Losing a pet

I am so sorry to hear about Lilly. There was nothing you could do about her condition, so please be kind to yourself & remember that you gave her a good, kind & loving home. To give her that & not be in a rescue centre was wonderful for her.
I have had ten cats in my life & remember them all with love. We then adopted my sons 2 dogs and sadly one died 7 years ago. I adored him.
We now have the remaining dog & 1 cat & I am dreading anything happening to them.

It is said that our pets love us unconditionally, but I think it is that they let us love them unconditionally . That is so wonderful & I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I hope you & DH can take some comfort from our messages x

I am suffering deeply myself at the moment, though not through the loss of my pet but through the death of Bradley Lowery, as I grew up in Blackhall Colliery where Bradley comes from and now, in the process of moving from Spain back to England, I could not be there for the funeral in person. Here, my dog, Jack, could see I was so down this morning and he rested his head on my knee to give me suppor, giving little grunts to tell me that he was with me in my sorrow. Jack is family.
Thanks Annifrance, for your comment on my earlier message.

jacksmum, thank you for that really lovely and comforting vision you have given us. I have lost many much loved pets over the years and each have taken a little bit of my heart with them and although I say I can't go through it again I end up with a little stray arriving at my door and well there we go again. Currently there are 3 little cats taking up residence, one that needed extensive surgery and will never win any beauty contests but you give them your love and they know where they are safe. To all who have lost a little of their hearts and are grieving I send my love and sympathy, the grief is so hard to bear however the care, love and attention you gave them made their lives special and happy and all they would have known is pure love. Hopefully we will meet them again at Rainbow Bridge. xxx

So sorry for your loss,I still miss my girls (3 dogs,one cat,) but it's the last kind thing we do for our pets, ensuring that their suffering does not become unbearable.

Each day on my dog walk I pass a tree stump with a little silver plaque which reads..."Our Pol.....Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard but always near, so loved so missed so very dear". Whether this is for animal or a person I don't know but I believe it to be true.?

When I lost my beloved cat Suzie two years ago. I was distraught.
Then a friend told me about "Paws To Listen" a grief support service run by the Cats Protection Charity.
When I rang they put me through to a lovely lady who was very understanding having lost a pet herself and let me cry and talk about Suzie which helped me to "let it all out". I really felt it did help.

What a wonderful poem, Gangan - it made me well up. Yes, this is what we can do for these lovely animals that share our lives and give us everything - in fact they show us how a life should be led, without spite, and in total loyalty and love.

I agree strongly with your sentiments, Mawbroon. I was told once that when a dog dies it has no possessions and the only 'will' it can leave is to hope that you will find it possible to rescue another needy dog and give it the same love. It will be the best tribute to everything that your dear Grace gave to you.

I feel for you, I can't bare the thought of losing my two cats who are 'getting on'

Your loss has brought tears to my eyes remembering the grief I felt on losing my darling Millie three 1/2 years ago. I am so very sorry for your loss and hope that time will ease the pain. I've loved all my dogs, but this particular little girl completely captured my heart, and when she died of oral cancer aged just 11 I was inconsolable! I am sorry, but as has already been said, grief is the price we pay for love.

DWBW - thank you for that post that recognises the deep pain caused by the loss of a pet. I have never felt the need for counselling, but I could do with it now.

So very, very sorry that you have lost your dear little dog - what a lovely life she had with you, although not long enough for you all. Everything you did for her was good - the cancer was NOTHING to do with you, but how wonderful she had you to care for her and get help for her when needed.

Feeling very tearful thinking of our adorable pets who have gone before - and hope everyone who has had similar losses remembers all the good times.

Love the Rainbow Bridge poem .... would love to meet our cats and dogs in such a marvellous way.

Hugs to everyone ?.

jacksmum...thats made me weep...

Yes, it does hurt like hell. I am a qualified counsellor and recently added pet bereavement training to my skills, as I realised that there just was't any support out there for those who love their animals as much as they can love human beings. They are a part of our lives, we have a routine which fits round them and, when they leave us, a huge hole appears which affects us the same as with the loss of a human being. Unfortunately, those who have never loved an animal cannot understand the bond we create, how a pet can comfort us in a our darkest moments, asking for absolutely nothing in return.

The very best of wishes, Poohbear.

So sorry to hear about your loss, they are part of our families and give us so much love. Of course her passing was non of the things you had said or previously thought. She came into your life to love and be loved and that's what you did. Sending hugs

We lost our "Meg" 3 years ago and were devastated, and in Sept 2014 we brought "Rosie" home, she is all loves, smiles and licks, and we love her so much but she will probably be our last dog. But I wanted to write this poem that I found and it did help us.
I'm here among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind.
So, do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.
My collar is a rainbow hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.
So, when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know, I wait.

