I wish I had never got a dog.

[BeetMeToIt]

Because I love him so so much I can’t bear the thought of him one day not being my sidekick. I genuinely don’t know how I will get over the pain of when he’s gone. It’s something I occasionally think of and it hits me with such sadness.

He’s 2 <blush>.

I’ve never owned a pet so I had no idea of the love I would feel for a dog. He is a PITA at all times but he has the cutest little face I like to smoosh daily.

@cheeseisthebest That is a face that needs to be kissed many times a day for sure

Oh it is, he's the best boy in the world. I just had no idea how much I would love a dog, wanted one my whole life and finally got him in mu 40s against my husbands wishes. Husband and dog now absolutely adore each other!!

I didn't get a dog until my 40s as well and before that was a bit baffled when people made such a fuss about their pets.

I remember SIL being distraught when her girl was PTS and I thought she was a bit over dramatic.

Now I'm so far the other way, my dog is part of the family and tbh often my favourite member.

Thanks @MrsCharlesFrere and @helpyhelperton

Just feel like I can't stop crying right now

I lost my dog in September 2020 at the age of 14. It was devastating and I was sobbing for weeks. I have two more loveable idiots now but she will never be forgotten. 

It's so hard. It really is the worst part of dog ownership. I lost my old girl at 17 and I was a mess for months. We were our own little team. We now have another rescue but she was 5 when we got her and is now already 8. I wish I could get those other 5 years back so we can have her for longer.

Better to have loved and lost, and all that!

They have taught my autistic DC how to do loving, touchy feely relationships! One of my joys is hearing him greet the dog when he comes in.

This 👆

And hair. Don't forget the hair. 😂

I'm another one welling up at these posts. My little shitsu/cross is the my best friend. She shadows me everywhere and I love her to bits. She's 5 now so still got a few years left in her but I'll be gutted when she goes.

there is nothing like the love of a dog. My beautiful girl is 11 and I have had her since she was twelve weeks old. Everyone who knows us both say it’s like we are missing something when we are not together.
She was my family before I had children of my own. My children adore her too. You could beat the dust out of rugs with her waggy tail when they’re all fussing her.

I cannot imagine what life will be like without her when she has gone. She has kept us all going and been the source of so much pure love and joy.

I'm not normally one for soppy twee things at all but I read this and ended up saving it because I know I'll need it when my soul dog goes (and she's also only 2!)

Rainbow Bridge
#pets

My Dear Human

I see you are crying, for it is my moment to leave you. Please don’t cry for me. I wish to explain some things to you. You are sad because I left you. Please know that I am so very happy I met you and you became my Human! How many pets like me die each day without meeting someone special like you.

I know it saddens you as I leave you now, but it was my time to go across the rainbow bridge. Please do not blame yourself for anything we have shared. I heard you sobbing that you should have done something else for me. Don’t say that anymore. You have done a lot for me including loving me. Without you I would have known nothing of the beauty of love I carry with me across the rainbow bridge today.

You must know and understand that we animals live in the present intensely and we are very wise to enjoy every little thing each day and forget the bad things very quickly. Our lives begin when we know love, the same love you gave me, my angel without wings and only 2 legs.

Know that even if you find an animal that is injured, and that you have only a little bit of time in this world to give them your love, you do a great thing for them. You provide a great comfort by being with them in their trip to and over the rainbow bridge.

None of us like to be alone, except when we realize it is time for us to leave and move on to a better place.

It is so important and comforting for you to be next to us, caressing us and holding our paw as we begin this trip. It helps us to go in peace. No more crying, please. I will be happy in my trip to a better place. I have in my memory the name you gave me and the warmth of your house, that in time became my home. I take the sound of your voice talking to me, even if I don’t always understand what you were saying to me. I carry in my heart everything you ever gave me.

Everything you did for me was a special sign of your love for me and I am forever grateful. I do not know how to tell you, because I don’t speak your language, but I hope you could see in my eyes my gratitude and my love for you too.

I am asking you for three favors now. Wipe away your tears, wash your face and start smiling as you remember me. Remember how good we were together and the antics I made to cheer you up. Relive all the good times we shared.

Promise me you will not say you will not adopt another animal, because you suffered so much from my departure from your life. Without you I would not have experienced the beautiful life I had with you. There are many others like me that need the same love you gave me. Find a way to honor me by giving them this same love.

Don’t keep the love you have to give from your heart, for fear of suffering another loss. Please follow my advice, cherish the time we had together, then find a way to share our love with another of God’s animals. Recognize that you are an angel of love to us animals and without humans like you, our lives here on earth would be much harder than it sometimes is.

Please continue down this road of love for animals and know that it is now my time to be your angel in my new home across the rainbow bridge. My spirit and your memory of me will always be with you on this road. I will be there to help you help other animals like me.

