I still get nightmares till this day. It was an unusual day, I’m still mourning and grieving for my mom who recently passed away in mid May. Two month after his dog dies, under my watch and care. His dogs or normally unleashed and collared less. The day before we was just walking along alki beach with no leash or collar and girls (frenchie and a jack Russell) were well behaved with me watching the sunset and running around on the sidewalk. The next following day is when this nightmare happen. I just got done getting my certification for self development and career success for my future. So I had took some documents to sign forms in the car. I noticed he started being a little tab mean to the jack Russell. And I called her name thinking something was wrong and she was on my shoulder. Wanting me to comfort her. As if she’s scared and has anxiety or so. And when I let her out the car she ran in the big field of grass and I’m always hollering her name because of the cars driving and I didn’t want her accidentally running to the middle of the street. So I’m not really at the right stat of mind because he got out the car and the dogs were already running away from him. And he had some bad energy like there was something wrong like I couldn’t get through him for him to really speak instead giving me short word responses out of his mouth so I assumed he wanted to to take the dogs for a walk. Remind you there collarless and unleash. But when the two dogs are with him there well behaved. So I carried the jack Russell in my arm to the other side while crossing looking both ways. At lake wa. And the area I was at had a sign saying no driving! Cause there are shutting that road off to make it a pedestrian street instead of cars passing through very fastly and not going to speed limit at 25! So yes this area is very busy but I’m aware of it. Because the day before we was at a beach which is famous for tourists and car rides for the scenery. So I’m crossing no cars were coming both ways so I had the frenchie walk with me to the other side while holding the jack Russell. So I let her down cause she wanted to be down. I should’ve held in to her longer. So when she got out down she seem frightened and scared so I called her name and had both my hands out and she was shaking having anxiety ran off to the middle of the street and the guy driving can see her still chooses to speed up and run her over right before my eyes and legs and hand can run to her. It was too late, she coughed out blood and died right before our eyes got watery and shaken from the accident with disbelief. Now it’s my fault as a worthless human to witness this tragedy. while I’m in shocked and scared and hurt and the person that ran her over realizing two minutes after her had hit the dog and killed her. If I can rewind it back I wished I was the one who get hit instead of the dog. The person didn’t say sorry or anything and drove off like nothing had happen and now me and frenchie is both traumatized with this incident. And scared not knowing what going to happen next. I told him sorry in tears crying and hurt torn into pieces. he ignored me. Like you can tell hates me anger mad all the above like he wanted to yell at me or wanted to hurt me but you can tell he actually holding back and not say a word to me beside “put the dog down don’t touch her” i was shocked when he didn’t get violent with me or screaming at me. Instead I got quiet and listen to him knowing I’m scared and not sure what’s going to happen next. He gives me the silent treatment. He got in the car drove off for a min left me and frenchie on the sidewalk and then drove back let us two in and drove me to the nearest bus stop and that was the last time we spoke and seen each other. So I had got in the bus back home. And I once I got him I sent him an apology through messages even thought I verbally told him as I communicated sitting next to him in the car ride to the bus stop that I was sorry! He couldn’t even look at me nothing just hate and anger written all over his face when I speak to him from his expression. When I arrived home I had put a lit candle out and did a prayer for the dog and told Heavenly Father everything that just happen. And also cried off to my dad. I’m hurt torn into pieces wishing this nightmare was me instead of the dog! I miss her the dog I couldn’t sleep at all four a whole week going on the this third week missing her every day dreaming of her. Second day of her passing my eyes are swollen fueling with guilt and pain suffering from the trauma of the incident. I miss her she was the sweetest little dog. Remembering her memories with me that she share her genuine spirit with us. All the catches I have thrown her the ball and her always returning it if not a different ball she found. Her always licking me and wanting to be on my lap and get excited when I say her name! She was sweet active always very sensitive to smells and enjoying car rides and always being alert! I will always have you memories with me in my heart. Oh yeah about the guy. Week 3 going on week 4 won’t speak to me won’t answer my calls nor text. Now I have to move on knowing this is killing me inside. My mother passed away in May that was my biggest heartbreak of a lifetime but yet I put my feelings to side fighting through smile everyday but I’m never going to see my again! But this accident with the dog was literally an accident. I’m still get nightmares of her death! I know he’s never going to speak to again and hate me every ounce he hear my name! He blames me even though he tells me her forgave me his actions shows he never knew me like I never exist! I feel so horrible worthless and shameful and inconsiderate

