Do you ever feel that you will be overly upset when your dog passes?

[J's crew]

But for all the agony I expect I will feel when Meg does pass, it could never outweigh what I get from spending a single day with her.

That is how I feel also. The pain is horrendous and I know that especially when Lucy goes I won't know how to continue without her.

It is something I think about from time to time. 3 of my animals are older, 2 younger. I cannot imagine ever just having one dog and one cat but most likely won't get any more until I am in that situation.

 

[CaliTerp07]

She said her husband could never understand why people allow themselves to have pets and get so attached to them, when you can be almost certain you will outlive them.

My aunt has said this on many occasions. It's such a dreary statement

 

[mrose_s]

Sophies the first animal of ours I;ve really seen get old. When I was born we had to quite old dogs, so when they passed ( i was very young, about 6 or 7 I think) I kinda knew it was coming. We lost all three of our dog s(including my mums 4 yr old heart dog) in the same couple of years. If that happened to me now I don't know what I'd do..

Then my sister lost her heart dog unexpectedly at 8 years, that was tragic for us and a complete shock. I went to school the next day, it was easier to go and ditract myself then to sit at home and think about it. It was awful and I still miss her but when I lost Panda it was so much worse. I barely left the house for a week when my mum decided it was time that I got out and made me. I'm so glad I had Buster though, I would have been a total mess if not for him.

 

[Laurelin]

My aunt has said this on many occasions. It's such a dreary statement

My room mate said something along the lines of that when Harry passed. I just can't help but despair at what she's missing with her animals. I am not sorry at all for my bond with each and every dog I've ever had. All have been very close to me and each one still holds a special place in my heart.

 

[sparks19]

Of course....

We lost Teddy a year and a half ago and I'm STILL not over it.

heck when I was 18 I had my guinea pig put to sleep and I BAWLED my eyes out.

 

[ihartgonzo]

I don't know what I will do without Gonzo...

I love Fozzie to pieces, but just the thought of Gonzo not being here makes me feel sick. He has been such a permanent fixture in my life, basically since I can remember (well... 13), and he is so deeply attached to me and me to him. But, beyond having him for so long, he is incredibly loyal to me. I know he has lived his entire life just wanting to make me happy, and when he passes away, I know he won't want to leave me. I don't know if I'll "lose it", but I will definitely be very, very sad.

You feel very special to be loved by a dog like this. My close friends have told me that when Gonzo passes away, even if we aren't still friends, they want me to tell them.

 

[jess2416]

I suspect that I will hysterical, frankly.

I expect I will have a full-fledged meltdown. But for all the agony I expect I will feel when Meg does pass, it could never outweigh what I get from spending a single day with her.

Exactly how I feel too...

Chloe has been with me her whole life since she was 8 weeks old and she will be 3 this year, and I start tearing up everytime I think about it, (there I go-tearing up now) but I honestly dont know what I'll do...

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Its only been a little over 3 months since Brad was PTS for liver cancer, he was 10 years old. I can't even look at pictures of him without crying. I had him since I was a kid. He was mainly my brother's dog for most of his life, but the past year before he died he spent a lot of time with me. It was really hard for my mom.

Zen passed away in May, and he passed away when he was a puppy. He was only 4 months old..and I had him a little over 2 months. I was miserable after he died...my friend asked me why I seemed more upset when he died, then when Brad died..and its probably due to his age. And maybe cause they passed within months of each other. I was grieving for both, and I still am.

Then when I was 9 (We got Brad soon after this happened), we lost 3 dogs in one month. Our toy poodle, who my mom had since before i was born, was killed by a husky mix we had found. My mom was devastated...For years she only had that one dog. I was upset too, but I don't remember him much nowadays. We thought it was an accident, so we didn't do anything with Heidi the husky mix. Then she killed another dog of ours (Emily, who was the poodle's daughter). And then we had to have her PTS. Even though she killed two of our dogs, it was still really hard for us. My mom had to have someone else drive us to our vets cause she was too upset. And we were crying and telling Heidi we were sorry..That was one of the hardest moments in my life. And then deciding to have Brad PTS so he didn't have to suffer was another hard moment, but we did it for him!

When my baby Harry dies...I don't know what I will do. Hes 12, going strong..very healthy, but I don't think I will be able to do anything for months afterwards. I have had him since i was 7, we got him a few months after my dad died. He is my baby, and always has been. He is my heart dog.

 

[elegy]

yes.

i cried for days and days when i put harv to sleep four months ago. i loved him tremendously, but not the way i love luce. sometimes when i'm having a bad night anyway, i start thinking about her dying, and it makes me cry and cry. i've never had a relationship with a dog like the one i have with luce.

 

[bubbatd]

Please don't cry over what will happen . Enjoy today and hope that there is a tomorrow. You all know that the time will come someday , and there's nothing that you can do . I think when it's so unexpected ( as in Spark's case and mine ) it hits harder because you are so unprepared . Many years ago I read an article on how to cope . It said to write down the ages of those close to you and how old they'd be in ten years . What an eye opener !!!! Three of my dogs would be gone , my kids on their own , many relatives elderly etc . I don't dare do it anymore ..... too depressing !

