably the best way to help yourself would be to think how much he loved you and would want you to be happy.

CountryMusicHottie · 14/02/2023 10:52

Beautiful Archie. ❤️ What a lovely photo. x

It’s sounds like he had a really lovely life with you. Take comfort in how much you both loved each other.

We lost our very young boy to cancer 2 years ago. He was only two years old and his cancer wasn’t treatable. It all happened really fast in our case, we thought we had years with him as he was so young. I found it completely devastating. He was always with me and in those early months after we lost him, I just wanted to give up. I genuinely felt I’d never feel ok again. I cried all the time for months. We had another dog who missed him so much as well.

But slowly, life did become better, easier again. Just time passing and other stuff happening. I started to be able to think of our lovely boy and smile rather than feel sad. By the first anniversary of losing him. I had stopped going over and over this last few weeks and began to think how lucky we were that we’d had him. He was such a good boy, loyal til the end. We all still talk about him often, losing him affected us all hugely and he will always be part of our family. I still cry sometimes.

I think I’ll always feel a bit broken after losing him, but life is good again. We got another dog to keep our other one company. She’s completely different to the dog we lost but she’s such a sweetie.

Your rescue dog will settle down. Things will feel better than they do right now. Give yourself time. 💐

Im just wondering, are you getting any help with the depression? x

Original poster
CaraVann · 14/02/2023 12:29

Thank you all so much for your kind words.
I am so very sorry for your losses too, it’s is heartbreaking to read.
Some people just don’t understand how the loss of a pet can leave us feeling. I know time will heal things and I will be able to look at his little face without the tears coming.
In the meantime I will remember our wonderful life together with warmth and focus on giving my rescue that same lovely life.

OP posts:
aquamarine2 · 14/02/2023 12:38

I feel your pain. Have been there. Twice. But it does get easier. You never forget. Like you I focus in the two I now have and try to give them the best life. I love them dearly. Give yourself time my love xxxx

SirChenjins · 14/02/2023 12:42

Oh what a beautiful boy - so obviously loved and what a happy life he must have had with you.

I read a beautiful post on here recently - the poster said that they take a part of you with them when they go, and leave a little part of themselves behind with you. I thought that was a lovely way of looking at it. We never stop missing the ones we love, but slowly the grief becomes easier to live with. Your rescue dog will never replace Archie, but he’ll forge a new path by your side in his own way and he’ll settle down in time Flowers

FastFood · 14/02/2023 19:47

Oh OP so sorry you're going through that...
He was gorgeous and seemed to be a very very good boy.

I've lost two dogs in my lifetime and I can say for sure that it hit me harder than the loss of humans, because they were with me 24/7 and their lives were woven into mine. Everything reminds you of the absence.

With my last one, I found a lot of comfort by having put some of his ashes in an urn pendant which is always around my neck. Sounds silly but I just kiss it every now and then and feel somewhat connected to him. I think one of my biggest fears was to forget about him, as I kind of did with my first dog, sadly.

Your boy was very loved for sure. Take that with you, it's not going anywhere xx

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 14/02/2023 20:01

Flowers Sorry to hear this CaraVann- there is no pain like loss. It is a terrible reckoning for love shared... I know that they take a little of you with them but like the idea they leave a little behind with us too.

It sounds as if he was a lucky dog despite the cancer- really loved - properly looked after - and never suffering the loss of you.

I hope that your sorrow will become easier to bear.

Naimee87 · 14/02/2023 20:02

We lost our little 2,5yr old pug in January to an auto-immune disease. Her health deteriorated so quickly and after a week of tests we received the news she wasn’t able to fight the disease… it was heart-breaking. We thought we’d have years with her! 💜She was our first pet and just the best little companion you could wish for. We were lucky enough to be able to re-home another little pug the same age as ours was and i have to say this truly has helped. She’s got a completely different character but i know we did the right thing getting her as we’re able to give her all the love we had that we weren’t able to give the little one we lost. Its still hard looking at her photos. But then i think about the Rainbow Bridge poem and this comforts me quite a bit! So sorry for your loss! He was an adorable looking little thing. I’m sure your new little rescue will be a wonderful little companion for you soon!

InvisibleDreamer · 17/02/2023 08:27

I feel your pain. 8 weeks on and I am still really struggling too. My dog Milo was my whole world & I spent most of my time with him. I’m just finding it so hard to accept he is no longer in the world (I don’t believe in life after death etc though I wish I did). Life feels totally empty. Anti depressants have helped take the edge off and distracting myself by keeping busy but each day is still a huge struggle. x

lovemypuppa · 17/02/2023 08:52

FlowersFlowersFlowers I've been through this so many times and all I can say is that the pain we feel upon the loss equates to the amount of love we had for our pet. Your new dog is very lucky to have you and you will form a new bond, maybe a slightly different bond, but the new dog needs you now. X

gettingalifttothestation · 17/02/2023 08:56

I really feel for all of you going through this awful grief. I can honestly say the only thing that helped me was refining a dog in need. I began walking the dogs at the rehiring centre and brought one home after a week He had been a stray and really just needed feeding up and loads of tlc. You can never replace the dog you have lost but putting my energy into another soul who badly needed it really did help all of us as a family.

gettingalifttothestation · 17/02/2023 08:57

Rehomimg !

DforDogWoof · 17/02/2023 18:33

Awwww, so sorry to hear this. It can take time. You might always have a cry but slowly you will find the smiling and remembering happens more than the sad crying, if that makes sense. Take care x

AlmostSummer21 · 17/02/2023 18:57

I'm so sorry. What a really gorgeous boy!!!

it hurts & can really hurt for such a long time and non animal people really don't get it, but meh, I don't really get them either. 🤷🏻‍♀️

it never stops hurting, but in time it does stop being so raw!

where's the photo of your new little one??

Boussa · 20/02/2023 02:09

I'm just so glad you found eachother to love.

Please take care of yourself, OP.

BringItOn2023 · 20/02/2023 02:18

He wouldn't want you to be sad x

Original poster
CaraVann · 20/02/2023 11:42

Sorry I didn’t come back before now. I didn’t realise how raw it would be to read everyone else’s sad loses and kind words. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved pets. I know they wouldn’t want us to be perpetually sad and I do feel happy that we gave Archie such a wonderful life. It is just so hard as he was such a wonderful companion. 10 years was not enough time to have spent with him but it would have been the same if he’d lived for decades but those 10 years were a privilege.. They say dogs are special, they really are.

OP posts:
GetOffMyDoorJack · 21/02/2023 00:02

@CaraVann and everyone else on this thread, I am so sorry for your losses. I am currently receiving counselling through the Blue Cross by email. To make contact call: 0800 096 6606 The support line is open everyday from 8.30am – 8.30pm. email support: [email protected]. It's helping me and I hope some of you will find it helps you too.

foxlover47 · 21/02/2023 00:05

Such a gorgeous boy Archie x biggest hug to you x