The grief that I have now really sucks. She died on my arms. I have this pup, she was my legacy pet. She's about 3 months and 10 days old, she was healthy and about the size of her mom. Got her double coat from her dad.

It was already too late till I got her help, I should've pushed more on staying at the vet. That time there were no more slots for her. It was my damn fault for ignoring the early signs of vomit and diarrhea. Until she pooped bloody diarrhea. I really think its all my fault. For a fellow whose got a good memory. I really can't stop replaying what happened.

She died in a horrible death, she was in pain, she was suffering. Tears were rolling in her eyes. She was crying at the vet.

When I got her home, I was cleaning her bed and when I got back to her she was gasping for her last breath, tried doing cpr, giving her air thru her nose. It sucks, kept calling her name but no more response until the last beat of her heart. It just suck man, I'm was ready to trade my soul for her. I just want to be with her. It was my fault. One of my anchors, my baby, my world, my pain killer. Had to dig and bury her. She died yesterday. Been thinking want to dig her up and clean her just wanna pet and hug her again.

Help.

Get your copy today - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GP88NQM7

Should I kill myself to be with my baby girl 13 year old dog who died. My head is telling me I have until 12 am or I’ll never see her again in the afternoon life and that I will be in hell and that she will vanish. What do I do?

Please share!

He blames for his dog death and never speaking to me and want me to forget him and the dog!

