How Will I Cope?

[itsnotmeitsu]

I feel numb. We've arranged to have our 13-year old Greyhound PTS tomorrow (at home). I hoped it wouldn't come to this and he'd peacefully pass away in his sleep, but it's not fair to him to keep hanging on for that. He's a rescue dog and lived in kennels for the first eight years of his life. He never became a 'pet' as such but came to trust us as his family, and we love him so much. He's slept on the bed with me ever since we adopted him. He's not been in great health for a while (rheumatism, etc), but I thought as long as he's enjoying his food and his walks he's got quality of life. Recently that's become no longer the case and he's really struggling with movement. He always had a massive appetite (couldn't get too much food), and now he's started to turn his nose up at most stuff.

I look at him and think how unbearable it is that after tomorrow I'll no longer be able to do that. And of course there's all his stuff around us (so much stuff). The treats we topped up at the weekend he'll never get to eat. I know it's the right thing to do, but it's the thought of not seeing him again after tomorrow.

so sorry 😞 😢

It’s incredibly hard, it took me many months before the fog lifted slightly, you just have to find ways to cope and get you through, for me it was creating a memory book and a little ‘alter’ with her picture, ashes and a candle so she is always with me, she is still part of our lives even though she is not here physically, we keep her memory alive, it helps. I’m very sorry you are facing this, it really is hard, you have my sympathies 💐.

I'm so sorry you have to say goodbye to you're precious boy.

I'm sure you've given him more love and happiness than he'd ever known, and he'll always be with you.

I'm crying now, I've been in your shoes and it's heartbreaking.

Thank you for the lovely messages. I alternate between crying and not believing it's happening. I have been through this before and I'm trying to focus on the fact that it's a peaceful death, after losing a dog to cancer two weeks after diagnosis, and another one to PLE. I want tomorrow to be over, but I'm also desperate for it not to arrive. We know, when we take on dogs, that we're more than likely going to experience the awful grief of losing them; but if the alternative is not having a dog then you just have to get through that time until you're out on the other side.

It is the very worst part about having a dog, I hope you can take comfort that you gave them a happy loving home and that their passing will be peaceful, take some fur clippings and a paw print if you can, I found having something physical of them to keep comforting.

The strange and horrible feeling that you don't want to pick up the last poo from the garden because it's a practical reminder of them.

Thanks @Heresoneimadearlier > It was peaceful and we've got the paw print.