My sweet dog died. I'm so sad. :(

M

MarlaGaz

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

I've not been on this forum for a while -- just super busy. But I need some comfort from all my Cathe-buds. My dog died early yesterday morning and I'm having a terrible time of it. He was with me for 10 years, and I miss him more than I can put into words. So does my surviving dog. She won't eat today and is listless and lethargic. Me too.

I love being a stay-at-home mom, but this is making my grief much more difficult because the reminders of him (Hunter) are constant and endless. He should be pushing the bathroom door all the way open with his nose when I don't close it all the way. He should be sleeping in every room I'm in, butt-to-butt with Maeve (my black lab). He should be running to the back door barking with Maeve. It just doesn't end...

I thought today would be better than yesterday, but it's worse. I'm going to get out of the house today -- red eyes, puffy face and all -- and I'm taking Maeve with me. I can't imagine leaving her here alone. She's never been without Hunter in her entire life. She's never been alone.

Sorry to bring you down. I'm just so much more depressed and sad than I could've imagined by losing him. I've added a photo album to my Picture Trail document that is dedicated to our beloved dog, Hunter.
I hope you'll go take a look. Thanks.
 
Marla ~
My heart is broken for you and your family. Hunter looks like a wonderful dog. They truly are family members. I hope your heartache eases soon. (((BIG HUG))))

~ Kim

"Welcome the challenge...Embrace it...Don't fear it." -Cathe Friedrich
 
OMG Marla I am so sorry--I know that I & many of us can sympathize with you.

I know it'll take you a while to recover, but you should keep this in mind: you gave Hunter a wonderful life full of love & happiness. You gave him a family that he played a large part in, & that's what makes dogs happy. Be thankful for your time with him as I'm sure he was with you. And he'll always be with you no matter what.
 
Marla,
I'm so sorry for your loss (((hugs))). Although I have never lost a pet, I have my first cat now, I can only imagine it is like losing a close family member. How sweet that you made a picture memorial of your buddy. He's a lovable looking guy. Heads up - we are here for you :)

Debbie
 
Oh gosh, Marla. I'm so very, very sorry. It's one of lifes most difficult things we go through. I saw the picture of Hunter. He looked cute and friendly. When I lost my dog of 15 years, it took almost a year for me to get over, and six to get another dog. Try to take care, Susan

Susan C.M.
Nothing should be jiggling, unless it's jiggling off. - Cathe in HSC
 
I'm so sorry Marla, I'm still crying after looking at those pictures. Pets are family members and there is a big void when you lose one. Just know that it won't always be this hard. In that picture of your boys hugging Hunter I could see that Hunter was smiling too. It looks like your family made him very happy. Hugs to all of you (Maeve too).;(
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, Marla. Our pets play such a huge part in our lives, that it's perfectly fine for you, your family and Maeve to grieve the loss as long as you need to.

I know exactly how you're feeling. :( The pain you're feeling now will ease, and it will get easier to think about Hunter in a happier light. I saw your pictures and it looks he had really great doggie life. :)

Sending cyber-hugs to you and your family.

Take care.
 
Hi there Marla,

I know exactly how you feel. I lost a dog several years ago and it broke my heart into a million pieces. You lose a precious member of your family when a pet dies. I cried for days but as each day went by it got just a tiny bit easier to deal with. If you keep Hunter in your heart he will never TRULY leave you. I think of my dog almost every day and it's been many years since he died.

BTW-the pics are absolutely precious!

Do you think you will be considering a new friend for your lab at some point down the line??

Hang in there...it WILL get easier.

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, Marla. Grieving takes time, so allow yourself the time. But don't get bogged down in the sadness (which is easy to do). Try to think about the good times you had together. Maybe have a ritual to say goodbye to Hunter. Gathering up old photos and making a special photo album can help you work through this.

I lost the "cat love of my life" three years ago, and there are still times when I miss him and think about him a lot.

It's good that you are spending time with Maeve. I'm sure she misses her companion a lot.

Strange as it seems, I sometimes think that losing a beloved pet seems sometimes more painful than losing a person. Unlike people, who are independant of us, our pets are very dependant on us. We also often spend more time with them (because they don't go off to work or go out with other people).

Hang in there and take care of yourself (and Maeve).

Someday, though probably not soon, you might consider getting another companion for Maeve. A shelter dog who would appreciate a family of his/her own, and who wouldn't replace Hunter, but would help ease the pain a bit.
 
I'm so sorry! Thanks for posting the pictures. I can tell by the pictures how sweet Hunter was. I know exactly how you feel having lost a few precious pets myself. It will get easier, but you will never forget Hunter.

Kathy
 
Hi, I really feel for you. Big huge hug!!!

I am an only child and when my mom and I moved to Chicago when I was 14, she bought me a dog as a pseudo-brother. He was a wonderful buddy. We did everything together, and then he died after 17 years. My heart broke and I cried for weeks on and off. They dont live long enough, but the time we do get to share with them is worth the grief. I still miss him, and I still dream about him. What helped me get through the loss was to get a photo of Ben enlarged, framed and it now hangs in the kitchen, where I see it everyday.

By the way, HUnter is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
 
(((Hugs)). What a beautiful dog he was.

One thing that helped me when my pets died was to write down some anecdotes about them - funny things they did, foods they liked or disliked, whatever. Maybe your whole family can contribute their memories. While you're all still hurting from Hunter's loss, you can also remember and laugh about the fun and stupid things he did and the great times you had as a family with him.

Allison
 
I'm so very sorry to hear. My dog Belle died just this past November, a day before my birthday and I still miss her so. We had a hard time when she passed away at just 10 years old. She had cancer of the spleen, but we never knew this as she didn't seem to suffer at all.
My heart goes out to you. It is especially important that you do something for yourself at this time. For us, it was getting another puppy to help us get over the grief, not to replace Belle. You just do something nice for yourself no matter what it is, and hang in there. My prayers are with you.

Charlotte~~
 
I am really so sorry. :-( He was a beautiful dog. I love the picture of him taking a nap on the pillow with your son.

((((HUGS))))
 
I am so sorry for your lost Marla. Unfortunately we never really get over our beloved lost pets but it will get easier day by day, I promise.;-)
BTW Hunter was absolutely precious - my advice would be to think about all the good times you had with him. it might make you cry but what the heck you're already crying anyway.
Hang in there and keep in mind it might take Maeve months to get over this if they were really close.
 
Marla I'am truly sorry to hear of your loss. I've had a couple of cats put down b/c of health reasons and it really broke my heart. I'm sorry I don't have much to say as I'm trying my best to hold back tears. Hunter was a beautiful dog. Like Wendy said, If you keep Hunter in your heart (which I know you will) he will never leave you.
{{{{{{{{{BIG HUGS TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY & MAEVE}}}}}}}}}}

http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
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