Stages of grief?

[Shel]

Hi fellow Disers,

A professional lurker here, as you can probably tell by the # of my posts...

Anyway my question is does anyone know the stages of grief, specifically for losing a pet. I came home from a mission trip on Sunday & my dog (black lab/golden retriever/german shepherd mix - 5 years old) couldn't walk. We carried her to the vet Monday morning & to make a long story short she was diagnosed with spinal cancer & we had to put her to sleep. The vet said no amount of money would make her right again - she couldn't even go potty anymore. All this happened overnight, or so it seemed to us. Evidently her body was shutting down & we had no idea. We're completely & totally devastated, and I'm especially not handling it well. We have another dog & 3 cats, plus a 10 year old, but the house seems very empty & my heart is broken.

Thanks for caring - even for us lurkers.

 

[Serena]

I'm terribly sorry.
I know there is a website, but I can't think of the name, for people who have lost a pet.

{{{hugs}}}

 

[jan/cape]

So, So sorry Shel.I don't have any advice, but mt heart breaks for you.
Jan

 

[FloridaCat]

I don't remember the exact rder.
denial, anger, bitterness, self pity.

It is natural to feel grief for pets as well as friends and family.


{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

 

[joats]

Sorry to hear about your loss! It is so difficult to lose a member of your family!!

This site might be helpful to you:

http://www.vetmedcenter.com/consumer/display.asp?fn=P-LP-L-EU_A-griefpetlossFK1JS.xml&dt=A

 

[DISchick]

I am so sorry for your loss. I think losing a pet can be one of the hardest things to go through. Pets just love us unconditionally, so when they go, we miss all that love and trust without other emotions mixed in. It can help to find your own special way to deal with the loss. For some, it helps to keep the pet toys around, for others it's theraputic to put them away. Whatever comforts you is right and good. Try to spend extra time loving your other pets--they'll love you right back and are probably also missing the companionship of the one that is gone.
I'll keep you in my thoughts---it will get better.

Jill

 

[cassie]

Oh Shel, I too know the awful feeling of losing a beloved pet.
Here's a link that is a comforting place for those grieving over a pet.

http://rainbowbridge.com/

{{{hugs}}} and thoughts to help you grieve. You are not alone.

 

[house_of_princesses]

I imagine it's similar to losing a two legged loved one. Honestly, I feel the different emotions hour by hour, but to say things go by the book would be false.

Find comfort where you can, accept hugs from all, talk when you want, be still when it suits you.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Shel]

Thanks to all who replied. I've visited all those sites now & am crying tears of healing (hopefully). Thanks for all the cyber hugs too.

 

[SuiteDisney]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your fur baby. People who don't have pets just can't understand that they really are our children. (((hugs)))

 

[Rajah]

Everyone goes through various stages in various orders, they'll come back on you, alternate, you'll think you're over it then a song or another animal or something innocent reminds you of your lost loved one and it all comes back. But you will eventually heal. It'll take a while, but you will.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I found that just after I lost Blaze (2 year old cat, my baby, lost 2 months ago now ), visiting the various pet loss chat rooms or boards helped when the grief was the rawest.

 

[Pooh93]

{{HUGS}} for the loss of your precious furbaby.

 

[FloridaCat]

You do not go through the stages in order, but bounce back and forth. It is a roller coaster ride.

{{{{HUGS}}}}}