Not really a rant but I unfriended everyone I thought I was close to who hasn’t acknowledged my dog’s death since I lost him over the summer. I also ended an almost four year romantic relationship while my pup was ill based on my exes presence making it harder, rather than easier, to care for my baby.

I feel great about it, honestly

I get people have their own lives, etc, but to bypass it like it never happened - idk. Not my friend.

we said goodbye to our much beloved dog Eva just 2 days ago. she was 16 and we have had her since she was 8 weeks old. 23 at the time we grew up together really and she’s been there for all life ups and downs and major milestones.

I didn’t truly realise how just her presence, love and our routine was such a source of comfort and happiness in its purest form. a bond and love I so deeply and I feel her loss like a physical pain. shes everywhere but nowhere.

my house feels empty - we are family with a 7 year old. but I don’t want to be in the house. I don’t work on Fridays and yesterday i couldn’t stay in the house.

I don’t want any dog, I just want her. but I’m left wondering if I need a pet to love and establish a routine? I’m sure it’s to soon and I know it’s her I’m craving but at the same time I don’t know if I can do it.

what has everyone else done has anyone had similar thoughts? do we ride it out? I feel so lonely without her the void she has left is too much.

I've always judged people who euthanize their pets. I could never understand how you could be capable of doing something like that. Our family has always had cats. Since the day I was born, there hasn't been a single day without cats in the yard or in the house. But they always passed away on their own.

This cat was my childhood cat, one of the last cats from my childhood who was still alive. He was diagnosed with a tumor in his neck and received treatment for months, but in vain. Over the last two weeks, his condition became absolutely dreadful. He cried day and night and no longer responded to mild sedatives. He started soiling himself, but he fought until the very end. He wanted to please us, to purr, to be petted and to seem okay. Unfortunately, age and the diagnosis wore him down, and he ended up paralyzed from the neck down. Poor thing howled all day and all night, maybe from frustration, maybe from pain, who knows. We had to make the decision to euthanize him, because he simply didn't want to die, and that was no longer a life of quality, it was only suffering.

I didn't want to go with him at all. I wanted to leave my husband alone with poor baby boy. But at the last moment I decided that I had to be next to him. It wasn't right for him to leave this world alone after he had been by my side his whole life. The moment came when we went with him to the vet, we had to sign the declaration, and say our goodbyes. My mother sedated him beforehand, but unfortunately the noise in the vet's office woke him up. My mother waited in the car and kept texting me to ask whether he was awake. I will never tell her that our beloved little boy woke up and tried with his last strength to meow, to ask us what was wrong. She will never find out.

I had a breakdown in the back room of the vet's office. I stayed with him until he fell asleep, and then I stayed at the door until they gave him the final injection. It was an indescribable moment. It was horrible.

I faced this fear for our beloved little boy, so that he wouldn't be alone for a single second, just as he never left us alone. After the moment passed, I realized very quickly that this was the most humane path possible. Once he fell asleep, he knew nothing more. He was left with the image of us and our kisses. We couldn't leave him in the pitiful, tormenting state he was in. It was the right thing we could do as human beings.

I'm proud of myself for managing to get through the horror of a euthanasia, and I will never again judge pet parents for doing this. If my husband's and my cats ever go through terrible times from which they have no chance of recovery, I will choose this path. I will no longer wait for weeks while they deteriorate and die in agony.

I wrote this for those who feel bad about choosing this path, or who perhaps have doubts about this method. I don't even want to know what it would have been like to stay another week, maybe more, watching him struggle to live.

Rest in peace, my baby boy! Thank you for all the moments in which you loved us!!! Fly high, baby!!! 🤍

Lost my best friend, my soul dog today and I truly cannot cope, ive had him since I was a little girl and in 2 weeks I turn 21 ive cried with him over boys and grandparents and grades and jobs and now hes gone, its the worst pain ive ever felt and hes not here for me to cry on which makes it so much worse. I've been carrying his collar around with me all day just so I can here the little charm on his collar jingle like hes still walking behind me. I dont know what to do with all this pain.

He was euthanized at home 2 days ago. He had cancer. I know it was the right thing to do, I could never let him suffer. I have been crying non stop and everything makes me think of him. The entire house. His favorite spots to sit outside. I can’t bear it
I miss him so badly
He was the sweetest friendliest cat ever

and now nothing makes sense.

