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?

Sounds completely reasonable to me. I still
miss a family dog who died 5 years ago and can literally still imagine the smell of her coat and the softness of the fur under her jaw.

if I think about it too much my heart literally aches.

thing is I’m not given to this level of emotion with people at all, although I suspect I have been lucky in that regard .

Perfectly normal.

My DM still talks about her childhood DDog who died over 70 years ago.

It’s absolutely not strange at all. I miss all of mine. Even many decades later.

I have had multiple hounds and I miss all of them, and love my current pack whole heartedly. But gosh I miss my Lizzie and she has been gone 10 years, I was only able to put her picture up last year. Xx

Every single one of them, getting another dog always helped us move on and enjoy the memories with smiles rather than tears. We decided when we got our latest dog that he will be the very last one, which is a bit sad but it makes sense to us. I have loved every dog in my life with all my heart, but this one feels extra special somehow and he's been spoiled way more than the others were, even though they were well spoiled too. He's the dog I wish I'd been able to have when I was a wee girl but wasn't allowed to have. He's here now though, better late than never, except maybe he's not late, he's right on time. 😍

Yes definitely

yes absolutely- I still miss my childhood family dog and he’s been dead 20 years. He was, naturally, a very good boy (who was actually quite naughty) and the best dog in the world ever. I adored him. When I’ve got too many thoughts in my head that I need to put down I picture a sunny living room (it’s actually my childhood best friend’s parent’s living room). It’s sunny and comfortable and peaceful and there’s a fire and a grandfather clock gently ticking away. My late lovely DF is there, both sets of grandparents, my late auntie and late uncle, and of course, my beloved dog. They hold those thoughts and watch over me.

I still miss my childhood dog 12 years since she's passed. She was my soul dog. She made me feel less alone in the world at some of the hardest times growing up. She was like a sibling to me. I will never not be heartbroken she's not here anymore and pray there's a day I get one of her famous cuddles again