My doggie has passed on [Archive]

innadelab

03-14-2008, 03:57 PM

Hello!
I am new here. I am looking for someone who went through the same experience. My 11 years old Yorkie had to be put to sleep 3 weeks ago. I can't get over it. I feel like I've lost my child. I am Russian, and in my culture dogs are treated as dogs - with not much love and care, so my friends do not understand my grief. But he was, and still is, SO MUCH MORE to me. He was my little friend, devoted and loving, and I miss him terribly. Has any of you felt this way about loosing a dog? How to get over it and stop crying?

mermaid2708

03-14-2008, 04:03 PM

i am so sorry to hear of your loss. it must be heartbreaking. i know lots of the posters here will have gone through the same experience as you have recently and will be able to offer you advice and hopefully some comfort at this sad time.

blunder paws

03-14-2008, 04:09 PM

I am so sorry for your lose. I haven't had to go throuht that yet. I dread the day i lose my special friends.

innadelab

03-14-2008, 04:10 PM

Thank you very much. I do hope so. I guess I just need few words from someone who understands.
What a lovely doggie on the photo! :)

Melamaphine

03-14-2008, 04:44 PM

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It is a horrible, soul-destroying experience and you will always love and miss your lost dog. It is good to remember the happiness you had with them while they were with you, and to think of the love that you shared with them. I have loved and lost a few dogs, but I lost a springer spaniel a few years ago that was my best friend and soulmate. I thought I would never get over it, and I still miss him, they are never with us long enough.

You gave him a good life, and I am sure you made him happy and loved him. Our dogs ask for no more than this in life, so you can rest assured that you did all you could for him.

In time you will be able to get the next dog to share your life, they will never replace the old one but they will add the next little chapter of your life and you can share that bond again. Do not feel bad about mourning the loss of this dog, it is a sign of how much you cared and a measure of your love for him. x

sheltie lover

03-14-2008, 05:56 PM

So sorry for your loss, its hard when we loose a furkid.
I lost my sheltie X Max 7 years ago and still miss him to this day.
We treat ours like kids here, hope you can find some comfort through the dog forum. x

Deborah

03-14-2008, 06:07 PM

Well said again Melinda!!!

I first lost a dog 10 years ago, his name was Paddy and he was my best friend. I have tears in my eyes even now, 10 years on when i think of him. I know that when it is my time to die, he will be waiting for me. I have learned to live with it but i will ALWAYS miss him!!!
Time is a great healer. You sound like you gave him a wonderful life and i'm sure he is forever grateful. Perhaps when a little time has passed you might find room in your life for another dog, there are so many dogs out there in need of love. When i lost Paddy i got another dog about a month later, i wasn't sure i could at first because i didn't want to go through that pain again....but i'm so glad i did.
I sure your yorkie will always be watching over you with love.

innadelab

03-14-2008, 06:31 PM

I thank everyone who replied to me for your kind words. Charlie did have a wonderful life - he knew nothing but love. At the moment, taking another doggie feels like betraying his memory. Which is silly, I know. He considers himself a little person (furkid is a good word :)) and prefferes people's company to dogs company. Also, I'm going through such turmoil now, that I can't imagine to go through this again.
Deborah, thank you for mentioning that he is up there, and we shall meet. Funnily enough, this little angel has taken my discontent with the idea of death. I am so much more ok about it now, when I know that he is there and will meet me on the other side...
Thanks to all of you again!

Melamaphine

03-14-2008, 06:47 PM

You will know when the time is right to open your heart to a new dog, when you do it will not be a 'replacement' for Charlie (this can never be). Think of it more as sharing your life with your next friend, dogs are like people, we can love more than one in our lives (family, friends, partners). Each one is loved differently, some more than others, but the point is that the next dog will be a different 'furkid' (i like that term BTW!).

