Coping with my dog's death

[Stillsolow]

My darling dog died last summer. He was only 9 and was in an accident (not RTA) while being looked after by a friend.

Although time has passed I don't feel that I have made any progress at all in terms of "getting over" his death. I still cry most days and feel as if all the colour has gone out of life. I am keeping it together- busy life, work, kids etc- but feel a bit as if I am going through the motions. (I am not depressed, in case I am making it sound like that- it is very much grief rather than depression.)

I wondered if anyone had been through similar and how it went for you? What did you find helpful?

Sorry to hear your dog passed. Pets are such great companions and it always hits hard.

I cried solidly for 3 weeks when I lost my soul cat, he really had a beautiful personality. 3 months later and still weeping, I decided to adopt another cat. It really helped. But, now and then (like now) thinking of my poor cat makes me cry. It's been 5 years.

I guess it's like anything upsetting, it gets easier with time but is never completely gone.

Do you have the time/love to get another pet? It's good to make new memories.

I’m sorry. I’ve not been through something similar, but I love my pets dearly, and know that I would suffer if they died. I do feel that (please, I mean this kindly), maybe you need some kind of counselling to help you process your grief? I’m not qualified to give you advice, but have been in a situation where I too felt ‘all colour had gone out of life’ and I found professional help gave me the tools to cope.

I believe it was Pets At Home that offered counselling specifically focused on the loss of a pet. It may be worth taking a look. I'm sorry for your loss OP, it really is painful

Same as pp. I had a cat from about age 7-21, so through school, college and Uni. She had been slowly poisoned the vet said, so a fairly sudden and tragic death which I won’t go into. I cried for months and years after and could still cry now and I’m 46.
I did go on to get another pet and it definitely helped, you have something to focus on.
Time is a great healer, so the pain will lessen but never completely go.

I'm sorry. Suddenly lost one of my dogs a couple of months back and it has floored me. She was 12 and I was hoping for a good 5 years ahead of us, then cancer hit. The Blue Cross runs a pet bereavement service if you think that would help. I'm searching for a puppy (unsuccessfully so far because I want a Havanese and they are as common as hens teeth). I can't replace, don't want to, but there is room in my life for another. But I know that some people will never have a pet again because the idea of putting themselves through this again at some point is too hard.

We'll get there, but there is no "right" way to mourn, and no timetable

I'm so sorry for your pain. grieved terribly for all three of my dogs who died, one of whom died less than a year ago. You can't replace any individual dog with another, but you can surely love a new dog and this love will help you to heal. That was my experience, at any rate. You just channel your pain into taking the very best care of the new dog. It helped me a lot.
I was thinking of my darling who died most recently just today. I can now think about her wistfully, but without the sharp, agonizing pain I had for awhile after she died. I think about all my lost loves and can smile at the wonderful memories I have of them. I hope you get there. I know it's hard. ❤️

I'm sorry - I have no suggestions for help. My 10 month old kitten was deliberately run over almost 2 years ago and I'm not crying everyday anymore but a few times a week. It's so hard. I'm at the point where I think maybe I need to access counselling in order to move on a little.