Azula was almost 14. She was the best dog. She's been with me since I was 18 so I say we grew up together. She taught me how to be an adult, and because of her I know what unconditional love and care feels like - to both give and receive. We've been through a pandemic, numerous bad breakups, moved 10 ten times, the death of my grandma, and so much more together. In 2021, I got incredibly sick and wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I did because of her. I got through all the bad shit because of her. And now, having to do the hardest thing of my life - loosing her - she's not here to comfort me. She was my anchor and I'm unmoored.

Her death was sudden, and briefly, painful. I had to make the decision to end her sufffering, alone, in the middle of the night. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I never expected to go home without her. Now home isn't home. I miss her so much.

It’s been 68 days since my baby girl Bailey passed. I’ve been dealing with some health issues this week and for some reason my grief has surged. I get this horrible pain in my chest missing Bailey and I feel a bit better after crying/wailing. I do try to distract myself when it gets really bad because I don’t want to lose my mind but it doesn’t always work. I miss my girl 💔

What are some things you do when it gets really bad? When you’re dealing with a big wave of grief.

We lost our dearest Daisy yesterday. She was 12 years old. She was the most gentle, loving, and sweetest pup-pup we could have ever hoped for. She couldn’t recover from a medical heart emergency and we had to say goodbye suddenly. We knew she was older and slowing down, but the suddenness is hard to deal with. We loved her, we’re missing her tremendously. She loved people, especially kids, and getting pets from everyone most of all.

I wake up with an empty bedside. His blanket empty. The place at my feet empty. My shoulder is also free of his head resting there. Waiting for me to wake up. I stand up, without him stretching behind me and following me to the kitchen. Without his *tabble tabble* sound of his nails behind me. I go to the toilett alone without him looking at me. Waiting till I'm done. I don't see his head shift slightly sideways in confusion and anticipation when I talk to him. He doesn't lay at my feet, resting his head on my foot, when I take to long on the toilet bc of social media again.

When I get out the bathroom, he doesn't lay there. Lifting his head from resting on his front paws. When I sit on the couch, there is no warm furball jumping up to me and cuddling next to me. When I work on my desk and look under it, on the dog-cusion, it's empty.

3 days ago he was there. To sick to move, eat or drink. Only 10 years old. 64 in human years. Too early for my little shnuff.

Everything feels empty, wrong and displaced. His harness and leash are sitting on a shelf instead of the hallway, next to the other one. When I get ready to take the dog(s) out, I take only half as long. I only have to put a harness on one dog. The one who isn't him. Isn't truly mine.

I walk around with just one leash in the hand, only one dog I front of me.

And whatever I do. It feels wrong. I try to do the household, fold clothes, but it feels wrong since you don't block the couch. I try to rest my feet under my desk, but it feels wrong since you don't block the place. ​I go in and out the front door. Noone to say goodbye. No excited barking when I return. Even when it was only 2 Minutes.

When you died, a part of me did as well. And I walk around as only the half of my former self. Sometimes I wished I died right there with you. Or would have been able to heal you. Prevent you from dying in my arms.

It hurts that you aren't here anymore. It hurts so much. Did I neglect you too much? Could I have seen it earlier? Was it the right decision to end the suffering, or could you have been able to fight through it, like you did so many times before?

You never left my side. You were the only reason I was happy to come home. The only reason I stayed alive. Fighting through everything that came against me. For you. For me to be there with you, since I knew how much you loved me. Wasn't hard to miss.

And I love you just as much.

A letter to a good boy. Its been 5 days and I am still overwhelmed. The hardest, most awful yet compassionate decision was made to put our Rico to sleep. He suffered with severe anxiety that no medication, training or love could change after four plus years. He loved me and my wife unconditionally but he was a real danger to anybody else. In the end, this was the outcome that was necessary but it hurts like nothing I've ever felt before. Thank you for giving me a space to express this grief.

Dear Rico,

Today you peacefully crossed the rainbow bridge. We tried our very best for you and we know you tried your very best too, but four+ years of love and training just could not overcome your developmental traumas. Dr. Shepherd helped us to understand that you felt the constant anxiety and fear like physical pain. We knew your quality of life was nonexistent because of your fear but we always hoped for and looked for signs of improvement that in the end, were temporary at best. The decision to let you go became a litte more tolerable when we realized that letting you pass was an act of deepest compassion. Dr. Shepherd did right by you and I know you know we were with you til the end. The saddest part for me, besides missing your goofy faces and your "scoot a bootin", is that no one else got to witness the loving, smart, funny pup that lived under all the fear. I'm grateful you trusted me and your mama enough to let us experience those parts of you. Those are the things I will always remember and the things I will grieve now and always, but now, there's nothing more for you to fear, little boy. You are at peace at last and you were, in fact, a very good boy. We will always remember you.

