Does anyone else still miss their dog (any pet actually) years later?

[StandingOnaCornerInWinslowArizona]

I know some people may think this is strange but I still miss my beloved dog four years after he died.

It took at least a year before I could actually talk about him or look at his photo without sobbing but even now, if I look at his photo, my eyes will start to prickle and a deep melancholy will come over me.

Although not officially, he was my therapy dog. I got him in 2012 after my dc had started school. I had been a sahm and missed my kids being at home and I felt lost. I am ND and have a history of anxiety and depression and when this little doggy came into my life he completely lifted me. We would go out for long walks and would meet and chat to lots of people on our little travels. He loved people so much and they in return would make a complete fuss of him. He loved people so much that I registered him as a Pets as Therapy dog. I even reunited with my best friend from primary school because of him, she had seen a pic I uploaded on to my FB profile and got in contact as she had just got a puppy. Her dog and mine were firm little besties. Her dog is still going strong at 13, sadly mine was only 10, he got cancer and we had no choice but to have him pts. It devastated me that day especially as his little brown button eyes never left mine throughout the whole process, that image will never leave me.

We were inseparable and I still miss his presence so very much. I have had dogs and cats all of my life, since babyhood and have loved them all but he was truly a one off, a really special little dog, everyone loved him. I have missed him especially over the last few years, my mum now has advanced dementia (she adored him), I come home from my parents house exhausted and emotional and I know had he still been here he would have been more than happy to have lots of lovely cuddles to help ease my carers burnout.

We do have another dog now, he's a rescue and I love him with all my heart and spend every day with him but he is very hard work due to his previous abuse, I adore him but it's tough going with him as he is unpredictable and not the easy going dog my Archie was, sadly.

Have you ever had a pet that took a bit of your heart with them when they left this earth. Do you still miss them dearly?

Yes every day . All of them over the years are remembered but my dog of a lifetime I’ll never get over her loss .

I still miss my childhood family dog and she’s been dead 45 years! I just miss her presence. She was always there, padding about. She would come to you and just sit, leaning up against your leg looking for pets. There’s a level of peace and contentment I had with her that I’ve never had since.

Yes. Very much. All of them

Yes my dog died two years ago and I still miss her desperately. She was quite elderly but it is the sudden way she dies I think that is hardest to accept.

Yes.

my dog died twenty four years ago now and he’ll always have a place in my heart.

he was only three

My 4 year old dog died really suddenly 5 years ago and I still really miss her. I always will I think.

Yes. We lost our DDog 2 years ago. We talk about her very often and the house just doesn’t feel the same. We miss her very much.

Yes. We had DDog for 15 years and I was his favourite human. I work more hours now so we haven't had another dog but I am hopeful we will in retirement.

Ive lost 3 dogs in 3 years and found each loss incredibly difficult but I feel very similar about my boy I lost first, 3 years ago. I don’t like to have favourites but there was something so special about him. I lost him suddenly also age 10 with no warning and it hit me very hard, almost like a physical pain for a very long time.

I miss all three of them now at different times, for different reasons and think I always will.
Also like you I’ve recently rehomed a rescue who I do adore but I can still tear up thinking of my other dogs. I’m also finding my rescue hard work but hoping in time she’ll settle a bit more.

Ddog 1 was pts February 2020.. Still can't look at photos.
Lost 3 ddogs last year. Def can't even talk about them without crying.
It absolutely sucks..

Yes, I miss all my animals who have gone - even our ratties, (they are the BEST pets!). Lots of special dogs and cats. My most missed however is my heart horse. He’s been gone for 16 years and I still miss him every day. I’d give anything for one more hour with him.

Lost our dog 2 years ago, still miss him terribly. Life is very much quieter without him.

Yes, my horse who was PTS 3 years ago sometimes visits me in my dreams, and we go and do our favourite walks together. They’re so vivid that it feels like I’ve spent actual time with him. I can even smell him and feel the grittiness of his aged coat. It’s almost like he’s saying, im gone from this world, but you’re ok, I’m still here with you ❤️❤️

Isn't it normal to still miss them?

I wish all my pets were still here who I've lost
Loved all of them with all my heart

I know exactly how you feel. I miss all of the dogs that have been in my life, but we had to PTS our 15 year old mutt almost two years ago and there isn't a day I don't think of him. Its funny, we have had other more lovable dogs over the years. He was kind of a grumpy old man all of his life but he had my heart.

I still miss my big old boy. He looked after the kids while they were growing up, was a saint to walk, trained himself basically, he was the best family dog anyone could have. He's been gone ten years now and even the kids (who are now all adult) still miss him.

I adore my current dog but Big Dog will always have a part of my heart.

I miss two of my dogs lots, one died in 2014 and the other in 2024.

I miss my cats but one of them, Olaf, who died of cancer in 2020 still makes me cry. He was just my little mate - he was a big cat, very silly and followed me everywhere. I miss him every day.

We lost our dog in November 24 and we all miss him , we have photos of him everywhere around the house , his ashes are in my bedroom and we have a ‘shrine’ to him in the garden . He was the centre of our lives for over 14 yrs . I can’t see anything changing

My soul dog is still very much alive. But I know this is how I will feel when she leaves me. I was NEVER a dog person, she has completely changed my soul and I worry how I will cope when she leaves me. I cannot ever imagine a different dog in my home. I would have thought someone crying over their dog yrs later before was a right weirdo … I get it now and I dread it.

It’s been a year for me and I miss him every day. Dog2 is at my side right now, and she’s lovely, but my boy was with me through a lot of ‘stuff’.

He was just the best.💐💔

I lost my best boy to a car accident 23 years ago. We've had 4 cats since him but he's still the one I miss.

My dog died nearly two years ago from a catastrophic epileptic seizure (he was on medication). He was so young, barely threw himself, but he was my absolute baby and I miss him all the time.

Yes, miss my lovely boy every day. His ashes are buried under a greengage tree and I speak to him every time I go passed.
We have another dog now who is just as wonderful in her own way but I’ll never stop missing my lovely boy.

My best boy died in 2006 and I still miss him. He was my buddy.
The night he died I was away from home and had dreamt that we were playing frisbee, and woke up to my dad calling me to tell me he'd gone.