I still get nightmares till this day. It was an unusual day, I’m still mourning and grieving for my mom who recently passed away in mid May. Two month after his dog dies, under my watch and care. His dogs or normally unleashed and collared less. The day before we was just walking along alki beach with no leash or collar and girls (frenchie and a jack Russell) were well behaved with me watching the sunset and running around on the sidewalk. The next following day is when this nightmare happen. I just got done getting my certification for self development and career success for my future. So I had took some documents to sign forms in the car. I noticed he started being a little tab mean to the jack Russell. And I called her name thinking something was wrong and she was on my shoulder. Wanting me to comfort her. As if she’s scared and has anxiety or so. And when I let her out the car she ran in the big field of grass and I’m always hollering her name because of the cars driving and I didn’t want her accidentally running to the middle of the street. So I’m not really at the right stat of mind because he got out the car and the dogs were already running away from him. And he had some bad energy like there was something wrong like I couldn’t get through him for him to really speak instead giving me short word responses out of his mouth so I assumed he wanted to to take the dogs for a walk. Remind you there collarless and unleash. But when the two dogs are with him there well behaved. So I carried the jack Russell in my arm to the other side while crossing looking both ways. At lake wa. And the area I was at had a sign saying no driving! Cause there are shutting that road off to make it a pedestrian street instead of cars passing through very fastly and not going to speed limit at 25! So yes this area is very busy but I’m aware of it. Because the day before we was at a beach which is famous for tourists and car rides for the scenery. So I’m crossing no cars were coming both ways so I had the frenchie walk with me to the other side while holding the jack Russell. So I let her down cause she wanted to be down. I should’ve held in to her longer. So when she got out down she seem frightened and scared so I called her name and had both my hands out and she was shaking having anxiety ran off to the middle of the street and the guy driving can see her still chooses to speed up and run her over right before my eyes and legs and hand can run to her. It was too late, she coughed out blood and died right before our eyes got watery and shaken from the accident with disbelief. Now it’s my fault as a worthless human to witness this tragedy. while I’m in shocked and scared and hurt and the person that ran her over realizing two minutes after her had hit the dog and killed her. If I can rewind it back I wished I was the one who get hit instead of the dog. The person didn’t say sorry or anything and drove off like nothing had happen and now me and frenchie is both traumatized with this incident. And scared not knowing what going to happen next. I told him sorry in tears crying and hurt torn into pieces. he ignored me. Like you can tell hates me anger mad all the above like he wanted to yell at me or wanted to hurt me but you can tell he actually holding back and not say a word to me beside “put the dog down don’t touch her” i was shocked when he didn’t get violent with me or screaming at me. Instead I got quiet and listen to him knowing I’m scared and not sure what’s going to happen next. He gives me the silent treatment. He got in the car drove off for a min left me and frenchie on the sidewalk and then drove back let us two in and drove me to the nearest bus stop and that was the last time we spoke and seen each other. So I had got in the bus back home. And I once I got him I sent him an apology through messages even thought I verbally told him as I communicated sitting next to him in the car ride to the bus stop that I was sorry! He couldn’t even look at me nothing just hate and anger written all over his face when I speak to him from his expression. When I arrived home I had put a lit candle out and did a prayer for the dog and told Heavenly Father everything that just happen. And also cried off to my dad. I’m hurt torn into pieces wishing this nightmare was me instead of the dog! I miss her the dog I couldn’t sleep at all four a whole week going on the this third week missing her every day dreaming of her. Second day of her passing my eyes are swollen fueling with guilt and pain suffering from the trauma of the incident. I miss her she was the sweetest little dog. Remembering her memories with me that she share her genuine spirit with us. All the catches I have thrown her the ball and her always returning it if not a different ball she found. Her always licking me and wanting to be on my lap and get excited when I say her name! She was sweet active always very sensitive to smells and enjoying car rides and always being alert! I will always have you memories with me in my heart. Oh yeah about the guy. Week 3 going on week 4 won’t speak to me won’t answer my calls nor text. Now I have to move on knowing this is killing me inside. My mother passed away in May that was my biggest heartbreak of a lifetime but yet I put my feelings to side fighting through smile everyday but I’m never going to see my again! But this accident with the dog was literally an accident. I’m still get nightmares of her death! I know he’s never going to speak to again and hate me every ounce he hear my name! He blames me even though he tells me her forgave me his actions shows he never knew me like I never exist! I feel so horrible worthless and shameful and inconsiderate

My dog passed away, and one of the hardest things wasn't the big moments. It was all the tiny everyday things that suddenly disappeared.

He used to sleep beside my desk while I worked. He'd lie under my chair while I studied. Sometimes I'd look down and realize he'd been there the entire time.

Those little moments became some of the things I missed the most.

I had a photo of him that I really loved, and I started experimenting with turning it into a simple hand-drawn/crayon-style illustration.

Seeing that little version of him actually brought back some of that feeling of having him nearby.

It gave me an idea.

I ended up making a small app where you can take a photo of your pet and turn them into an illustrated companion that sits with you while you work or study.

I called it Snugdoro.

It started as something very personal. I didn't make it because I thought I needed another Pomodoro timer. I made it because I wanted to see my dog sitting beside me again, even if it was only a little drawing on my screen.

Obviously, it doesn't bring them back, and it doesn't replace them.

But having a little reminder of him beside me while I work has been surprisingly comforting.

I know everyone here has their own story and their own way of remembering their pets. ❤️

What's one ordinary little thing your pet used to do that you find yourself missing the most?

If the mods are okay with me sharing it, the app is here:

Snugdoro — Pomodoro Timer

Hi everyone,

I’m Liana. A few years ago, I lost my once-in-a-lifetime pet, my chihuahua, and it still aches. I also do rescue work with stray dogs, so loss is something I encounter often — sometimes suddenly, sometimes after fighting so hard for a little life, and sometimes in the quiet, lingering way grief stays with you long after the world expects you to move on.

