Yes, I am crying....

[BAMSS04]

... As I write this. I usually vent on myspace but it seems as though my account has been phished. So I am going to vent on here for the first time in a while.

My dog of 13 years just died. I am heartbroken. I mean I knew that she was getting old and that she might die soon, but I never thought it would happen for at least a few years. Here is an odd confession, I am crying more now, than I did when my grandmother died. This dog was a part of my life, and I loved her dearly.

I donno maybe I am a pussy. But I write this now, with tears streaming down my face. I miss my dog. I want to pet her again and hug her tight. She got me through a lot of long ,tough nights.

I miss her sooooo much it hurts.

[dtcb]

I know the feeling. Sorry to here you lost your dog.

I had to put down my dog 'Cindi' who had basically been my second mother growing up (latch key kid). She watched over my brother and I when we were kids; barking at us whenever we were doing something wrong. The dog knew. One of those smart collies. She had been with us since we were babies. So she pretty much considered us hers.

When she was too old to stand and was in a lot of pain, my dad and I brought her to the vet and I did the injection (via and IV) myself alone in the room with her. I was 14 and I watched the life go out of her eyes.

You bet your ass I cried, and fuck anyone who wouldn't.

[By-tor]

So sorry, Bams. That shit hurts. Thinking of you.

[Antonio_Bay]

Doesn't sound silly at all.

My cat, Toby - I was there when we bought him, there when he died, and for the 14 years inbetween, he never left my side. Still miss him today.

[Attardog]

Losing a pet is really hard. I have had to put two pets down relatively recently. I had to bring my cat Tully in to be put down this past Easter morning. I was hoping he was going to die "peacefully" at home, but he was suffering so much I could not stand by and let it go on any longer. I cried in the car all the way to the vets office.

He actually died with me in the room at the vets before the tech came in to do the injection. I took him home and buried him in our garden and planted some flowers over where he is. The worst part of it is that your pets are really part of your routine. I kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye in places I would expect him to be and then remember that he was gone.

I found that just letting out the emotions helps the most. Trying to be stoic just prolongs the pain. Don't be afraid to just bawl as I found I usually felt somewhat better after. It takes a while to recover but the pain does fade with time and you are able to focus more on the good memories.

Geoff

[BAMSS04]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Today was a very tough day, I am used to seeing her every morning before I make breakfast. Not today. But anyway, I am getting by. I am deciding whether or not I want to get another animal. I mean yeah I loved all the times with my dog, but I don't know if I want to go through this shit again.

It has been aweful for me.

[JK]

It'll sting for a while- maybe for a long while. Look past the loss and remember the time you had with her- cherish those memories.

[marksiwel]

This may sound heartless but... get a new dog ASAP, it fills the void, and hey its a Dog.
I see the loss of pets all the time, the new dog thing helps you heal but not forget.

[dtcb]

I'm going to have to agree. Get another pet ASAP.

For one good reason alone: Somewhere in a dog pound cage is a poor miserable animal begging to bother you for breakfast in the morning.

You're good for it.

[phit_demon]

Sorry for your loss bro.
I never had a dog. My dad thought it was cruel to keep one in a suburban house with a one-parent family, but I had a bunch of cats die on me in my life. It sucks.

[Firestone2489]

About a year ago I had to have my 12 year-old german shepherd put down. I had him since I was 5. I miss him dearly. What helped me was knowing that what we did was best and he is no longer in pain.

[By-tor]

I never had a dog. I've got 4 that range from 45 to 75 pounds. Plenty of dog for you at Thanksgiving. ;)

[By-tor]

About a year ago I had to have my 12 year-old german shepherd put down. I had him since I was 5. I miss him dearly. What helped me was knowing that what we did was best and he is no longer in pain.Yeah, but that doesn't quell any of the pain of having to do it. :(

[Antonio_Bay]

I don't like the idea of replacing pets immediately after they die. In a way, it's good to mourn, makes you remember and appreciate more what you had.

Replacing a pet who has been a member of your family for so long, I find quite disrespectful to the animal just lost, as in; 'I loved the cat so much, I'll never forgot him.....oh, well.... I've got a new one now...' I'd give it awhile, you may find yourself not wanting to go through the lose of another pet because of how much it ultimately hurts.

[By-tor]

I don't like the idea of replacing pets immediately after they die. In a way, it's good to mourn, makes you remember and appreciate more what you had.

Replacing a pet who has been a member of your family for so long, I find quite disrespectful to the animal just lost, as in; 'I loved the cat so much, I'll never forgot him.....oh, well.... I've got a new one now...' I'd give it awhile, you may find yourself not wanting to go through the lose of another pet because of how much it ultimately hurts.When I put my German Shepard\Collie down about 5 years ago, we decided to wait for a while. Then 2 months later my son brought home a pup from a litter his girlfriend's dog had. It was over. He and I have been attached at the hip ever since.

[DarthMaulRat]

My condolences. I never had a dog, but I certainly know the attatchment that comes with pets. Definitely give yourself a little time, and adopt from an animal shelter if possible. That way you're doing something to help another dog, not simply to fill a void from a previous pet.

[BAMSS04]

Well I may eventually get another dog. But for now, I am just going to morn my Missy. I have moved passed the intial "being fucked up about it" stage, and now I am just remembering her in all the good ways.

My whole family is kind of messed up about it, I mean she was a very big part of our lives. So It will be a bit before we could think about getting another dog.

At any rate, thank you all for the kind words and the advice. I am doing better about it now.

[Aaron]

I've got 4 that range from 45 to 75 pounds. Plenty of dog for you at Thanksgiving. ;)
Christ, it'll eat me alive!

Bams dude, I know the shit you're going through.
I had a cat from age 4 to 21.
Hurt like hell when she died, but as they say, better to think of the good times.

[By-tor]

Christ, it'll eat me alive!

Tasty. :D

[BizarroPunisher]

I know exactly how you feel. My cat of 14 years (and best friend for the majority of my life) passed away last December. Not long after, my dog of 12 years passed away. It hurts like hell, especially since you become so attached after seeing them daily for so long, but it'll eventually get better. Good luck, man.