10 replies to this topic

[(philip)]

So my dog died a fortnight ago. He's 13, I've had him since he's 8 weeks old. I feel completely aimless without him. Stupid I know, and yeah to some I am sure he's only a dog, to me he's been probably the most reliable consistent presence for over a quarter of my life.

 

I don't want to go out, don't want to be in the house because I keep thinking I see him out the corner of my eye. So working all the hours I can get away with and trying to distract myself. Had to pick his ashes up yesterday. So here he is in a box. I don't know what to do with it. Being really grumpy with people, more so than usual anyway!

 

Driving me nuts, can't sleep properly. Miss him like hell. 

 

I know I am feeling sorry for myself and should snap out of it.

 

Some daft bint reversing into my mini hasn't helped. 

 

*sigh*

 

 

 

 

 

 

[humph]

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. Losing a pet is devastating, people without them really don't understand. My wife's last cat was 22 when she died, and had been with her over half her life, it's tough.  

 

I can only advise from our experience. I think my best advice would be, get yourself down your local dogs trust and look out for a rescue dog that's desperate for someone to give them as much love as you gave the fella above.  I know that sounds a bit callous, but from experience it works best. We did some volunteering down out our Dogs Trust, taking the dogs for walks, and I found it difficult to leave without one every week. Maybe do this for a while until your ready for a new friend.

 

Ashes wise go spread them somewhere you enjoyed walking with him, having them around really wouldn't help me if I'm honest. Get some photos up around the place, that one above is lovely.  Good luck.

[RedRuby]

Sorry to hear of your loss and no you are not being daft. We are cat people and lost our ginger girl back in June, she was 14. We also have a black and white male cat who is 18 and not in the best of health, kidney failure and problems with his sight. They are part of our family and besides the great joy they give us they also cause us so much heartache when we lose them or they are ill. Can't say it gets better you just carry on and they occupy a little space in your thoughts when they have gone but it still hurts and takes time to get back on something resembling an even keel.

[(philip)]

Hmm People keep suggesting getting another dog but I can't even think of it. Not yet anyway. I feel guilty even petting another dog, like I'm betraying Gelert. He would be so jealous! I am sure I will in time but for now I need to come to terms with him not being here. 

 

I've bought one of those digital frames, it randomly picks out one of about 300 pictures every couple of minutes. Yeah it's nice seeing them. To be honest I feel like he has just gone away for a bit and will be back soon! His bowl and bed are still here waiting for him.

 

I did take all his food (He was on some special prescription only dog food for the last couple of weeks before he died) to the Blue Cross centre but couldn't bring myself to go any further than reception.

[Tamworthbay]

You will know when you are ready, we lost our basset x whippet (yup you read it right) three months ago. She was 16 and had been ill for a while. Her ashes are sat on the bookcase but will go under a rose in the garden in spring, that way we always remember them. Last Sunday a 9 week old torty kitten came to us and has been going mad. It's wonderful. They never replace the loss but it's always nice to give a home to another one in need. We have had three dogs and eight cats in twenty years. One dog and four cats are still with us, I couldn't be without them.

[Carlos W]

Our cats are a big part of our family. They recognise our cars and wait at the top of the stairs for us.

 

Oscar is sat on my knee now!

[(philip)]

Love cats, especially their eat/sleep/superior ethic is something I admire. 

 

Sadly they make me itch like hell..! If I touch one my wrists and arms go red and itch like feckety! 

 

I'm definitely a dog person, if I didn;t have a dog I would be about 4 stone heavier!

[Tamworthbay]

Love cats, especially their eat/sleep/superior ethic is something I admire. 
 
Sadly they make me itch like hell..! If I touch one my wrists and arms go red and itch like feckety! 
 
I'm definitely a dog person, if I didn;t have a dog I would be about 4 stone heavier!

that's the great thing about dogs. Our spaniel is better than a Hoover and was a godsend when our daughter was growing up - he sat under her high chair and caught most of the stuff that flew in his direction.

Give it time, and as said above head to the dogs trust, there are a lot of dogs that have had a rough time and would love a second chance.

[RedRuby]

Agree with you the thought of getting another cat when our Mitzi died was a definite no, probably would have harangued anyone who even suggested it, however, our vets phoned us about a month later and said they had a young female ginger queen who had had a bad life and was at the RSPCA pound ( didn't tell us at the time that she would be euthanised in about a week ) went to see her and needless to say she is at home with us now and what a delight she is. She is different to Mitzi and will never replace her but she is helping us to deal with the loss. It was meant to be and something similar will happen with you, it will never replace your lost dog but will in different ways add to your life.

[sonikk4]

Its a painful process as it is like loosing a member of the family. We were all like that when our old Tom died just after his eighteenth birthday. That really cut me up i have to say so i know how you feel. 

 

It does subside over time (they do say time is a great healer) and eventually we did get another cat (Ouzo) who is as mad as a brush. She had 6 kittens and we kept two, a Tom (Pernod) and the runt of the litter a little female (Sambucca) and would not be without them now. All totally different although Ouzo is mine.

 

It maybe is too early to consider another Puppy but give it time and you will know when you are ready.

[Black.Ghost]

My partner had to leave her dog behind in Colombia when she came to live in England. That was quite upsetting for her, but she passed away last year and she still cries sometimes now. We have a couple of pictures up around the house.

I'd like to get a dog, a puppy from a rescue home or something. We live in rented accommodation so it would cost us a bit more to sort out but she still doesn't want a new dog as she doesn't want to go through the pain of losing one again. I'm still trying to persuade her that it's worth it. I might suggest helping out at the local rescue home and then she will fall in love with one of them!