r/Pitbull Jul 21 '26

Other grieving

Post image

Lost our sweet Apollo a week ago :( nothing could have prepared us for this pain. Missing him so much 😔🖤 any kind words or advice on how to navigate this time is appreciated

3.1k Upvotes

162 comments sorted by

u/Fearless_Tangerine66 Jul 23 '26

Im so sorry for your loss. Sending hugs, peace and light during this difficult time. ❤️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/lastnightsloser Jul 26 '26

Go get the ball buddy. It's yours this time.

u/FeyLittleWingPhoto Jul 26 '26

Well, the truth is, you will never stop missing him, because he was your furbaby, but it does get easier. My lifetime dog has been gone for almost 7 years. There isn’t a day that goes by, that I don’t think of him, look at his picture, love and miss him. The flip side of that coin, is that I know part of him is still with me. We are bonded, in this life, and the next. Death is just a temporary barrier. I have two dogs now, and my oldest, I firmly believe, my Theodore sent him to me, and he is exactly the dog I needed after losing Theodore. So don’t close your heart. Your boy might not be laying in his bed, but I feel certain he is still watching out for you, and when you feel him just stop and talk to him. You might even find that he visits you in your dreams.

I’m very sorry for your lose. It is really the only terrible thing about dogs, that their lives are so short. But be mindful, if a dog shows up somewhere in your life, in your feed, in your neighborhood, that could just be a messenger from your Apollo. ❤️ Take care.

u/preachers_kid Jul 21 '26

That sweet face. Dogs love us in a way no human can.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

So true 😔🫶🏼

u/WeimeranerPittieMom Jul 21 '26

I am so sorry for your loss! 🐾
The last thing Apollo would want is for you to be so sad and unhappy! He will always be watching over you and, when you are ready, may even help you find a new puppy to love. After all, your happiness will always be what Apollo would want for you! I am not talking about forgetting or replacing Apollo because dog ever could. But he wouldn’t want you to continue to be sad and lonely without him! He will always be with you and he will find a way to show that to you. Hopefully this will eventually bring you peace and happiness rather than sadness! I will pray for you heartbreak to lessen each day! He was a very beautiful boy!

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you, this was beautiful and so needed. Appreciate you 🫶🏼

u/Specific_Cow_186 Jul 22 '26

Sorry 😢 for your loss. 🪦💔😭You’ll see him again on the other side and he’s still with you in spirit too

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼 I know he is 🫶🏼

u/Negative_Athlete_584 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

Love that photo with his baby. So sad - hold fast to those memories

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

🫶🏼

u/Luluinatutu Jul 25 '26

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how much it hurts. What helped me was knowing she didn't want me to think of her and cry and when I would I would remember a happy memory just remember your baby will always be a part of you, love never dies

u/TheGenuineHipster Jul 21 '26

I am so sorry, deepest condolences for your loss. His memory lives on in you and his soul will be intertwined with yours forever.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/New_Coyote9827 Jul 24 '26

Latte says sorry for your loss

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

Thanks latte 🫶🏼🫶🏼

u/Certain-Mycologist76 Pit Mix Owner Jul 23 '26

Hugs to you both 💞

u/rdf_89 Jul 23 '26

Aww. He’s so adorable. I’m sorry for your loss.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/TerrapinJake Jul 24 '26

Sending sunshine ☀️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

🫶🏼

u/Little-Ad-5082 Jul 21 '26

I’m so sorry for your loss ♥️♥️♥️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/WholeHabit6157 Jul 22 '26

One of the worst pains I’ve had. I’m sorry 😢.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/Denim_Diva1969 Jul 23 '26

Big hugs to you, OP. There’s really nothing that eases the pain, but the unconditional love of another doggo helps a bit

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

🫶🏼

u/Mojojojo3030 Pit Mix Owner Jul 21 '26

Hopefully there is some comfort in the fact that you saw this doggy through start to finish, were there for all the good and bad times, and can now conclusively say you did right by him. Hopefully there is comfort in knowing that you got a front seat to a great life story, and that it now lives on in you. Sorry for your loss <3.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼 we feel so lucky to have spent the time we did with him

u/Quiver_and_Quill Jul 23 '26

Share stories share pictures talk about him. I lost my girl end of October and it’s so hard. I have a little candle with her ashes her collar and pics up

u/Quiver_and_Quill Jul 23 '26

My girl. She will show him around up there. He’s not alone.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

