Last week I got news from home that my dog had died during a trip to the vet’s office. I’d gotten him as a puppy when he was in college, and he’d been with me all through my college years, and then with my parents (and with me in spirit) ever since then.
I never imagined how tough it would be to lose a pet, but it’s really harder than I ever expected. I know that all the times I’ve heard about other people’s losing their pet, and I thought I was being sympathetic – I wasn’t being nearly sympathetic enough.
But, it made me feel better making this web page about him, and telling everybody I can what a great dog and a great friend he was. If you’re so inclined, check it out. You’re not obliged to read my rambling if you don’t want.
SolGrundy, I’m really, really sorry. Nothing hurts in quite the same way as losing a pet. The canine-human relationship has thousands of generations of heredity in it, and it’s totally unique; no other relationship is quite the same, not parent-child, not friend-friend, not spouse-spouse. Nothing else can fill that corner of your life.
I lost my buddy, Zeke (who, like your Paddy, was inadvertently cursed with a name that suggested the wrong gender), about seven months ago; I started a thread about it at the time.
After seven months of coming home to a silent apartment, I still miss her all day, every day. I still get all misty when I see a stupid TV commercial with a dog in it. I still talk about her constantly (maybe too much). When she died in my arms I felt something inside my chest go rubbery where it had felt solid before, and the feeling hasn’t gone away.
Take comfort in the knowledge that you gave Paddy the best life a dog could have. In a perfect, uncomplicated way, you guys loved each other, and both of you knew that without question. That’s something that any person, and any dog, is lucky to experience in life.
One good thing came out of Zeke’s passing, by the way; I sent an e-mail to everyone I knew who had known her, and that got me back in touch with an old friend who is now my girlfriend. She puts up with me talking about Zeke all the time.
Here’s hoping that somewhere Zeke and Paddy are playing tag together in the sun.
Funny how those critters work their ways into our hearts. Eight years ago or so, our terrier, Freeway, got into a tussle with a coral snake and lost. We didn’t know till the next day when we found the dead snake that we figured out exactly what happened. But when the emergency vet told us he’d died, I started crying and couldn’t stop for 3 days. He was just a little foundling mutt and he’d just been with us for about 4 years, but oh how I missed him.
I still get teary when I think about him. Poor Freeway.
So I have an idea of what you’re going thru. How lucky we were to have such sweet creatures in our lives!!
My heart goes out to you SolGrundy . Mr. Toes lost his own sweet dog to a liver infection this past November. It has been very difficult for him.
You will always have a Paddy-shaped hole in your heart. But it can be filled with your love for him and, perhaps in the future, another sweet pet can take up some of the space.
I still miss my Bobcat who died 2 years ago.
Perhaps all three of them are watching us from the sidelines.
As I type I am looking at a picture of Tabitha on my desk, who died more than a year ago.
One of the bad parts about losing a pet (not that there are any good), is that the grief cannot be expressed or acknowledged - except to others who have had the same experience; to some who have not, it was “just an animal, get over it”.
I am so sorry to hear that! I know how you feel, my boyfriend and I just had to put our 8-year old dog down last Tuesday (very suddenly) after learning she had cancer. It is really a very difficult thing to go through, and I feel your pain! Dogs and humans have such a wonderful bond.
He looks like he was a wonderful dog. I remember when my childhood pet died - I was married and no longer living at home but when my mom told me he was gone it was like I had never left. I was suprised how much it affected me, too.
I couldn’t imagine another dog at first but I have one now who is nothing like him and yet I love her more, if possible. It is hard to even think about the day she will be gone, but I have learned that it is possible to get another dog without replacing the last one.
The best we can give them is a good life and love, and that’s all they ask for. I hope you are happy knowing that your dog had a good and happy life.
There is no greater love than that which you get from your dog. I’ve lost my share and it never gets easier. But I wouldn’t trade all those years of happiness we both shared for anything in the world, even knowing how it will eventually end.
My heart goes out to you Sol. Your dog will live on in your memories. And my dogs will welcome him as a playmate.
I’m really sorry that you lost your dog.
It sounds like you loved him very much, so you can be comforted knowing you made his life as happy as it could be.
Pets are the closest thing we have to chosing our own family. or something like that.
I am convinced that dogs are reincarnated people who were overstressed in their past lives and they are living it up in this life. ( unless of course it is a yipe-yipe neurotic dog, then they obviously still haven’t worked out their issues yet.)
My husband had to put down his parents wonderful mutt, Miles, who was 12 years old and just getting old. Even though this dog was theirs, I adored him. He was a perfect gentleman, loved the kids, could stuff three tennis balls in his mouth at one time and ‘dribble’ a soccer ball towards us. Couldn’t ask for a nicer dog to be around.
I cried like a baby when Mr. Ujest came home.
Anyone who has ever lost a pet, may I recommend Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven . Meant for kids, I dare you to not cry as you read it. Wonderfully comforting.
It’s been twelve years since my Cisco passed away. His picture is still on my desk at work. I think about him every day and dream about him more often than I would have imagined. I stayed with him while the vet put him down and bawled my eyes out the whole time. I miss him so much.
But, that said, I believe that getting another dog (or pet of any kind) eases the hurt. No, they can’t replace your original companion. Yes, they will be different in temperment and the goofy things they do. But in my mind, it is better to have a dog than not. Better to love some more than to not love at all.
I love you, Cisco. If heaven doesn’t have a place for dogs, then it’s not worth going.
