"everybody's got this broken feeling..."

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:35 am

"...like their father or their dog just died."

well, i've got that broken feeling because my dog was euthanized this morning. i've had him since childhood. my other childhood dog was put down in january. i'm breaking all over here....

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:41 am

T - I'm sorry to hear that. I don't have pets for that reason. I know how much they'll miss me when I "go to heaven". Seriously, I know how attached one can be to an animal. Get a new pup - immediately. It can't replace the old one, but it will love you just the same.

Linda.

Jo · Post by Jo » Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:19 am

I'm so sorry T. In my world pets are not just there for entertainment - they're members of the family and I know the devastation one feels at their loss, especially when you've lived with them for so many years. Time is all you can rely on to heal the wound - laced with lots of hugs.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:09 pm

I am sorry to hear this. It is hard to lose someone you love. How old was he?

evelyn · Post by **evelyn** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:42 pm

Sorry to hear that, T.
It's hard to lose an old friend - give yourself time to mourn.

evelyn

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:51 pm

Sorry man....I know how that goes.

Tchocolatl · Post by **Tchocolatl** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:25 pm

I'm sorry for you, T. I know this feeling, I understand very well.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:39 pm

Dear Teratogen ~

I am so sorry to hear of your devastating loss. Knowing that he was getting older and his time was coming doesn't help when that time actually comes. As Jo said, they truly are members of your family. If you're single, they're even moreso. Please give yourself time to grieve, and do not get another pet until you really feel it's time. That may be awhile. Another may enter your life, at some point and, if/when that happens, you'll know when it's right for both you and the animal. In the meantime, despite what people may say, know you have every right to be grieving, and that he was not "just a dog" and he is not "replaceable." Please take your time getting another, if you intend to do so. What was his name, what kind was he, and as Anne has asked, how old was he, and along with that, how long had you had him?

Love,
Elizabeth

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:54 pm

please tell me that some of you noticed the irony of leonards song.

Peter

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 6:01 pm

Both the irony and the truth, actually.

Wonderful thing, the poet's mind, eh?

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 7:22 pm

T sorry about your dog especially one you have known for ever. Its a horrible loss. I think most of us have been there and know the feeling. I agree with Lizzie don't go rushing out to get another dog take time to get over this one and then decide.

LaurieAK · Post by **LaurieAK** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:31 am

T~

Sorry to read about your loss.
There is no "it's just a dog meter" when it comes feeling the hole of grief left by the loss of a beloved pet. They are family members and cannot be replaced.

You will not only miss your dogs, you will miss that unconditional love you got from them and how good reciprocating that love made you feel...when that time comes you will decide the pain of loss is worth putting your heart out there again and adopting another pet. You will always miss them, but never having had them in your life is a dismal alternative, yes?

Take care.
Hugz,
L

Tchocolatl · Post by **Tchocolatl** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:47 am

Anne, if you write more often, in the long run, I'm afraid I would just have nothing to write anymore, but "you are so right"

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:39 am

well... his name was jake. my sister and i got him when she was 3, i was 5. then a while later we got a second dog, her name was kelly. they were both lab mixes, so i am not too sure what breed either of them were. i'll just say kelly was a very short, black dog, with white around her nose and her tail was fluffier than the rest of her body. jake grew to be a big dog, about 60 pounds, and he was white. of course, both of them were neutered however. we had to put kelly down in january of last year because she suddenly fell ill. quite a few things happened to her internally and i don't feel like going into details. all i know is that she was in pain, and even when she was in pain she still gave unconditional love. that's one thing i hated about seeing her go was that no matter what kind of mood i was in, happy or sad, angry, bored, whatever, if i came near her she'd run to me, wagging her tail, licking my shoes, pants, hands, whatever, it didn't matter to her. also, when she was put down i felt this incredible guilt and sadness for jake, because after being with kelly for 13 years he had to be alone. my father said dogs his size usually live to be 10-12 years old, and jake was 16. it began happening to him quickly, too. chronic arthritis. just couldn't stand anymore. the worst part was that when i was trying to say goodbye to him he looked so scared, and i kept saying to him, "don't be afraid... don't be afraid, i love you, i'm gonna miss you... don't be afraid." i could see through my blurred vision of tears and pity as he lifted his head to look at me and tried to extend his paw towards me while he was lying in the back of the car, ready to be taken to the vet. he lasted about 16 months without kelly and my dad was kind of surprised by that, but he was saying how he thought jake wouldn't make it through the year. we still have a dog and a cat, but they are owned by my stepmother, and honestly, this is one of the most stupidest dogs i've ever known. jake was pretty docile, but he was smart, and kelly was just fun-loving and free-spirited. this other dog is a lost cause. and the cat, well, first of all, i'm allergic to most cats, and second, this one hates me. if it sees me, it goes off running. i don't think i'd ever feel right getting any other pets. those two dogs were like the last living remnants of my childhood, and now they are dead, and i feel so empty.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:37 am

Oh, T -

I feel so badly for you. I can't say much more than that.

Take care,
Linda.