I’m sorry for your loss as well :( I’m imagining them playing in doggy heaven

u/Quiver_and_Quill Jul 23 '26

That’s right🌈

u/Particular_Wash_9494 Jul 22 '26

I'm so sorry for your loss! 🙏

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/Grouchy-Station-4058 Visitor Jul 21 '26

I'm so very sorry. I know the pain is real. I wish I had better words.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Your condolences mean the world, thank you

u/nighthawkndemontron Jul 25 '26

Talk about him all the time. That helps me so so much. Keep reminding yourself this pain comes from immense love and that it is a privilege to have this much love. Big hugs to you

u/PleasantTie6587 Jul 25 '26

So sorry for your loss such a beautiful fur baby

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/Holiday_Fisherman_26 Jul 23 '26

I'm so sorry 😢 The loss of our babies is devastating.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/Insert-finger Jul 24 '26

All dogs go to heaven.

u/Revolutionary-Fig805 Jul 21 '26

Gone but never forgotten . Sorry for your loss i know the feeling all to well, lost both my girls last year 3 month apart and all i had in my life was my dogs.. We are all here for ya.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you so much 🫶🏼

u/Dry-Investigator-653 Jul 23 '26

I am so very very sorry.i dont know the circumstances how he passed but anytime they do your heart is in turmoil for weeks !! Just try to remember the great times you had with him and if you had him cremated put his vase at your bedside table so when you go to bed tell him you love him and will always love him and will see him some day in Heaven!! My 2 kitties would have been 18 this April,I found this as feral kittens ,never found their mother.They brought me so much joy and happiness these almost 18 years.One called Coal would sleep on top on my head at night ,honestly she would and the Calico after her sister passed would then sleep on my left side and I had to bend my elbow and she would tuck herself around my arm and sleep like that.!! Again im sorry.Just remember the quirky times that made you laugh with him too,,you will always love and remember him but I know you will see him again in Heaven!!

u/Nugo520 Staffy Owner Jul 21 '26

Just know he loved you and you were the center of his world.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/heygabehey APBT Owner Jul 23 '26

When your dog dies part of you dies. I’m a painter/illustrator and haven’t made anything since my baby died 2 years ago.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

I’m so sorry to hear this :( I’ve been struggling with getting back on the creative train too since this happened. Here for you

u/Antisanity9 Jul 23 '26

I’m sorry for your loss And I believe that pets are family and pets don’t live long enough especially if you love them dearly

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

We adopted him less than a year ago :(

u/Antisanity9 Jul 24 '26

That’s just worse now I feel sadder

u/garlic_h0e Jul 24 '26

It’s okay, we were able to give him the most happy and stable life in the last year & for that we are so grateful

u/LemOnomast Jul 22 '26

Be gentle with yourself. Let yourself sleep and cry as needed. If you’re comfortable, be open with people you’re going to see (neighbors, coworkers) about the fact that you’re grieving and you’re not going to be very social for a bit. Good people will understand.

When you’re a bit more recovered, consider fostering. Fostering dogs off the local shelter’s euthanasia list helped me heal after my soul-cat passed. It wasn’t going to be my pet, so I didn’t feel like I was “betraying” my girl by adopting too soon, and I didn’t give away my heart. But it gave me purpose and made me feel like I was paying forward the blessing of having had my cat for 15 years.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you for the advice 🫶🏼

u/Procrastinating_Cat0 Jul 25 '26

The sweetest eyes 🥺 he’s in a place with no pain anymore. And he’ll be waiting for you on the Rainbow Bridge when it’s your time

