my dying best friend...

[happyascanbe]

so our 16 year old dog is about to die. and like i'm really sad because he was a family friend and we all loved him. it won't be the same without him...i just can't believe this would happen anytime soon he was so energetic six months ago...now he can barely breath...we bury our dogs and idk how long i'll be able to take it...:(

[Iron Man]

I have gone through the death of a loved animal many times. My advice to you is remember the good times that you had with him. Try to make him happy before he passes, to give you closure.

[Katrina]

It always seems unfair, that a dog's or cat's life is so much shorter than our own lifespan. Talking about your best friend ; telling stories about him...sharing your love for him...that will help some. Time is the healer here...you'll always remember him, and the actual pain will lessen as time goes by.
As for getting another dog...everyone has their own timing for diving into another puppy. This is something I know from experience...don't wait a LONG time. Getting another pup wouldn't be replacing your dog...you know that can't be done...BUT, a youngster keeps a person so busy...house training, learning the ropes of his new master, general obedience...all VERY time consuming things. Having a new baby keeps us busy with less time to dwell on our grief...and they DO fill the hole that's been left in your heart...
You will get through this, but that doesn't make it less painful.

[Sith Lord 13]

My family got its first dog when I was 11 months old. She died when I was 14. I was a wreck for months. The biggest question to me was always why. Why do we have to outlive them? Why are their lives so short and ours so long? This was the best answer I could find:

"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?
Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long. "

It always hurts to lose someone you love. Dogs offer the purest form of love. They don't want anything in return. All they want is to be by your side. My only advice is to not mourn their death but celebrate their life. Remember the fun times you had together. I would recommend adopting another dog as soon as possible, not to replace your dog, but in his memory. Take your dog's passing as an opportunity to save another dog from being put to sleep because of overcrowding in shelters.

We have a memorial for my dog in our house, and included in that is the following poem. I hope it can help you as much as it has me.


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

[Jenna.]

That's terrible, I'm really sorry. :[ I hate it when pets die, it's absolutely horrible. They don't ask for anything from you and they love you no matter what you look like or who you are. I've had to deal with many pets dying but that doesn't make it easier. I'm always a mess for a while afterwards. When 1 of my dogs died a few yrs ago, she was pretty much an adopted mother to our puppy at the time, and the puppy became so depressed after the death, we thought she would die too. She wouldn't eat or do anything, and I'd just sit there and hold her. It hurt me to see her like that and it hurt me even more that my other dog had just died. I know it probably doesn't help right now, but I do know how you feel. =( But your dog lived to be 16? That's a nice long life for a dog, at least he's dying with you guys, where he can be happy and relaxed.

[CuriousDestruction]

i am so sorry. i've lost a dog before and it is painful. i do not consider animals as pets, rather, siblings with paws and fur. the loss of one so old and close to you must be horrible. you have my sympathies.

[Kaya]

im sorry to here. if you would like to talk about it feel free to PM me

[charchilp]

the death of a loved animal many times. My advice to you is remember the good times that you had with him.

[Wtficus]

You only get stronger after every death, even though it is a pet. You're allowed to cry, you're allowed to be down for awhile, but don't let it effect you for the rest of your life.

[happyascanbe]

Well He Finnaly Passed Last Sunday. :'(

[Sith Lord 13]

I'm sorry to hear that. I know it's tough. You have my sympathies.

If you need, my PM box is always open.

[BUENA]

I really sorry to hear about your loss. I know how it feels, i have been under the same circumstances. You have my empathy.

[steve1234]

I have had family pets pass away in the past when I was young, and it was horrible. My dog now is about 3 years old, and I am 18. He is basically my best friend. If I have had a bad day at college etc, I come home and he is there wagging his tail wanting a game, and it cheers me up so much.
I am going to university soon, so that will be pretty hard, and also I don't know what i'm going to do when he passes on :/.
Thats life I suppose and the downside of owning an animal...their short life span.

happyascanbe, Im sorry to hear about your loss. :(

[Jess]

I'm sorry about your loss :(

[My_Toes_Are_Cold]

Whoever says animals aren't human should be shot in the face.

I remember Sammy. He was an American Eskimo. I remember the day my sister went and got him for her birthday. I remember when he got neutered and had that awful cone on his head... he hated that fucking thing. I remember how Sammy loved ham and would come barreling into the kitchen whenever someone uttered the word. I remembered how he figured out that we would say "ham" just to get his attention and that eventually didn't work. I remember walking him when no one wanted to. I remember cuddling him. I always talked to Sammy and he tended to understand me; or, at least, he reacted in a way that made me believe he understood me. I remember how he was an escape artist in his younger days but would just laze and sleep about in his elder years. I remember how he died around Christmas. My family has Sammy's ashes and I miss him profusely.

However, Sammy lived a full life for an American Eskimo. Death is a morbid and depressing thing, but only because humans find it so. When someone dies, I ignore the tragedy of the situation and supplement it with quips about how great that person's life was. While that is my own defense mechanism to death, I suggest you employ it: think about all the good times. Don't think about how depressing it is that you lost a friend; instead I urge you to remember all the good times you had and appreciate the fact that a creature existed to influence your life so much and make you happy when nothing else could. I know Sammy was able to make me happy when I wanted everyone else to do.

I may just be over-analyzing things, too.