The loss of a pet

cln714
cln714 Posts: 174 Member
edited September 28 in Motivation and Support
On Monday I had to put my Golden Retriever, Fletch, down. I am completely crushed. I feel like I could burst into tears at any moment.... and everytime I'm alone, I do. I'm just heartbroken.

Paying attention to eating right and exercising is totally out the window. What little energy I have is focused on just getting throught the day.

Am I nuts?? Do others take the loss of a pet this hard.
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Replies

  • rosaliabritt
    rosaliabritt Posts: 131 Member
    So sorry to hear about your wonderful pet.
    The loss of a loved one, a part of your family, whether human or animal (pet) is the same..It is a loss and the feelings that comes
    with loss are the same. It is a very emotional time. I have experienced it and seen many others go through a very difficult, emotional time. But, time does heal.
  • ♥Faerie♥
    ♥Faerie♥ Posts: 14,053 Member
    Yes......I have had one dog that was hit by a car, cried for weeks.....most recently, I had to give my dog up, well, its was almost a year and a half ago, and I still tear up when I think about her..
    It's totally normal, maybe not worry so much about exercise and such until you feel better...hope light finds you soon♥
  • LesmillsJunkie
    LesmillsJunkie Posts: 62
    Not at all. Last year I lost my little dog. She was killed by our other dog. For months I cried, and didn't care about anything. She was my heart and soul. I still miss her.
    I am sorry about your Fletch
  • PattyCrozier
    PattyCrozier Posts: 4
    I am so sorry for your loss! It is so very hard to lose a "furbaby"
    When I lost my "heart" dog Mandee in 2004, I was crushed and went into a deep depression. Even though it has been 7 years, I still miss her everyday but the pain isn't as bad and I can smile when I think of her.
    I now have a German Shepherd my son and I rescued about a month after my Mandee passed and I love her dearly. She will never take Mandee's place in my heart, but I found my heart is big enough to let others in.
  • BeLightYear
    BeLightYear Posts: 1,450 Member
    I teared up just reading your post, I am so sorry, my pets are like my kids and it does totally devastate me when I lose one:cry::cry: :cry:
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    I missed three weeks of work last year when my golden had to be put down...they're part of your family. It's okay to mourn. You're in my thoughts today <3
  • taldie01
    taldie01 Posts: 378
    When I lost my horse I didnt leave my bed room for 2 days, I was a complete mess.

    Hugs to you, I know it sounds cheesy but Im sure he is still around you
  • successthistime49
    successthistime49 Posts: 9
    I am so sorry to hear of your loss, no you are not nuts, I am the same way about my animals they are like children and family to me, also I have had a couple of friends who had to put there dogs down and they were completely crushed also, I do hope you start feeling better soon, but I do realize the empitness you must feel.
  • sars_68
    sars_68 Posts: 308 Member
    No way are you nuts!! It's natural to miss your pet - s/he was a part of your life. I can totally understand how you must feel.

    Personally, I think you need to forget worrying too much about food etc for now and give yourself time to grieve.

    I hope things get better for you but it will take time.

    Look after yourself - sending you huge hugs

    XX
  • tallen3687
    tallen3687 Posts: 244 Member
    Yes. I had to put my Cookie (dog) to sleep a few months ago. One of the hardest things I have ever done. But worse was when my precious Reba (dog) died while we were away. I couldn't get it out of my mind that her last thoughts were that we weren't there for her.
    You are normal. Grieve. But soon you will be able to think about yourself too and remember why you are doing this. So sorry for your loss.
  • sptsfan56
    sptsfan56 Posts: 3
    monday was a terrible day for me and my family, we had to put to sleep our black lab. no you are not crazy, they shared our homes and our lives and yes they are missed, dont let anyone tell you "its just a pet". the heart ache is real. our first famliy pet was also a golden retriever, what a treasure. hang in there.
  • spikess
    spikess Posts: 113 Member
    it's not nuts, it's perfectly natural and healthy, you just need to take the time you need to grieve and when you're ready you'll stop feeling so sad about your loss, and start having good memories. it all just takes time, and everyone does it differently. all you can do is what's best for you.
  • running_mom
    running_mom Posts: 204 Member
    I would do the same. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. We had to get rid of one cat because she had territory issues. And with 2 kids that's not very sanitary. But I cried like a little baby when I dropped her off. The only comfort I found was that I made sure I took her to a "no kill" place. The farm was run by a couple who rescued animals and found homes for them.

    Pets are family too! I cry just thinking of when the day comes they pass away.
  • Mustangsally1000
    Mustangsally1000 Posts: 854 Member
    I'm so sorry for your loss. No, it's not out of the ordinary to really mourn the loss of a pet. In my world, they are part of your family. The part of your family that loves you unconditionally, no questions asked. It always tears at you when you lose one. I'm so sorry.