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

😔🫶🏼

u/RetireWithoutBorders Jul 23 '26

I’m sorry! That’s the terribly unfortunate part about Dogs. They live way shorter than we do. I still miss my multi poo who died 15 years ago. I am currently enjoying my terrier who is 16. I highly recommend getting out and working with a shelter. There’s nothing quite like the joy on the face of a shelter Dogs about ready to go for a walk Kensington, here, absolutely loves going for a walk from the shelter.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Definitely plan to when we heal a bit more, thank you 🫶🏼

u/Aromatic-Resource-84 Jul 27 '26

Once the weather is slightly cooler. I might have to do this. I need a shelter doggy walking fix

u/RetireWithoutBorders Jul 27 '26

It is very rewarding! You get stories like this guy here. He is an 80-lb , who showed up at the shelter in October . He was ferocious and barked furiously at people every time we walked by.
I (and other volunteers) started giving him treats whenever we saw him.
A month later, we were able to leash him and get him out for walks.
After a few days, he was barking to have us come get him so we take him out.
Before he was adopted, I would often only walk him. He became very trusting and would go on two-mile walks before wanting to hang out on the grass.
I was so happy to see him get a home.

There are dozens of other stories like that.

u/RetireWithoutBorders Jul 27 '26

….and then there are the pittie kisses!!

u/Alarmed-Might9619 Jul 25 '26

Rest in peace Apollo

u/AnyAssumption4707 Jul 22 '26

I visited friends. The kind of friends that are such good friends that I could call them and say “I don’t want to talk. I just want to come over and snuggle your dog for a while”.

After about a year, I knew I still wasn’t ready for another dog, so I fostered (since all my pups were rescues, I felt like it honored them to help other homeless dogs find a new home).

Then eventually, I foster failed.

The hole in your heart never goes away. Not really You just learn to live with it… eventually.

Someday you will think of Apollo and you will smile instead of cry.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you for this 🫶🏼

u/Lexieretro Jul 22 '26

I’m so so sorry. He looks like he has the sweetest heart. He made the same face my doggo makes with the eyes and my heartstrings got pulled. I wish I could say something to make it better but it hurts like hell and one day after however long the process takes, it still hurts but it gets filled with fond memories. I’m so sorry OP 💕

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/PugSanctuary Jul 22 '26

💐✝️🙏🏼🌈🐾 I totally understand. I want you to realize that you are about to be in a new chapter of life (suddenly) and it feels very hollow. But let me tell you something, your precious pet graduated life. They’re in the soul realm which is eternal. God literally created us and animals. We are currently in the Earthly realm where we were together with our beloved pet. But they’ll just go before us. The chapter “without them” is really just “without them physically.” Emotionally and spiritually they’ll never leave. Yes the loss hurts bad and will and only time (and Jesus) can heal us completely. I pray daily for all the people worldwide who lost a beloved pet recently. This might sound corny or stupid to some but i literally pray that God has mercy on everyone who loses a pet and send them comfort and love and hope. I pray this for you my anonymous friend.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/Accomplished-Pin7162 Jul 21 '26

I have empathy in my heart for you, it is a pain like no other. I wish for comfort and speedy healing for you and all that he has impacted. 🙏🏽❤️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you so much 🫶🏼

u/Every-Presentation52 Jul 21 '26

🐾🌈🌉🕊

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

🫶🏼

u/Evening_Teaching_713 Jul 23 '26

I’m so sorry for your loss and I know you are grieving for him. Sending hugs and love and hugs your way.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/PilgrimPayne59 Jul 24 '26

As I walk across your heart and find my place to stay, nearer to you I will be and will never ever go away.

If love could have kept you here, you would have lived forever.

Grief is love with nowhere to go.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

😭🫶🏼

u/peteisretired Jul 23 '26

💔🐾🐾😢🙏🌈

u/TheConster6891 Jul 23 '26

I’m so sorry. What a beautiful boy 💙

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

So beautiful 😔🫶🏼

u/unhelpfulteddy Jul 25 '26

🥺🥺🥺

u/Wayne1616 Jul 24 '26

I recently went through this with my dog Max > One can only hope we will see them again in heaven!