Hope this helps Pooh Bear, she is with you in spirit I am sure. xxx

The very fact that you are grieving shows what lovey people you are & that you made Lilly happy. We lost our beautiful dog 2 years ago & I am still upset by it- she was 18 & the best behaved & funny dog we ever had- all our animals are rescued.
One of our cats had to be put to sleep just a couple of months ago & I am raw still- he was very special as I had to wean him when he came to us a a tiny kitten & had all sorts of problems.
If you don't grieve you shouldn't have animals.
I really feel for you but what a great life you gave her.

So sorry for your loss and I understand your grief. Over the years we have had to say good bye to four dogs and it never gets any easier, no matter what age - our last two have lived beyond 15. As time goes by,the good memories help with grief. For the last 25 years or so we have always had two dogs and having one in the house certainly helps. The 5 month old pup we have now keeps us busy too.

Know how much you are hurting pooohbear. Lost my two lovely boys within a few months of each other. They were poorly as Rescue kittens & we were told we would do well to get them to 10 years old. My Tatty Tabbie went to the Rainbow Bridge first very ill poor baby & my Ginnie Ging followed 5mths later being unable to cope alone.
Many tears later i found two Girls at a Rescue who badly needed a home. I did not think i could love the Girls as much as i do after losing the Boys. They have not taken the Boys places but for sure have made their own. They have restored the little bit of sanity i had left Lol!! Somewhere there is a little 'someone' waiting for you to love again. Till then you have your happy memories.
Sending you a big hug from me & my Girls!

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I'm sad for you and for Lily, Poobear. I do understand as we lost Molly in January. She was only 9 and had been sick lots. A visit to the vet didn't help and then at a second they did a scan and saw a mass. They took her in to check it at once. It was cancer throughout her digestive system and they phoned to ask if we wanted her brought round to say goodbye. That would have been for us and she'd have been confused and scared. She was on morphine and not in pain but we thought it better for her to say no don't bring her round so no chance to say goodbye.

We'd had her from 2 days old. Walking the 6 month old pup(also rescued) in Spain we saw a wild dog had a litter of 9. Feeding it we saw one pushed out into the cold and not going to make it. We took her home and bottle-fed every 2 hours, day and night. She grew up to be a German Shepherd cross and very loving and loyal. She took a while to make friends with people but once friends they were members of the pack.

She was very clever and easy to train, very naughty and stole the cats' (2 rescued ones) food, no matter how we barricaded it. She understood lots of language because of having been with us from so young. She loved bananas and anything we were eating . She once stole the chocolate biscuit from a toddler in it's buggy. It was holding it by the side. When we scolded her she'd lie down and look hurt. B still sees her now and then. I imagine i do.

Jacksmum, your post was lovely and made me cry.

I rescued a 3 year old Staffy called Rocky. A more gentle dog I couldn't imagine.I renamed him Lucky, because he was. At 7 years of age he refused his food and deteriorated quickly within 24 hours. He had cancer of the pancreas and I had to part with him as it was incurable. It taught me that no matter what bad reputations the breed had .... to me they are the best dogs ever. I now have another Staffy and again he is faultless too. I hope this boy lives a long and happy life.

I'm in floods of tears reading this post. My very special dog, Hugo, was killed by the recycling van 5 years ago. So stupid, every week it came into our remote yard, he knew the dogs were there, they were barking but still he managed to hit Hugo. thankfully it was instant. It still hurts unbearably and I think and miss him all the time. I visit his grave every day. I have deeply loved all my dogs, but he was a soulmate and came everywhere with me because he couldn't be left alone, joined at the hip. I now have darling Poppy who was born the day after he was killed and was unwanted. She helps but I would so like to turn the clock back. Love the idea of Rainbow Bridge, but makes me cry more.

I'm sorry poohbear, to hear of the loss of your dog, I had to to have my old boy Jack put to sleep 3 weeks ago, it broke my heart, I still think he is going to come walking through the door, I had him for 18 years, he was my wee best pal, I have another dog he's 9 months, I'm glad I have him, he's not Jack, but he's not supposed to be a replacement he's a new wee friend! Your wee dog will know she was loved, and letting her go was selfless, thinking,of you,

I feel your pain. I lost my two best friends in 2014. My two cats. I had them for 17 years since they were babies, just 6 weeks old. There isn't a day goes by where I don't think about them...I miss them very much. I cannot replace them for lots of reasons so I compensate by talking to the many neighbourhood cats where I live. My husband thinks I'm nuts but it has helped me to get over them. My friends who have lost their dogs, take other neighbours dogs out for the saturday morning walk we all go on. Its such fun with a gaggle of dogs of all shapes and sizes and they have all learned to get on with each otheer. Some are handbag size which can be a bit of a bind at times as they are not up to serious country walks, but we carry them in ...... handbags!!

I agree with Anniebach - our beloved pets do not live as long as us (and actually they suffer if we die before them!) so that is part of the deal. We have three dogs now but I will always remember those that have passed on and the special times we shared together.
It must be hard to go on without another dog/s to take up one's attention and need looking after though and I have luckily not been in that position as my son now runs the farm and two of them are also working sheepdogs. Treasure the memories and make the tough decisions in your pet's best interests.

My son had to have his dog put to sleep last week absolutely heartbreaking for everyone.