When Tizzy died, a bit of me died with him. 3 months later, I went to a local shelter just to look, and they had a spaniel puppy that was born the day Tizzy died. I saw it as a sign that she was the next one for me to take home, I love her dearly but it has not made me miss my Tizzy any less. Do not let the pain you feel now put you off going through it again, every ounce of that pain gives validity to the relationship you had with Charlie. And as Deborah said, he'll be waiting on the 'other side' - I have seven waiting for me already, should be quite the pack when we all get there! x

innadelab

03-14-2008, 07:01 PM

[quote=Melamaphine;203103]You will know when the time is right to open your heart to a new dog, when you do it will not be a 'replacement' for Charlie (this can never be). Think of it more as sharing your life with your next friend, dogs are like people, we can love more than one in our lives (family, friends, partners). Each one is loved differently, some more than others, but the point is that the next dog will be a different 'furkid'

Thank you, Melinda - it really helps. What a lovely thought - he can't be replaced, but I can have a next friend who I shall love differently. This sort of attachment - it is because NOBODY loves us that unconditionaly and wholeheartedly. Well, at least in my experience. I thought of taking a doggie from a shelter, there are many abandoned dogs in need love and care.
Thank you for your kind words; they mean a lot.
Ena

Draco

03-14-2008, 07:31 PM

innadelab, I can empathize. My nearly 13 year old Sheltie, Calypso was euthanized last Sunday and I am still raw with grief. She was a child to me who had been with me near half my life. You are not alone in how you feel! In fact, you are better because of it. It shows the depth of your attachment. One of the things that I have done to help me was to make an online photo memorial of Calypso sharing her life through her pictures to show everyone how wonderful of a companion she was. It brought back the happy memories, dulling the more painful ones. I know I will be mourning for a while yet. Take comfort that you are not alone.

Kolibree

03-14-2008, 08:17 PM

I also had to put a friend to sleep two weeks ago. I had rescued him from a shelter 11 years ago. He was 14 or 15, and starting to suffer. It took almost three months for me to make the final decision. I couldn't watch him in pain anymore, struggling. I had him cremated and now have his ashes in a pretty tin. He knows I loved him, and he had a wonderful life after I rescued him. I miss him more than anything, and look at his picture often. Memories, that's all we have now. Sending hugs to you..................

theK9guy

03-14-2008, 10:22 PM

Your dog wouldn't want you to feel sad, but we all know you will.

Always remember the good times you shared and take comfort in the great life you provided. And when the time's right, there will be many, many others who would love a chance to share in your life.

:(

innadelab

03-15-2008, 05:31 AM

It is a comfort to know that other people share this experience and go through the same emotions. When this pain hit me, I thought there was noone who would understand. I found this site because people around me just raised their brows and said: It was just a dog!
They are not JUST dogs! Without fear of sounding crazy I can say that they are much nicer than most of people. I used to call Charlie "a superior creature" for his amazing personality, devotion, love and unconditional trust.
The memorial is great idea. I'll do it.
Thank you again.

innadelab

03-15-2008, 05:39 AM

Hi Colibree,
I know how you felt. Charlie was paralyzed and suffered a lot. On the last night he was next to me, under the blanket because he was shaking non-stop. We both didn't sleep at all. I was cuddling him, talking to him and he looked at me and listened. I knew that letting him go was the only right thing to do.
I am with you, and I'm sending to you all my sympathy and understanding.
As one of the girls on this site assured me: When the time comes, you little dear friend will meet you there.

Janimal

03-15-2008, 12:44 PM

innadelab

03-15-2008, 04:53 PM

Thank you, Janis.
When I lost Charlie, I had a thought that if I had another doggie it would not had been such a horrendious experience. You are so right - after going through that time once, it is not possible not to dread it coming. It is great that you have three of your lovely doggies now. They are absolutely gorgeous. Enjoy each others company for as long as possible, and thank you again.

Aussiepaws

03-15-2008, 11:46 PM

So sorry to hear about your loss. Even though people might say to you that it was only a dog it is a loss of a family member and grieving that loss is very much a part of dog ownership. It's natural to feel sorrow and all the things that go with grieving a family member. It's good that you found this forum because it's important to share that grief and be able to talk about it.

