Coping with the death of a dog

[DreadMan]

My dog recently died, and I have had trouble keeping a lid over my emotions. Does anybody who has lost a pet have any suggestions?

 

[basin79]

My dog recently died, and I have had trouble keeping a lid over my emotions. Does anybody who has lost a pet have any suggestions?

So, so sorry for your loss. For me losing a best mate was the worst feeling I've ever had.

There's no right or wrong way to handle grief. No time limit. No words.

I will type this though. It absolutely DOES get easier. And eventually you will be able to think of your best mate and smile instead of cry.

I did things differently when I lost my last best mate compared to the first. I got a puppy quick. I actually texted the couple who I got Samson from, my previous best mate both on the day of his death and a few days later.

I told them I was feeling guilty about wanting a new best mate so soon. But for me life isn't living when you're not sharing it with a dog. I do have Pandora the Senegal parrot who I love too but it's not the same. She was brilliant though and really was a rock. She was mourning too. They told me if the roles were reversed would I want Samson to go to a new loving home and be happy? Of course no brainer. So that made up my mind.

Don't get me wrong though. Even with Typhon, my new best mate I'd still cry over Samson. But having Typhon with me was brilliant.

Now of course you aren't me. You might not want a new best mate yet or again.

Just let yourself work it out. Cry when you need to. That will help. Also try and understand it's normal to feel this hurt and in pain. And by that I mean the process.

 

[Baby T]

So sorry for your loss... I still think about and have pictures of my best mates around the house.
Agreed with basin79 it does get easier. You remember more of the good times than the grief you feel right now.
Absolutely have a god damn cry and give yourself time. It sucks.
I hope you had a long, amazing, fun filled time together...

 

[Malum Argenteum]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

My suggestion, for what it's worth, is to find time here and there when you don't need to keep a lid on your emotions. Absolutely don't inflict your pain on your family, or friends, or workplace, or random strangers, or on yourself. Do, though, make time to get it out in whatever safe way works for you, and take all the time you need. It might take a week, might take a year, just give it its own space to work when no one else is going to get tangled up in it. If you need to take some time away from family, work, whatever, try to do that but without doing any collateral damage.

It is supposed to be painful, but don't hurt others, and don't hurt yourself.

 

[Thane1616]

Im sorry for your loss. My opinion is you do not have to keep a lid on your emotions and that is probably one of the worst things you can do. Nothing wrong with mourning the loss in your own time, at your own pace. When I lost my little buddy I cried like a baby for weeks if not months. Talk to close friends and family about it, showing emotion and grieving is completely ok and normal.

 

[jc55]

I am sorry for your loss and can relate to the feelings you are experiencing as i have gone through the same thing. It tore me up for a long time as i had raised mine from a puppy and the hurt was horrible and i was not going to get another dog until i got over the feeling of loss i was experiencing no matter how long that took.I was at work a week later and my partner had some family that had a dog they were going to abandon because they were being forced to move(basically scum bags) and i was pissed when i heard of their plans to do so.I asked him to bring me to their house so i could see the dog and found out it was being kept outside on a four foot chain,barely fed and no attention what so ever so i loaded the dog into my work van and took it home.It turned out the dog rescued me as much as i rescued it because it made me realize there was nothing wrong with getting another dog so soon and actually helped me to get over the loss of my best friend but not forget him.It does get better in time but you have to deal with it the best way that works for you and again,very sorry for your loss.

 

[viper69]

My dog recently died, and I have had trouble keeping a lid over my emotions. Does anybody who has lost a pet have any suggestions?

Had that happen to me - grief is different for everyone.

 

[tamra]

So sorry to hear this. My dog is my constant companion. I've lost several cats over the years (some of old age, though I take in animals with health issues so sometimes they have shorter lives). It's just crushingly painful every time. As said above, there is no quick fix. I honestly believe losing a pet can have a larger day-to-day impact on you than losing a relative who does not live with you because you notice the absence of the pet in everything you do. Time is the only way through it, but I find it's helpful to know others understand that it really is a huge tangible loss and you have every right to fully grieve. Peace to you.