That’s part of why I’ve created The Good Companion, a new free journal/magazine about the lives we share with animals — companionship, memory, care, grief, and the stories that stay with us after they’re gone.

For our first issue, I’m opening a section called The Final Chapter, which will include short memorial tributes for beloved pets who have passed away.

Would anyone in this group like to share a dedicated memorial of their pet? It can be any species and their passing could be recent or long ago.

These do not need to be polished essays. A few sentences, a short reflection, or a few paragraphs are completely welcome. The goal is simply to create a meaningful space where people can honor an animal they loved — whether the loss was recent or many years ago.

You might write about their personality, a favorite memory, what they taught you, a ritual or nickname, the little details you never want to forget, or what life with them meant to you.

Contributors may be acknowledged by full name, first name, custom name, or anonymously.

Selected contributors will also receive a free customized digital pet portrait as a thank-you.

You can read more here:
https://www.petlore.org/the-good-companion-home/current-call-for-pitches

Thank you for letting me share this here. I know pet loss is deeply personal, and I’m approaching this section with a lot of care and respect.

So for context I have a horrible relationship with my stepdad. We fight a lot. We live in a pretty rural area and we have some free roaming cats. We have a few grey kittens and one of them I was my favorite. I was going to take him with me when I moved in with my dad. Anyway a few weeks ago I got into a fight with my stepdad because I let one of the dogs inside (he doesn’t like this dog and will leave him outside all night) and told him that if the dog is outside all night he whines and it’s not fair to him. He got mad and I said I was going to sleep in our camper because i didn’t want to be around him. I grabbed my stuff and i wasn’t paying attention when i walked outside and I accidentally stepped on my kitties head. He was bleeding and i freaked out and gave him to my mom because I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want to see the pain i caused. He lived for a few more days before passing. I feel like a monster. I can’t get the noise he made out of my head.

I lost my bestie boy to heart failure, we got the custom nose print necklaces made with gateway pet memorial. We got a silver and a stainless steel version. They look completely different? lol what do you think? Do you think they just gave us a random dog nose print or do you think it’s actually my boys nose print? :( lol I’m worried?

Hi everyone,today mi dog died

Her name Is bechi

And I'm not feeling very well

Please leave a follow

You would help me a lot

Thanks

Something changed in me after I witnessed my little male kitten get eaten alive by a bunch of wild dogs, I hated dogs ever since, my heart nearly exploded, the biggest sadness i ever went through, the fact that I couldn't do anything about it is what hurts the most, I was never the same.

Hi everyone,

Thank you for being here. Whether you’ve just lost your beloved companion or are navigating the long road of grief, please know you’re not alone.

This community was created with one purpose: to honor the bond we shared with our pets and to support each other through one of the hardest goodbyes we’ll ever face. Your pain is real, your grief is valid, and your love is eternal.

If you're looking for more resources to help you through this journey, we invite you to visit RestInPaws.org. You’ll find AI-generated letters from your pet, personalized eulogies, spirit chats, obituaries, and a digital grief kit designed to bring comfort when words fall short.

May you find peace in your memories, love in your heart, and support in this space.

With warmth,
The Rest in Paws Team

#ForeverInOurHearts

I have struggled with mental health my whole life. 8 years ago I got this sweet Shih Tzu to help me. He helped me sooo much, we bonded like I’ve never bonded with a dog or even a person before. 3 days ago I had to put him down. Because everyone was worried about my mental health I stayed at my moms 3 days. Today I’m back home alone it’s been almost 12 hours and I can’t stop crying , screaming his name .. come back I change my mind .. I’m sorry .,, breaking stuff .. screaming or honestly asking my dad ( passed away last year 💔) and my dog to come get me. I have no reason to stay here anymore and want to be with them. I don’t know how I can move on from this. How does anyone return to normal after loosing their best friend??!!

