Pet Grief

[Fly at Night]

The "new" love at 0:51...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raY5Bymylxk

[rmkrum]

Sigh. Just had to let our elderly chihuahua mix go. We got Chocolate from the local shelter about 22 years ago, when she was probably 6-8 years old. She was a good dog, relatively quiet, and she was probably a backyard breeder female that got too old to breed.

She had strong mother instincts, and really mothered our younger pups when they moved in. All the others said goodbye to her about a day before, by gently licking her ears as she struggled to walk around our yard for one of the last times.

She was so frail and weak. Probably was dealing with cancer, as she had been losing weight slowly the past few months. She will be missed.
she's the white-faced one in the lower right of this picture. 😣


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[SteveSueMac]

Very sorry to hear this 😢

What a long and wonderful life you gave her! Was she a chihuahua/husky mix? What a sweet face!

[rmkrum]

We're not real sure what she was other than chihuahua mix. Her white bits were a soft light tan-brown when we got her. This picture is about a year old. She aged rather rapidly in the last few years.

The other pups in the picture are the rest of our pack of rescues. They all get along remarkably well, even the two solid white Malti-poos brothers fit in well. The boys were running the street when we rescued them. The solid black and solid brown ones are also brothers. They are Pomeranian chihuahua mixes we liberated from a backyard breeder. The big blonde one is a Tibetan Terrier also rescued. He likes to think he is the boss, but Chocolate could set him in his place.

This picture was taken at a friend house. His young daughter absolutely loved Chocolate. She was a very sweet dog.


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[NorCal Matt]

How are you doing with your grief? Our current beagle, Lexi, is the best dog we have ever had. The picture is her hunting moles. She is 8 and I have a hard time not worrying and mourning about when she will go. I don't think another can fill her shoes. I hope you have found another great friend. Dogs are amazing and healing creatures

[Gene]

Just saw this thread. I've had many losses of pets and people. I always know I'll feel better later, but I hate to wait. I've learned a lot from dogs. They complain so much less than humans. I have learned a lot about unconditional love from dogs. They love playing and I'm still learning about that.

It looks like you have a new dog and a cat now, so you will learn more. I'm glad to see you will continue learning. A dog (not sure about cats) will always make you a better person, and maybe even more extraordinary.

Gene

[rmkrum]

The odd thing about grief is that the rest of the dogs seem to experience it as well. They are a little subdued, and a bit clingy since Chocolate left us.

They seem to know something is not quite right. My daughter is home for a week from college, and I suspect that's helping the other dogs feel better.

Us humans will grieve in our own way, then try to move on. We still have responsibilities to the rest of our dogs, so we will stay busy. Chocolate did live a very long life.


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[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Sigh. Just had to let our elderly chihuahua mix go. We got Chocolate from the local shelter about 22 years ago, when she was probably 6-8 years old.
--------------snip--------------

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Oops. Major typo: we got the dog 12 years ago. She might have been 18-20 years old or so. I don't know if any dog living 28-30 years is usual....I do wish she could have, though. She will be missed.


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[Lily&Me]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved pet, rmkrum.


Maggie

[Lumatic]

My vet sent a card with this on it after Farfel was put down:
"Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you.... I loved you so.............'twas heaven here with you."

I went right out and got a new best friend from a rescue shelter. His name is Happyjack. Right now he is reminding me time for a romp.

[rmkrum]

I had all of the remaining dogs on my chair or close to me last night while we all watched tv.

The love is there. It's so funny...one of them worms his way into Chocolate's old spot between my side and the arm of the chair, then lays his head down with a big sigh of contentment. Dogs love their people unreservedly, no matter what. It's very calming.


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[kidjedi]

One of my best/saddest memories is walking our beloved Coupland to the lake to swim before heading to the vet for the last time (he was riddled with cancer). The walk was slow but I cherished the time (and I'm sure he did too). When we got to the water Coupland's excitement was palpable, and the joy and release of weightlessness for that one last swim on earth was a wonderful reminder of what was next. Sweet release.

Everyone urged us to "wait a while" after he was gone. The silence in the house was deafening. We now have the joy and love of our "snugglepunch," Luther, but I will never suggest that someone "wait a while." Life is too short to live even a moment without the pure love of a dog.

[rmkrum]

I agree. Even as we have lost one dog, we have had others. They are not replacements, per se, but other friends and companions in a continuum of pets that touch our lives.

The pain as we part with them is tempered by the love we got from them and still get from the others.

Loving a short-lived animal is a commitment to caring for them during their concept of forever--if that makes sense.

You still lose a bit of your heart to them, but you can survive knowing you are giving them the gift of a good home and loving care. It's just hard to deal with the end of a good friend's life. It's not really logical to keep going through this, but love is not required to be logical.


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[white laker]

Sorry for your loss. We have been there many times. It get easier as time goes on. We have Eddie with us. He is a 11 year old Golden. Still in great shape but slowing down. So am I. We both have some bumps and lumps and lots of miles left in us. Eddie is number 5 in our string of Goldens. We are thinking about number 6. It would be easy to stop at 5, but coming home without 6 or 7 or maybe #8 in our lives....... dont think so.
Please give it time and focus on the great memories.
God Bless all the dogs and dog lovers
Pete

[Fly at Night]

rmkrum, so sorry for your loss. You are a good guy to rescue those dogs.

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by NorCal Matt

How are you doing with your grief? Our current beagle, Lexi, is the best dog we have ever had. The picture is her hunting moles. She is 8 and I have a hard time not worrying and mourning about when she will go. I don't think another can fill her shoes. I hope you have found another great friend. Dogs are amazing and healing creatures

NorCalMatt, the grief comes and goes. I love your Lexi. (Looks a lot like my first beagle). Yes, they are busy hunters. Moles, field mice, squirrels, feral rabbits).

Lexi has many years left. Try to enjoy the now w/o worrying about the when.

I wasn't ready to get another beagle, but found one at the shelter that deserved a break. She is the first beagle that I have not had since puppyhood. She has some issues from her prior owner (some people should never own a beagle) but we are working it out.

All the best to you and your Lexi.

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by white laker

God Bless all the dogs and dog lovers
Pete

Yes.

Thank-you Pete.

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

My vet sent a card with this on it after Farfel was put down:
"Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you.... I loved you so.............'twas heaven here with you."

I went right out and got a new best friend from a rescue shelter. His name is Happyjack. Right now he is reminding me time for a romp.

Lumatic, thanks for sharing.

'twas heaven here with you.

That it was.

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by Gene

Just saw this thread. I've had many losses of pets and people. I always know I'll feel better later, but I hate to wait. I've learned a lot from dogs. They complain so much less than humans. I have learned a lot about unconditional love from dogs. They love playing and I'm still learning about that.

It looks like you have a new dog and a cat now, so you will learn more. I'm glad to see you will continue learning. A dog (not sure about cats) will always make you a better person, and maybe even more extraordinary.

Gene

Gene, thank-you for your kind, sage words. I am glad I posted this thread because it will help those struggling with pet grief.

Yes, I do have another dog love in my life.

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

rmkrum, so sorry for your loss. You are a good guy to rescue those dogs.

Our whole family is into dog rescue. We've never 'bought' a dog. We find them, or it seems they find us. The last two crossed a busy street to get to us. The security guy at the place said he'd seen them, but they never had crossed the street. They seem to know what to do. Two Malti-poo brothers. Starving and matted. Had to do something, and Wife and I refuse to drop any dog at a so-called shelter.


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