Struggling With Losing A Pet

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Sometimes, it feels like it’s so hard to hold on to childhood memories. You can find them in old photos, some of your old things. If you’re like me and your parents have moved out of your childhood home and you don’t really have any childhood friends – then you may feel those memories slip even faster.

One of the last real reminder of my childhood was my dog. She passed away recently and I took it a lot harder than I thought I was going to. When I went through all my photos of her, I found so many from her in my childhood home and when I was a kid. She always reminded me of home, so it was really hard to come to terms with letting go of her.

Losing a pet is just like losing a family member. And not like your great aunt, but a brother or a sister. A friend.

They get so old and you know it’s their time to go – but how do you let go of your best friend? I think we all need to drop what we’re doing and collectively come up with a way to make dogs live forever because we need that kind of love on this earth.

There’s a level of guilt that comes with losing a pet, too. Did I see them enough? Did I try my best to save them? Was the last belly rub I gave a good enough one?

Just with any family member, you just have to trust that they knew that loved them. You just have to trust that they were as happy as they could be and you gave them a good life. Because I know for a fact that even though my dog was a huge pain in the ass, she was the best thing to come out of my childhood.

25 thoughts on “Struggling With Losing A Pet”

  2. Jim Willis wrote a poem, called “I Love You Best” about losing his dog that always made me feel better when I lost a pet.

    “So this is where we part, My Friend,
    and you’ll run on, around the bend,
    gone from sight, but not from mind,
    new pleasures there you’ll surely find.

    I will go on, I’ll find the strength,
    life measures quality, not its length.
    One long embrace before you leave,
    share one last look, before I grieve.

    There are others, that much is true,
    but they be they, and they aren’t you.
    And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
    will remember well all you’ve taught.

    Your place I’ll hold, you will be missed,
    the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
    And as you journey to your final rest,
    take with you this…I loved you best.”

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  3. I am so sorry for your loss. My sister’s dog, who was in the family for the past 12 years, had to be put down on Christmas Eve. It was really hard. Losing a pet is incredibly difficult because they really do become a part of the family.

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  4. I’m sorry to hear about your loss! 😦 I’ve lost a few pets over the years, most recently we had to put my cat down last summer and she was my best friend. It’s hard but you have those memories to remember and know that they’re watching over you.

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  7. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss- the passing of a beloved pet is so painful. I wonder if it’s made more intense by the fact that we can never have a real verbal conversation with them to ask them how they’re feeling in their final years.
    This hits close to home for me, because my 16-year-old miniature schnauzer is showing definite signs aging. He’s been my baby for 16 years, so that means I’ve loved him for most of my life. There’s really no way to prepare for that kind of loss – I just have to hold him a little closer while I still can.

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  11. I’ve lost my beautiful dog this morning and I’m utterly heartbroken- it really is like losing a close family member isn’t it? I’m really trying to trust that she knew that I loved and adored her. Miss her so much already. Dogs are the only thing on Earth that will love you more than they love themselves ❤️

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  12. {ProphetMuhammad said}: The God, The Exalted says: “I have nothing to give to my faithful servant, if I cause his dear friend to die & he remains patient, other than Paradise.”

    Source: Ṣaḥīḥ-al-Bukhārī

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