What did you do to get over the loss of a beloved pet?

[PatsGirl]

Although I have lost several pets in my lifetime, my favorite was a golden retriever named "Gypsy Rose" and I put her down almost 13 years ago this month at the ripe ole age of 17

Today I learned that the golden I dog-sit for succumbed Saturday to a tumor on his spleen. Bailey was 12. He was living with us since the middle of January but I called his owners and let them know he wasn't himself after about three weeks. They came home from Florida early (two weeks ago) and learned that he was terminal. They only had about 10 days with him.

I am so sorry for your loss. I don't know how long it "takes" but I'll never forget Gypsy and she touched me differently from my other pets. She was a one and only

 

[princessdi81]

As awful as this may sound, the only way I got over the loss of my beloved Stinkie cat was by getting another cat. Willie has made my life amazing.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

To add to what I said earlier, as much as it hurts, I really don't WANT to get over it. I was really angry when my cat died and everyone kept saying, "Oh it'll get better." And all I could think was, I don't WANT it to get better because I don't want to forget him, I don't want to move on, I just want him here with me where he belongs.

 

[lucas]

tammymacb, I am so sorry for what you are going through.

iwrbnd, your video is fantastic. It made me cry so much. I know we have great videos of our Chewie, but even at a year since her passing I cannot bare to watch any of them.

 

[Minnie]

I just wanted to send a

I lost my beloved Sammie *yellow lab* last month while I was away to Europe for a business trip. I'll never forget the last time I spent with her before leaving for the trip... She passed only 2 days into the 2 week trip

I'm still not over being sad... I miss knowing "someone" loved me more than anything - truly she really did

So I can't give words to help just a to know that you're not alone

 

[iwrbnd]

tammymacb, I am so sorry for what you are going through.

iwrbnd, your video is fantastic. It made me cry so much. I know we have great videos of our Chewie, but even at a year since her passing I cannot bear to watch any of them.

Thank you! It still makes me cry when I watch it even 3 yrs later so I can understand you not watching yours. Making that video was extrememly hard for me but was therapeutic, too.

It's so nice to hear others loved their pets as deeply as I loved mine!

 

[Hercules10]

8 years ago I lost a friend that had saved my life (literally) more times that I care to admit. I went through a whole bottle of tequila that night and it didn't help one bit.

Nothing helps but time and holding onto those good memories.

 

[Luvchefmic]

She was beautiful & will always be with you...yes it hurts so very much, but I am of the thought that you never get over it..and the word "closure" should be wiped out of our vocabulary. We have loved & lost quite a few pets (fur-babies) over the years they are all healthy & happy now and being terribly spoiled in heaven with my Dad...that's what keeps a smile on my face

Buddy-Belgian Tevuerian age 9 went home summer 1995
Baby-dachshund age 16 went home Nov 2005
Fluffy-cat age 19 went home summer 2008

 

[chager]

I am so sorry for your loss.
As with any death you never just "get over it" the way I see it. I have had a few four leg companions cross over the rainbow bridge and I have one old girl standing on this side getting ready to cross over in the near future. I also work cat rescue and although I have been blessed not to have lost any yet my friend lost 3 in a week. One little guy she had fought for several months to save and was very attached to.
It does seem that for every loss we have had, another baby that needs love has appeared! I guess that is how I deal with the pain, I pour my love into another that needs it.
Six years ago we lost our much loved little Trixi and a few months later found 2 orphaned 4 week old kittens! Last year our Baggy became very ill and now we have 3 more kittens! Two of which were near death when we found them. (We were fostering the 3rd along with mom and sisters, but they all were adopted and our son begged to keep Garfield!)
I still cry sometimes when something reminds me of Trixie or Baggy. Sometimes Dutchess, my reformed feral girl, will do something that makes me think she is Trixie all over again, and Garfield really has ALOT of Bagheera's traits, demanding and needy! LOL

 

[leight]

First, I am so sorry for your loss. Keena was gorgeous and you were both so lucky to have your time together.

We lost our first dog last June 2008. Kahlua was 12.5 yrs- she was a golden retriever that I gave him for Valentine's day when we were dating. She was our first baby and it was a heartbreaking week-because we were moving in with my mom until our purchase of a short sale went thru and the owners of the house we were renting wouldn't extend our lease month to month. She hadn't been herself and we didn't take her to the vet because we knew she had a tumor and had decided that we wouldn't do surgery because there was little chance of her having quality of life after. She had a seizure in our arms at 2am and passed peacefully with us. I am so grateful we didn't have to make the decision to put her down. We still miss her dreadfully. Our two girls barely paid her any attention but before Xmas that year they watched old xmases we taped and saw her and were in tears.

I couldn't face a Xmas without her so I brought home a new 9 wk old golden puppy. The girls play with Riley so much more than they did with Kahlua and even at 18months old now they consider her their dog. I don't feel the same way about Riley as I did about Kahlua. I never will but I love her too. Sometimes Riley does something crazy (she's a hundred times more destructive than Kahlua ever was) and my husband & I think that she's Kahlua's joke on us because she was such a good dog.

Take it day by day. The relationship is different and it should be. Keena was special and will never be replaced but time makes it easier to smile more than cry.

 

[Jockaroo]

You don't get over it. In time, the painful throb turns into a dull ache, but there will always be an empty hole. That is the piece of your heart Keena took with her when she crossed the Bridge. There will be a point where you are reunited. Until then, carry the love and share the love with others (as you are doing).

I lost my two Scotties in less than one year. It hurts. I still cry. I've said that when Tipper passed she took a piece of my heart; when Mac died, he took a piece of my soul. I guess in some ways I was lucky, my dogs were elderly, but really, be it 2, 12 or 20 are we ever ready to say goodbye to our best friend?

What I found that helped me was to write to them. I don't open my journal as often now, but I have a document on my computer that I just use to talk to them. Tell them the special things going on. My dogs were sick when they passed--we had to help them cross--so I wrote each of them a letter telling how special they were. They were buried with the letters. I know you didn't have that chance.

Don't feel bad that you haven't moved on in 8 months. Every person grieves in a different way--there is no time schedule. Give yourself the time you need. Many understand that you suffered a tragic loss of a family member. I'm sorry. Keena was a beautiful girl.