losing a pet

Anya he is gorgeous- is he head of the household?

middleagespread whether it is a cat or a dog, it is a much loved pet and the hurt never leaves.

My cat Tara like me, is knocking on a bit and I dread the day that she dies. Of course I may beat her to it but I have made arrangements if that happens but I must do it more formally so that everybody is aware of what is happening.

Yes Charley he probably is.

The best thought we can have when we lose a loved pet is that they had 'a good life'

My gorgeous cuddly Border Terrier Sam died 3 weeks ago aged 13 and 11 months. One minute he was fine and then vomiting and panting. I never knew that panting in a dog can be a sign that they are in pain!.
We collected his ashes (in a casket) today and were shocked at the bill we had to pay £350. This included the excess and the cost of putting him to sleep.
Surely this can't be right as there are a lot of people who simply couldn't effort to pay this amount. I'm thinking of scattering his ashes around his favourite walks in the woods and I'm sure an awful lot of people would like to do this if they were able to have their lovely pet cremated. The actual cost of the cremation was £150. My husband thought that I would like to keep him on a shelf in the kitchen along with our other 2 pets but I'm not sure. I will wait a while and see!!.
To Anya, Sam too went deaf about a year ago and we think our other BB were his ears for him as there is a lot less barking!!.
I don't think I will ever stop crying as I miss him so much it hurts. He just loved to be stroked and I miss that even though I have A by my side right now. A is a very placid dog and will not walk in the woods without Sam his protector,Sam who was in your face all the time.

I do know what Middleaged is going through and if I were her I would get another dog if she is still fit and healthy and can take it out for walks every day and can share it with family.

Gemmag sorry for your loss, but your dear chap seemed to have been a good age and to have had a wonderful life with you. I expect your other dog (A?) must miss him too.

It is so very hard when they go, but it is the price we pay for having them.

My newish boss has got a lovely (now 8 or 9 months) labrador bitch, supposedly to make it a bit easier when his elderly labrador B shuffles off this mortal coil, but I know from experience it doesn't quite work like that.

Yes, it's better to have a dog/cat than no dog/cat, but you still miss the individual

Gemmag so, so sorry. Don't be afraid to cry for Sam x

I still shed tears for my best ever companion and protector who died four years ago. It's right to feel that way about them.

Sorry you've lost Sam, Gemmag

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that *middleagedspread' I had a thread last year

The first day without cat in the house.

I got so many comforting posts but losing my beloved Jasper almost broke my heart because he was the last cat for me and it has remained so.
Cats live to be 16+ and we don't have that many active years ahead of us. It was the right decision. Sometimes being an animal lover is very hard.
Soon after that DD1s dog died and that was a double blow. There again their house is empty every week day and she says whe won't have dog until she is retired.

If you feel stable enough to do some dogsitting then that is a good idea as long as you give yourself time to grieve properly for your beloved collie.
all the best.....

Middleagedspread - very sorry to hear about losing your collie, it's hard to imagine that one week they're running around as usual and the next, very poorly.
We have a border collie too, she's 13 now and I dread losing her. She even talks to us! not joking she has several different vocalisations. Also herds the grandchildren.
The pet dog of my friend here had to be put to sleep a few weeks ago, cancer of the throat, and she said never another dog, I'm too old. But a black lab. puppy has come their way and she's becoming attached, so I think it's permanent

We lost our beloved Abby in May, our 3rd Great Dane. and 2nd rescue. She was handed in to Aberdeen dog pound early in 2006, and we drove from SW London to Glasgow to get her some 4 months after we lost our previous girl Millie. We chose her because she looked like a smaller version of Millie who was Very Big even for a Dane. They were all fantastic dogs, but Abby was amazing, she didn't know how to chase anything, loved all dogs and people, so gentle that cats would come and say hello to her. My DH is a retired vet and has put all our dogs to sleep, which was very hard for him to do. All the gcs miss her. I can't think about getting another yet, we are both getting on, and it does free one up to make last minute plans. We'll see ........

So sorry grannysyb

I know someone who is on their second Great Dane and they are lovely animals. I'm sure Abby had a wonderful life with you, and your DH did what had to be done at the right time, hard though that must have been

It's so pity to loose a pet moreover when it is a part of your family(

We lost our beloved spaniel about 18 months ago and swore that we'd never have another dog , we're too old, too sad etc. Well 14.months later, another spaniel came into our lives! She was 9 weeks!!! Yes she has been hard work, but she's 7 months now and has brought us so much joy and love that we both have a new lease of life!!! One thing though, our son has promised to have her if the worse happens, which is a sort of insurance bearing mind our age, 70's!!!!

I live on my own and my cat who had been my friend for 17 years became very ill and had to be put to sleep. I live on a state pension and the cost of treatment and then cremation was over £300, it was/is a real struggle but I owed her so much.

A sad loss - sending love to you x

Thank you x

So sorry to read this grannylyn

So sad when this happens, grannylyn.

And I can't make up my mind whether to get another one :/

Why not visit your local animal sanctuary or Cat Protection League place and just have a little look at what needs a 'forever home'?

Yes we have one near, it is percolating in my mind

I looked on the 3 of the local Cats Protection websites, and there was one cat that just seemed to jump out at me!

I still miss my previous ones, but wouldn't be without the 2 that I have now, both from CP.

Our Mia came from CP, as did poor Pepper, until then I`d never considered going to a sanctuary, now I`d always go that route.

((hugs)) to all of you who've lost loved companions. We decided not to have another pet when our last dog died, although we've come close occasionally!

Can I suggest (if no one has already and I've not noticed) if you're not sure about wanting to own another dog or cat, looking at the Cinnamon Trust? We weren't able to take on my mums dog (she's afraid of children) and the Cinnamon Trust found her a fantastic new permanent foster home. They're looking for short and long term dog walkers, short term fostering (while an owner is ill), and long term permanent fostering, mainly for dogs and cats but other animals as well sometimes.

I have just come back from holding Ellie's paw as she slipped away gently ...I cannot even start to explain how I feel ....R.I.P Ellie we had to make THAT decision today we are incredibly

Poor you, downtoearth. It's horrible, horrible, horrible.