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

As Traveler gets older, I know we will be faced with the inevitable--last year I thought we were going to lose her (thank goodness we didn't). but that episode made me realize how difficult it will be--she has been such a big part of our lives, she has grown up with my children--I know I will be a mess when the time comes. So until then, I just love her.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I'm actually not sure how to answer the OP's question. Overly upset? Someone define that for me? What one considers being overly upset may be what breaks another person in half. So I can't really answer that specific part.

That being said. Each of my dogs has a spot in my heart. There is no doubt that when they pass from this world, they will take that part of my heart with them. Especially Buddy. He is my heart dog, through and through. My dogs, all of them, complete my family. There is no way I can lose a member of my family and not grieve tremendously. The mere thought of losing Buddy one day sends me into hysterics. Sometimes I'll just wrap my arms around him and never let go for long periods of time, I don't ever want to forget what it's like.

Though, some grieve differently, too. I can't pass any judgement or make any calls on how any one person copes with losing a loved one- furry or not.

 

[Tahla9999]

I am going through it now and it is just so painful.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

My heart and thoughts go out to each of you who is still mourning a loss. I thought I would die when my dog died on Nov 11 2001 at 15:15.

Something left my soul when she died. If not for my family and my then bf now husband, I'm not sure I would have lived through it.

I still grieve her every single day. I know that she is out there somewhere waiting on me. I have had and loved a lot of dogs. None of them took myself with them when they died like she did.

i love you my Roxy smurfa purfa girl.

 

[drmom777]

My beautiful big hound is only 2 and a half, and in perfect condition. I just can't imagine a better dog for me than Uncle Fred. The problem is that no one can tell me how much his life will be shortened by what happened to him when he was a baby. I mean, he was sick and hooribly malnourished for his first nine months. Bad enough that it has taken a year and a half for his digestive system to mostly recover. My vet has no idea of the long term ramifications. What if he loses half his life span or something.... what if he is more prone to cancer, heart problems, all kinds of things because someone tortured him? I want him to live to be 20, but am afraid I could lose him early, and I can assure you I will not take it well.

 

[Dakotah]

I lost my very first dog before he was 6 months old, and I was about 10 years old. He was a black lab named Turner. I knew it was coming but I was so sad and cried like a baby.
When my hamster, Buddy, died a few years I was a mess beyond reason.

 

[bubbatd]

I didn't have my Chaz family when I lost my Bubba ....I did when I lost Chip and you all helped . When Bubba died I wrote everyone close to me ....few knew my sorrow . Here we understand , and it helps to share .

 

[joce]

My beagle Ginger passed months ago and I still haven't been able to bring myself to talk about it. I have a hard time going into the vets office. I was taking her there so much in the end and it was never good news. I miss her horribly.

But I just keep telling myself she had a long happy life. I had fifteen years with her-I shouldn't complain.

But even now writing this I'm crying.

Its hard but you move on-everyone grieves differently.

 

[smkie]

As Traveler gets older, I know we will be faced with the inevitable--last year I thought we were going to lose her (thank goodness we didn't). but that episode made me realize how difficult it will be--she has been such a big part of our lives, she has grown up with my children--I know I will be a mess when the time comes. So until then, I just love her.

YOu and me both. Mary had a very mild spell of pancreatitis again last week. I caught it way early and yanked all food and water, slipped her an antibiotic and prayed like crazy that it would work. I was never so happy to see a firm bowel movement the next morning. I know we are living on borrowed time. LIke Traveler, Mary has been with the children since they were small, i can't imagine going to the bus stop with out her with my grandgirl now. I can't believe she is still with me for her second generation. I know she is going to leave soon and i will be a basket case. Everyone says "well at least she will have lived a good long life, it will be easier to let her go." No it won't. I know it will hurt like hell and i will feel like a piece of my soul will be torn away. I know what is coming. THat is why i try so hard to appriciate what we have today. SEeing her Play, and gallop on her old twisted toes with her tail wagging for all it's worth two days ago just made my heart skip a beat in happiness. I have tried so hard to give her the very best summer possible. But it won't change how much i know it is going to hurt when she leaves me. All i do know is that time will pass. IT always does no matter if i want it to or not.

I came to Chazhound originally when her son Bronki passed. No one in my family could really talk to me about it, they avoided the subject afraid they would start me crying again. WHat they didn't know was that i needed to talk about him. This place gave me that outlet and the kind words of the members here helped a great deal.

Joce..I am so sorry. (((((((((((((((((((HUGS and HUGS and HUGS))))))))))))))))

 

[Whisper]

If someone tries to tell me I'm being "overly upset" when I lose my best friend, my service dog, my heart dog. . .well, they would need to get the hell away from me for quite some time.
I'm scared -terrified- of losing my dogs. They are both precious, special, loving, and I love them so much it hurts. However, I'm even more scared of losing Millie. I really think I'll lose it when she dies. She is quite literally my best friend. We're almost never apart. She's saved my life and without her I wouldn't be here today. Our souls are intertwined more deeply than with any other dog I've had. A part of me with be taken and will never return when she's gone. It doesn't undermine the love I have for Lucy, because Lucy is so special to me. Only one with a heart dog will understand how deeply you can love all your dogs, but that there's something special about that one. . .
I'm crying just thinking about not having them in my life.