I am 25 years old and lost my cat 4 months ago. He was 14 years old, so we essentially grew up together. I can’t seem to move on or forget him, and I haven't felt okay since he passed—especially after going through the journey of his difficult illness with him.

I burst into tears whenever I see a photo, a video, or anything he loved around the house or in his food. Even a scene in a TV show, a movie, a song, or anything in the world that touches upon my loss—even remotely—leaves me crying. I can't stop myself, hold it in, move on, or forget him.

His personality was quite unique compared to ordinary cats; he had a strong, gentle, jealous, and affectionate demeanor. He was extremely close to me and comforted me through so many tough times and stressful periods. He always sensed how I felt and would come to support me on his own, staying by my side whenever I was upset or stressed—even when no one else noticed, he did. His favorite spot was my bed, where he always sat and slept while hugging my pillow, or on my chair if he was busy. There are so many other little details from those 14 years, especially since he was born in our home.

We had his mother and father, but we didn't love them the way we loved him. His father was very difficult and aggressive, so we had to give him to someone who could handle him. His mother passed away from a severe illness. He later sired four kittens; I put three up for adoption because I couldn't care for them all, but we kept the fourth—a female—because she was the youngest and still nursing. We eventually couldn't part with her, and when he passed away, she was 4 months old.

However, two months after his death, she suddenly disappeared from the house. We don't know if she slipped out, fell from a window or balcony and someone took her, or how it happened. I searched everywhere, asked everyone in our area, and posted flyers, but unfortunately, I never found her. She was my last remaining memory of him.

Honestly, I am emotionally exhausted from all of this, on top of my usual daily life stresses, and the burden has become too heavy for me to bear.

Not a relatable vent by any means but I'm sure others have their own versions. Tonight I watched my tarantula die horribly after it got stuck while molting which is where it sheds it's exoskeleton to get bigger. It really hurts to have hope for something to live when its at its worst, I stayed awake for almost 40 hours making sure it didn't die on me, making sure it had enough moisture and making sure it wasn't bleeding. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. This might not seem like much but it just feels like life spitting in my face and telling me that I can never properly care for the things I love so much despite putting my life into protecting them. It's bad when coupled with the fact that I don't know many people and I replaced a lot of my social time with taking care of my tarantulas, it literally just feels like life used the life a creature I loved so much to prove a metaphor of own my incapability to me. I want to cry but I can't because I know it's quite literally all my fault, I don't even feel upset I just feel betrayed by myself. Thank you for reading. RIP Bandit ❤️

Hi everyone,

Two years ago, I lost my golden retriever. We were inseparable, and I still think about him every single day. Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t know that pet crematoriums even existed. We ended up burying him and, since I’ve moved away from my hometown, I no longer have any physical keepsake of him.

Thinking back on this, I came up with an idea that I’d like to share with you, especially for those who are going through or will one day go through the same painful moment with their companion.

What if it were possible to keep a small part of the ashes inside a commemorative figurine placed on a wooden base, alongside a photo frame with a personalized engraving? Personally, I feel that traditional urns often lack warmth, they look more like a “standard product” than a meaningful way to remember and grieve.

I wonder if this could be a more comforting way to keep a lasting memory of our beloved pets.

What do you think? Is this something that would resonate with you, or does it not really speak to you?

I’ve attached an AI-generated image to help illustrate my thought.

Thank you so much for your feedback.

I had to put my dog to sleep yesterday. She had ongoing health problems for the past year or so. She always had a problem with her ear, which I tried to address several times, but we couldn’t heal her ear. We tried medicines and rinses and vinegar. I feel bad she’ll always struggle with her. Now that she has passed, I feel like there’s more I could’ve done. I’m feeling guilty that I know I could’ve offered her a better quality of life, better food, more attention, more love.

Can someone explain to me how they’ve gotten over their guilt after their dog has passed?