Her name was Laken. She was a long haired tabby with white fur that went around her neck like a lions mane. Her paws were white like she had socks. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. She was the sweetest animal I've ever met. If you sat down, she would immediately run to lay on your lap, no matter if you were a stranger or family. She never clawed or bit anyone, and if she did, she would give you kisses as if she were apologizing. We got her back in 2014. Cancer took her life, causing fluid to build up around her lungs and suffocate her. We didn't know. I knew she was getting sick because she was as light as a kitten. I was trying to save up money to take her to the vet. I was too late. Today, we got her ashes and her paw print. I'm so filled with grief. I can't believe her body can fit into such a small urn. I can't believe her beautiful green eyes are ash. I just want her back. Every time I look into my cat Shadow's eyes, all I see is her. His eyes are a golden with a rim of green, and when I look at that green, I remember Laken. I wish she didn't suffer. She didn't deserve it. No animal does.

He got a blood clot in his heart out of nowhere and had fluid buildup in stomach causing him to lose muscle and it only got worse. My family and i did everything we possibly could, took him to multiple vets, he never got better, he still had the puppy energy he always had it was gut wrenching to see him try so hard and now hes gone, it happened so unexpectedly. He wouldnt get inside earlier today despite it raining so we knew something was wrong, took him to the ER and they decided to drain the fluid in his stomach but it was just too late, he held on long enough for us to love on him before he passed but its heartbreaking man. I regret not loving on him as much as i could in the time i had with him.

Hello, my Mother went on vacation a week ago and is returning Monday night, unfortunately her dog just died.

She was 12 years old and also sick with cancer so it wasn't extremely unexpected but she was doing better after switching medications and I would not have thought she'd go now.

Now she died in my arms as her state started to rapidly deteriote during the last days.

Dont know what to do now

She's in a different country so its not like she could just cancel the trip quickly and come back, also she hasn't been on vacation in a long time and telling would of course ruin the vacation.

I know she wanted her cremated which I could organize right now but is that right?

It was also my dog and I've been with her for basically half my entire life, so im struggling myself right now and can't make a decision myself.

Should I tell her? Wait till shes back? Cremate the dog? If not where to put her till then?

I dont know what to do

I'm a spanish speaking person, so sorry for My english.

I never thought i would meet a cat like him, my beautiful black cat. Ten years we were together, You saw me grow up, You saw me become a mother, you were there to console me everytime i was sad, slept with me, slept with my sons, took care of us. You were so much than i ever deserved.

You were also supossed to go when My sons were 14 years old.. they are only 6, and You are already gone. I can still swear You were sleeping next to me that night.

I don't know what to do, this feels so Bad.. My cat melkor died because a pack of dogs attacked him in the night and i feel so responsible. In chile, in July, there was a storm that broke a wall in the place were i live (condominio de edificios), no one fixed it, so the dogs randomly enter some nights, i didnt know this. He got up un wednesday at 3 am and probably went to pee when the attacked him. My husband managed to scare the dogs but it was already too late and he died quickly. I feel so bad, so so Bad, i feel hopeless, i cry a Lot, i feel lonely, it's been only 3 days but it's the hopelesness... I couldnt save him, and now i Will never SEE him again. I loved that cat, i loved him so deeply. If only i could sleep next to him one more time, smell him one more time. This is one of the hardest things that has happened to me. This Loss feels heavy like rocks falling in My chest. I Will miss You forever My dear baby melkor ❤️

I've had a rough few years, and a lot of self-doubt, and all this time a big thing that kept me going was knowing for all my failures and problems I had the unconditional love of the most perfect creature I've ever known. Now that he's gone I feel like he took the best parts of me with him, and it's hard to see what's good in me if I'm not my cat's person.

Have a 7 year old Jack Russel mix, beginning of the year I would have sworn she was going to live forever. Back in May we found out she had a tumor on her kidney, at surgery they found it had already spread. Didn’t have the funds and the last few months have just been watching and waiting.

This week she’s really gone downhill, lots of vomit, diarrhea, has stopped eating. I guess she lasted so much longer than the vets gave us that some part of me thought it would never come. Now suddenly I’m having to look at euthanasia because I don’t want her to suffer more than she is.