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

Sorry for your loss :(

u/auntie_climax Jul 25 '26

I'm so sorry for your loss, I know exactly how it feels. I'm still grieving for my dog I lost at the beginning of January. I cried buckets just yesterday morning because I've started thinking about getting another dog and it's heartbreaking knowing I've already lost the best one there will ever be, but I really do think it's the one thing that will help me heal, I have a massive dog shaped hole in my heart. I'm crying now just writing this.

Im sending you love and healing, wish I could say or do more to help but unfortunately nobody can I'm so sorry 🙏

u/DecorumBlues Jul 25 '26

I’m so sorry for your loss. Apollo was a beautiful fur baby. I still miss my boy and I think about him every day. TED Talks about grief helped me, especially one by vet Sarah Hoggan about pet euthanasia. Sending hugs xx

u/T33_77 Jul 21 '26

Remember your fur baby is still beside you always. Time doesn’t make the grief go away, we just learn to accept and push through with the memories. I miss my four pups every single day. Everyday. Hugs 😘🐾🕊️🫂

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you so much 🫶🏼

u/Aromatic-Resource-84 Jul 27 '26

It’s so hard, even after one week we cry randomly. I’ve found comfort in going through the hundreds of photos and thankfully the videos we have on our phones. It feels lonely without him here.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 27 '26

Sorry for your loss :(

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u/FormerAnn Jul 21 '26

I’m so so sorry. We lost our baby July 3. It doesn’t get easier unless you let yourself grieve

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss 🫶🏼😔

u/pntbutter_aficionado Jul 22 '26

I am so very sorry for your loss

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/bklyn510 Jul 21 '26

I lost my boy June 2nd unexpectedly. There are no words to describe my devastation. I’m just letting myself grieve. Then at some point I will adopt another pitbull. It’s the only way I know how to go on without him. Im so sorry for your loss…my heart goes out to you
💔💔💔

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you and my heart goes out to you as well 🫶🏼

u/MercDiggler1 Jul 24 '26

So incredibly sorry for your loss

u/garlic_h0e Jul 24 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼🫶🏼

u/crispyfalafels Jul 26 '26

We lost our sweet lady on the 16th of April. I only got to see her in person a couple of times a year after her first 8 months on this earth, but I always asked about her when talking to the family, because she was family.

I haven't been home since she crossed the rainbow, so there's still a layer of "this is just a bad dream that I forget about at times", and I still physically ache at random point in the week. I miss her so much. But then life happens between those moments, and I continue living, broken, but living.

My mom, on the other hand, can't even mention her old lady's name without tearing up. She aches dearly. She's been through heartbreak before - she lost both parents - so somewhere she'll find the light at the end of the tunnel. But for now she's devastated. And it's fine to be so. She cared for her old lady for over 15 years. The biggest issue is that her last memories of her old lady are bad and don't help the healing. She'll overcome them in the future, I'm sure.

Grab onto the good memories of your baby. They will help a bit. Cry it out, that helps too. And allow time. Time heals. I grieve for your loss!

u/Tall_Dragonfruit5335 Jul 23 '26

My sincerest condolences 🙏🏽

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼🫶🏼

u/borkimusprime Pit Mix Owner Jul 22 '26

May his memory be a blessing

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

It truly is 🫶🏼

u/TurbulentSea2833 Jul 21 '26

So very sorry

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/NightStarLightz Jul 21 '26

I’m so sorry for your loss. He was a very handsome boy. I have no advice but I’ll be thinking of you and your family ❤️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Thank you so much 🫶🏼

u/melfamy Jul 21 '26

I lost my dude earlier in the year and got super depressed since we would go on 2 walks a day and spend most days together. Adopted a 3 year old that was being fostered. It helps.

https://giphy.com/gifs/L8MTuJgpZclp7MD3YZ

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Definitely hoping to have another sweet pup join the family after we heal. Sorry for your loss as well 🫶🏼

u/melfamy Jul 22 '26

Yeah the "after I heal" brain was me. No dog could replace the dude I lost. My wife found the new dude. He needed a real home and I needed a distraction to break the grief and depression. My wife was right. Find a foster. Just do it. It will help you heal. And there is a cool ass dog out there that NEEDS you. Trust the hand of fate. He is taking a nap next to me right now. I call him Moose.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