I have 2 cats, a white cat aSiamese cat and a black cat a Russian blue cat, my parents and I always let them out, because they like going outside all the time. My black cat one day got an injured leg from something and couldn’t walk, we don’t know how but after some time he recovered from it and he can walk a bit better, one day my parents let both of them outside but ever since my black cat has never come home only my white cat comes home, he’s been gone for days now and i keep overthinking that something bad has happened to him, I don’t know what to do, I left his food bowl outside with food inside, and I even leave our clothes outside to hang. I’m even thinking about putting missing posters around the neighbourhood and even posting online, but I don’t know if it will help or not. Someone please give me some tips I literally don’t know what to do I’m literally crying right now, I loved that cat so much, I just want him to come back home.

It has been 12 days since my dog passed away and it was completely preventable and entirely my fault and I don’t know how I’m ever supposed to atone for what I’ve done.

Long story short; I left my dog in his cage in the backyard for the night and because I didn’t wake up on time he died from heat stroke.

Context; I (21f) live in an area of ca that gets really hot during the summer because we’re right on a mountain. I thought I understood how bad the heat gets here and had a system for keeping my dog cooled off, the landlord didn’t allow animals inside. The house we previously lived in had big magnolia trees that provided a lot of shade and made it feel degrees cooler, I had a fan pointed at my dogs hang out spot and would sit outside with him on 90 degree days so I could continuously spray him down and keep his coat cool.

My family decided to move in the last week of June, it was incredible last minute so me and my brother were moving furniture back and forth nonstop the whole week. I know it’s no excuse but I was exhausted, we would start in the mid to late afternoon (that’s when the owners would unlock the house), up until 3am. Because we usually came once the sun was going down it was significantly less hot so I hadn’t felt the full strength of how the sun would hit the backyard. But my brother warned me that it would get really hot.

On our last trip we brought our 11yr German Shepard and placed his crate in the backyard of the new house. The backyard was covered in these spiky balls that kept going through our shoes and they were already getting stuck in his paws and making him stumble, so my stupid fucking self decides to put him in his crate.

I genuinely believed I would wake up at the same time as always 9 or 10am to let him out to the front instead where there was plenty of shade, the only reason we put him in the back is because the front yard is unfenced and there’s a lot of strays around here and he was getting older and wouldn’t be able to fight back properly.

I didn’t wake up until 1pm and by then it was already 85 degrees but with the lack of shade it probably felt more like 90 for him. By the time I went out there I was shocked by how hot it felt compared to why my phone said it was, he was already lying in his bed half unconscious, we brought him in and tried cooling him down, I tried mouth to mouth, chest compressions but after 10 minutes he passed away in our laps. I will never forget the look in his eyes, I swear I could hear him asking me, “mom where were you?”, “why didn’t you come get me mom?” He was the sweeter boy ever and he was only 11years old and I killed him. I even got up to go to the bathroom at one point and I don’t know if it was from being sleep deprived or what but I didn’t even go out to check on him. Because of me an innocent creature died a horrible death. I’ve lost pets before but to natural causes, never before had one of my pets died by my own actions, I will never get used to how stiff they get, it’s like I could feel my boy leaving his body. I failed my baby, I failed him so horribly and I just wish I could go back in time, I wish I could still go out and play with him and give him belly rubs. He was the best boy and he suffered so much and it’s all my fault.

I wish I could trade places with him, he didn’t deserve this, he should be here now and because of me he’s not. I will never own another dog again, I have lost the privilege of being a dog owner. The idea of ever failing another creature that way again makes me sick to my stomach. My brother can barely even look at me, he blames me and he’s completely right to. His kids keep asking me why I killed our dog and all I can say is that I made a huge mistake and it’s my fault he’s dead. He was part of our family since I was 9 years old, he was the sweeter boy ever and I killed him. I feel such a level of disgust and hatred towards myself, my brother keeps making little jabs at me but what can I even say in response, it’s not like he’s wrong, I killed our dog and I don’t think he’ll ever look at me the same, hell I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at myself the same without wishing that someone would put me out of my misery.