    (((hugs)))
    Sally
  • mamapuddin17
    mamapuddin17 Posts: 108 Member
    I am very sorry for your loss. You are not nuts my dog Chase has been gone almost 2 years now and I miss him everyday. I still cry from time to time thinking of him. Someday you will get to the point where you will remmebr him and you will be able to smile agiin when you think of him.
    I hope things get better for you and remember he might be gone but he is always with you in your heart.
  • Debbiecastor
    Debbiecastor Posts: 29
    I am so glad to see I am not the only one who mourns the loss of a pet so deeply!! Yes...they are part of the family, and when they're gone, there is a void. I sure hope your pain will lessen quickly! Thinking of you!
  • Hollycat
    Hollycat Posts: 372
    So sorry to hear of your loss. Pets are family and their love is unconditional. When I think about the ones I've lost there is nothing in my memory of them that is negative, so I tend to miss them and think about them more than the people I've lost. Our Hollycat was with us for 18 years, thus my moniker. She was a delight and tho we've filled our home with 2 new rescues, our hearts will always long for her.

    Hollycat
    :brokenheart:
  • Ahzuri
    Ahzuri Posts: 272 Member
    I am so sorry for your loss, I've always taken the loss of pets very hard myself because they are like part of my family. We recently had to re-home our dog for various reasons and I was able to be strong/tough on the way to dropping him off but I cried like a little girl for the rest of the day. This was just a few weeks ago and sometimes I still expect to see him run up to the door when I come home and have almost tried to call him into our bedroom at night. It always makes me really sad when I have moments like that and I suspect it always will.
  • scaatynj
    scaatynj Posts: 51 Member
    You are NOT nuts! Pets are so much are part of our family that it is very natural to grieve their loss. I had found a website www.petloss.com that really helped me when I had to put my baby to sleep. The also have a wonderful poem about the rainbow bridge which I keep in mind whenever I feel the loss of Sparky. It's been 9 years and not a day goes by without thinking about him!
  • therobinator
    therobinator Posts: 832 Member
    No. You are not nuts. Far from it. Our (the collective "our") pets are our family, whether we have human children or not. We (the collective "we") do anything and everything we can for them. My husbasnd and I, for example, spent (not spent so much as charged to a credit card) over $6,000 last year fighting cancer in one of our cats (diagnosis, biopsy, incredibly extensive surgery, specialist doctors, oncologists, etc.). It's been almost a year and so far so good for her. And we are about to spend about $800 next week to remove a recurrent but non-malignent lump from our other cat. I feel your pain, more than you may know. I could not have imagined losing my furbaby. I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. (((hugs)))
  • 3ball
    3ball Posts: 338
    Great name, love it. Pets are definitely family. I have 2 dogs myself, including a Golden.
  • Pineapples
    Pineapples Posts: 246 Member
    My deepest sympathies. You are not crazy, I haven't lost any of my pets but I cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like when they do. :(
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    With time you will heal. I'm old enough to have lost several animals. :flowerforyou:

    It does get easier, but they will never be out of your heart. Just know your dog is not suffering anymore and that he was lucky to have lived with you in love. I know he loved you as well.

    Exercise actually helps your mood, though, so if you can get outside and walk you will find it lifts a little. He would want you to keep walking - for him. He'll be with you when you are outside. I'm sure he loved walks.
  • bluegirl10
    bluegirl10 Posts: 695 Member
    I am so sorry for your loss! I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet... They are more than pets, but rather part of our family. All I can say is that in time it will get easier... It will take awhile as I still think and miss my past dogs, but overtime the heartache gets less....Just take it one day at a time!
  • ShannonE1978
    ShannonE1978 Posts: 14 Member
    :( I am so sorry for your loss. I lost a pet very close to my heart a few days before Christmas. It was devastating but luckily I was off of work for a week because I would randomly just start crying. Sometimes I still get sad and have an ache in my heart. After the first week, I was sick of moping around because it just made me more sad and that is when I started being more active. By February, I was signed up on here and have continued to be more active and lose weight. I think you will find a point where you just don't want to sit and stare at everything that reminds you of your pet and you will just start doing more so that you won't cry as much. I wish you the best.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    No you are not!! IMO there is something wrong with people that don't mourn the loss of something that they care about and that has loved them unconditionally.
  • CooCoo
    CooCoo Posts: 14
    I am so sorry to hear of your loss! You are not nuts at all..... Pets become members of our family and their passing can effect us in the same manner as a human loss. We lost our dog last year and it was very hard to take. Just take it one day at at time and keep her/him close to your heart.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    I've lost two this year, it hurts. I'm sorry.
  • time2runnn
    time2runnn Posts: 252 Member
    Oh hon, I understand too, I don't have a dog, but my cats are my babies too. Last summer I lost my cat Cody, the 1st part of my adult family, to cancer. He was my first buddy/family/companion I had when I moved out on own. He was the coolest cat, could open doors, and acted like a dog (long story). Anyways I and my kids still miss him to this day. You obviously have a huge heart and that IS beautiful! I'm so very sorry for your loss. xx
  • summer601
    summer601 Posts: 23
    I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, losing a pet is really hard. We had our dog for 17 and a half years and when she passed away it was the worst day ever. Your pet is a big part of your life so its nomal to cry and grieve, believe me I went through days of being upset.

    Mourn your loss, and your memories of your beloved dog.

    I feel for you......
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