I lost my beloved Zephyr almost 2-1/2 years ago. Even after that length of time there a moments when I'll think of him and tears will come. I feel your pain... as time passes it will lessen and you'll be able to remember the happy times you shared with your little furkid.

innadelab

03-16-2008, 04:10 PM

Thank you!
I am so grateful to everyone who replied to me! I turned to this site in desperation to find understanding and to see if there are people who also consider their dogs to be a family members rather than just pets. It was great relief to know that I am not alone and that my pain is understood by others who went through it. I am happy to know now that there are so many people who treat their dogs in such an excellent way. Our wonderful furkids deserve all love and care they can get, don't they? :)

Melamaphine

03-16-2008, 04:42 PM

Of course they do, I'm constantly accused of loving my dogs as much as the people in my life (and I probably do to be honest). IMO there is no creature on earth that loves so selflessly and unconditionally as a dog, and who is so grateful for everything you do for them. Mine get treated like doggy royalty and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

innadelab

03-16-2008, 08:27 PM

Good for you! :)
I probably sound a bit mad now, but the time when I loved dogs as much as people has passed. I'm afraid nowadays I prefer dogs to people :)
But seriously, they deserve the best love and care they can get from us.

RomeoOhRomeo

03-17-2008, 01:53 AM

I am so sorry for your loss. (((HUGS))))

When I was around 8-9 yrs old, my grandparents bought a Scottie named Tess. While I didn't live with my granparents, I was over there all the time and basically grew up with this dog. She had to be put to sleep when she was around 10-11 years old (I was 18ish), and I was so upset. I still miss her to this day, and it still hurts when I think about it. Time has helped with the pain, but she will never be forgotten.

((((HUGS)))))

gilly

03-17-2008, 06:44 AM

I really feel for you, but u must think that u enriched each others life and your little one had the best possible life and was happy. You must go through a period of mourning so dont worry about crying but it will pass and then you can think of him and smile through your tears. When u are ready I am a big believer in fate and one will just come along that needs you and that will be your tribute to Charlie.

Harley

03-17-2008, 10:16 AM

We had to have our Staffie Charlie put to sleep just after Christmas and I have felt nothing like the heart ache I went through.
Shortly after loosing him we went to our local dog shelter and rescued another Staffie Harley.
Its hard as we always compare the behaviour of Harley to Charlie and as Charlie was so well behaved.

Charlie will always be our number 1 even though we love Harley.

We have a photo of Charlie on our fridge and everytime we walk past it we give his little nose a rub.

I know its hard but he knows you loved him dearly.

My thoughts are with you

xx

skunkstripe

03-18-2008, 01:14 PM

Hello innadelab and http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q108/2dogmom_album/crittergraphics/welcomepawprints.gif

This is one of the hardest things we have to go through as dog owners. I can only add a few words of comfort to the kind ones you have already received. They say you can never replace the dog that is still in your heart, but you can make your heart a little bigger to accept another dog. When the time is right you will know.

innadelab

03-18-2008, 03:30 PM

It is great comfort to know that there are people who understand this kind of pain.
x x

innadelab

03-18-2008, 03:36 PM

Hello Skunkstripe,
Thank you for your kind words. I'll give it some time and I'll take a furkid from the shelter, some poor soul who needs love and care. Not ready yet, but time shall come... At the moment the only way I cope with the pain of loosing him is by knowing that one day we'll be together again.

dogforever

03-21-2008, 05:40 AM

I am so sorry for your lose. I haven't had to go throuht that yet.

Borzoi mad

03-21-2008, 05:53 AM

I know exactly how you are feeling . It is a year past on 14 March that I lost my beautiful golden Oldie Ludmilla. It does get easier with time. Try to remember all the good times, Charlie would not want you to be sad.

There are really no words that help at a time like this, but just to know that others have gone throught it and understand and care, really does help. You did the one thing you can do fir him and that was to let him go with dignity.

Run free little Charlie at the Bridge and remember you will meet him again.

and Welcome to the forum albeit at what is a sad time for you.