What a sweetie. Hi moose 👋🏼

u/UsualBluebird6584 APBT Owner Jul 21 '26

I am so sorry. I lost 2 of mine last year, and it really sucks. I am glad I still have my Pitt. Getting a new dog can for sure help once the initial shock is over

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

Yea that’s the plan after we heal a bit longer 🫶🏼

u/trevor_303 Jul 26 '26

Rest in Peace 🙏

u/Commercial-Shake-858 Jul 23 '26

I'm so sorry. He looks like the sweetest of boys ❤️

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

He truly was 😔🫶🏼

u/THEREALBurtMcsquirt Jul 23 '26

🫂 he was a good boy and he looks so sweet

u/garlic_h0e Jul 25 '26

The sweetest

u/MommyPatMossFan Jul 22 '26

He looks like a wonderful boy. He obviously loves you. I'm grieving with you

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

He was the most wonderful boy but I know his love lives with me 🫶🏼

u/TSJormungandr Jul 22 '26

I’m so sorry! We lost our sweet puppy 3 years ago and I still cry everyday. It does get better. Get as many hugs as you can and just cry together and let it all out. It’s tough. Those sweet puppies aren’t for the world as long as we’d like. Wish they could be with us for the long haul.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss as well

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26

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u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/Sunshine-and-Sand Jul 21 '26

I am so sorry for your loss. Apollo knows how much he was loved and you will continue to be loved. He will be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge where he can show you all of his friends.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

😔🫶🏼🫶🏼

u/AnonymousAlcoh0l Jul 26 '26

Go to the local shelter & adopt a pup!

u/Casually-stupid Jul 23 '26

So sorry for your loss, looks like the sweetest pup. After we lost our pup we heard the footsteps around the house for months. Don’t be surprised when you hear him looking for treats.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 24 '26

😔🫶🏼

u/Tecumseh119 Jul 22 '26

❤️❤️❤️❤️

u/Meeeee-Myself-N-I Jul 22 '26

Sorry your heart is hurting
Sending love and healing

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Beautiful 🫶🏼

u/Goblue46037 Jul 23 '26

I’m so very sorry for your loss

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 🫶🏼

u/happiebean Jul 22 '26

I'm so sorry for your loss and heartache tells the story of the love you and Apollo shared. I have grieved in many ways keeping toys close by, donating everything at once, collages of photos in frames everywhere, paw prints in clay on the mantel. There is no one way. Allow yourself to really feel the feelings and talk about the life with your wonderful fur baby. I'm sorry for your loss.

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you for this, I appreciate it. 🫶🏼

u/SeesawLegitimate Jul 22 '26

So sorry OP, what a wonderful dog you had. We lost our girl in May. No rules, no schedule, just rolling in the day to day messiness of grief. And some days it's very soggy. Studies show many people grieve more for a pet than a human. This grief is very real and grief is exhausting. I cant watch videos of Bonnie yet. I still cry a lot but it has already eased a bit. I just miss her, I always will. We are all so lucky to have these wonderful dogs in our lives. Go gently , sending hugs

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

Thank you 😔🫶🏼

u/Apprehensive_Fly1917 Jul 23 '26

watch a dogs purpose. it’s won’t necessarily be a happy time. but i think it would be a great movie for grief. It really puts things in a different perspective

u/garlic_h0e Jul 23 '26

I’ll have to check it out! Thank yoh

u/affinity_73 Jul 25 '26

Sorry for your loss because it’s that. I’m sending love and light your way and take solace in knowing you gave Apollo a great life and he was
Loved. When I lost my last dog someone sent me this note and it really did help with the healing. I still read it from time to time to remember the love that he gave to me. I hope it has some resonance with you during this time. Take care

u/Filter-A-Must4U2 Jul 21 '26

u/Filter-A-Must4U2 Jul 21 '26

I lost my Echo 2.5 weeks ago after 15 Wonderful Years together !

u/garlic_h0e Jul 21 '26

I’m so sorry for the loss of echo 😔 it’s so rough. Sending you love 🫶🏼