I will tell the all of the other animals here with me now, everything you did for me and will continue to do in my memory. I will point to you and say proudly “ That is my Family who loved me”

Each night that you look into the sky and see a blinking star, I want you to know it is me telling you I arrived in my new home and I am happy. I am also saying “THANK YOU for the love you gave me”. There is a special sky for humans like you. The same sky where we all will meet again as a reward for living the love for each other that is rare and beautiful. I will be waiting for you here and we will share more time together, remembering our love for each other.
[
Written October 23, 2022

By a true animal lover, Ron Williams ♥️

@wheresmymojo I'm crying at this. So beautiful and so true. The love I have for my dog is so wonderful and unexpected, she is the most beautiful being, we can learn so much through our love of dogs.

With dogs it’s always better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I think we just have to celebrate their precious short lives and thanks heavens they were partnered with us for the time they were here. We feed them, keep them safe and let them know they’re loved. They give us so much in return. That’s an amazing relationship we’re so lucky to have experienced.

I lost my dog last week at 13. . We have another, but one is not enough for me. If he died suddenly, I would be dogless, and I dont want that. Remaining dog is 9 or 10 and had a health emergency and serious surgery last month.
I adopted a 5 year old dog in2005 then as she turned 10, this realisation that she would die 1 day hit me, and so we got a pup. I’ve had at least 2 dogs ever since then. So I am looking, and think I have found our next dog. We adopt rather than shop, but I have felt so panicked by only having one that I suggested we get a puppy from a reputable breeder rather than search rescues. Also I’m too embarrassed to go to our usual rescue in case they think I’m a heartless bag for moving so quickly. My poor Dh wanted us to wait, but I can’t. The pain of losing them is huge, but the joy and love they bring is bigger. Thanks for starting the thread@BeetMeToIt Writing it down has helped me understand my motivation!

My old girl is a large breed so probably only has a year maybe at best with me left. She is my shadow. She has got to be with me at all times as close as possible. Where I am she is. Apparently if I am out she sits staring at the window and her tail starts wagging when I am 2 streets away (car engine) her whole day revolves around Mum coming back. She truly is a Mummy’s girl no one else in the family even comes close, and if I dare talk to a cat she gets so jealous.

im trying just to make the last years of her life as happy and pain free as I can for her. Dreading the day she’s not here with me.

Totally get you! I dread the day my dog leaves us 😖 we loved house in January and he went missing for 5 days. I am not exaggerating when I say I was distraught, I didn't go into work for them days I drove around the whole time searching for him 🙈 I cried every evening my husband didn't know what to do! One night I was asleep and my husband came in and gave me the baby monitor and told me to keep an eye on our son, it was 1am. I was disoriented and went up to the kitchen and next thing my husband opened the door and my dog ran in 🥹 he was found just up the road he had been making his way back and a neighbour on his way home spotted him! It was the not knowing where he was or if he was ok that hurt the most but god I duno how I'll cope if he dies, I can't see me getting another dog due to how attached we get! 😂

Definitely this. Sums it up for me. I always liked dogs but have been astonished at the bond I now have with mine.

The love people have for animals shows just how much our capacity for infinite love is

My dogs are 7,4,2 - I deliberately got further dogs after my first one so that the pain would not actually kill me if she died (because she is so amazing).

Also - the bond with dogs is so special, it's like you go on an adventure every day

If I take my husband or kids out they have their own needs, desires, arguments - with a dog it's like we're SHARING the space and adventure

Yup.

Pretty much since I first brought mine home, I've had low level anxiety about the thought of losing them in old age.

You mould your life around them and then - poof! - they go and leave a dog shaped hole in it. Humans must be pretty weird to think one day "I know what I'll do - I'll go and prebook my heart being totally and utterly broken in about 10-15 years time".

My boy lived to 15 and we were heartbroken when he went. We haven't got another as I don't think I could do the heartbreak again.

It was three years ago and I am typing this through tears.

Mine is only just 1 and I'm the exact same. She's my wingman and everyone now sees us as a "couple" 😂

My 12-year-old Chihuahua died two weeks ago today, rather suddenly at the emergency vet in the middle of the night. I was distraught and couldn't leave his body for two hours. They were very kind.

My home isn't the same without him. Haven't picked up his bowls or bedding from their places yet. I'll never go through this again.

Very well said.

That's such a lovely way of putting it, sharing together. When I walk my dog, sometimes I feel like he helps me see the world through fresh new eyes.

He sniffs at a flower I wouldn't have noticed, he stares at the birds circling high above that I would have missed. His joy at going to his favourite places is unbounded. Tis wonderful indeed.