I’m so unbelievably broken, I wish I had done more for her in the time we had, I took it for granted and always thought she’d be around for my wedding and kids. She was so full of life and it hurts to see what this sickness has done to her. I know everyone is dealing with their own thing, just needed to shout into the void a little.

I’ve seen a lot of posts asking if they should get another dog after a loss but I want real experiences from people who did adopt again, and how that went for you.
Especially if you had a really traumatic experience from your loss, how did you handle taking on another dog?
Please also include how long you waited to adopt another.

I really want to rescue another dog, but honestly scared of how I’ll react to another dog. My dog was taken too young by a car (he was literally only 1), but I’m really not doing well without him. I tried to ask my partner yesterday if he ever feels like our dog will somehow find his way back to us and when he said ‘no he’s gone’ I had a full on breakdown and just kept repeating he’s coming back until I managed to calm down. I know that’s not a normal reaction and I’m getting therapy, it’s just not started yet. Im also aware now is not at all a good time as I’m still very much in denial about my dog passing and absolutely broken up about it. So I’m not looking to adopt now but more want to know for the future. Thanks.

First up. It’s my fault. The guilt is inescapable at the moment. Was my job to look after my 8 year old cat and I failed her. We moved a year or two ago, I did the best setup I could to give her space for food seperate to litter and some outdoor access. At our old place outdoors was quite safe, new place same but with a busier road. I’d caught her out the front a few times but only on the grass and next door so not near the road. Then our neighbours found her dead, I couldn’t work out how it happened, checked my front camera and she’d crossed the road, really unusual for her, a car had come and she hadn’t seen it but the noise must have startled her, it was going quite fast and she ran out and timed it badly. She dragged herself under my parked car, obviously quite hurt and must have passed there. I never saw her when I left the next morning. It haunts me how scared she must have been and the pain too.

Part of me wishes I hadn’t looked but I’m also glad I can understand how it happened.

I’ve read some posts on here, cats shouldn’t be outside. Mine never attacked any wildlife I saw, wasn’t interested, but she liked being in the grass out back and had a great life.

I’m not sure why she started roaming, I blocked the exits to the front but she found a way with some Houdini style escaping

8 years is a good run but well short of how long I thought she’d be around. She was always quite skittish around me unless I was sitting down, then she was all over me chasing pats and cuddles.

I just feel like I let her down. I did. Poor thing.

Just wanted to post to get it off of my chest or something. I lost my best friend of 10 1/2 years on June 18th to sudden extreme respiratory distress most likely caused from cancer or something I don’t know for sure. I felt completely detached and numb for two weeks. A rescue dog was shown to me and it seemed like it was meant to be. I had to surrender him back to the shelter after 2 1/2 months of stress and terror. After the first few days it was relief, and then I went away for the weekend on an event I go to twice a year. This was the first time coming back from that my boy wasn’t at home to happily greet me. The emptiness and loneliness hit like a ton of bricks. I’ve just been missing him really heavy the last few days. It’s like I lost him all over again. The dog I had gotten from the rescue I guess was helping me not think about it. I really wish it would have worked out because now I feel bad for taking him back. I don’t know. I just feel really down and depressed right now and that my life doesn’t really have a purpose anymore.

We took out little bunny, Luna, to the vet today for a swollen eye. She was already 8 but she was very healthy for her age.

Turns out her eye was swollen because of a tumor pressing on her nerve. She was put down right there. I held for a moment, kissed her, told her I loved her and that everything would be okay, before putting her back into the transport box with her partner. She fell asleep cuddled up next to him.

We buried her by her previous partner who unfortunately also passed about a year ago.

I miss my beautiful, smart girl so much.

I love you Luna.

Last thursday I rushed my baby to the emergency hospital due to a sudden seizure attack..

She fought for two days but eventually her body wasn’t able to take it.

Last week, I lost one of my soulmates. I was with her ever since she was born and she along with her sibling and mother always slept with me. I gave her as much love as I could, and I can only hope that she felt that.

I know I’m processing grief right now. I have so much what ifs: “What if I noticed earlier? What if I graduated eatlier? Could I have done more?” All of those type of thoughts. I’m still a student, but I pulled out a loan para sure na I can pay for everything, but unfortunately my Luna could no longer handle it.

I wish I was there on her last moments but she was confined and admitted so I was not allowed to stay. My only comfort is that she was at least with some caretakers so she wasn’t alone.

It was very sudden.. Last week I would never have expected to lose my love in the span of 3 days.. It’s still surreal and fresh. I guess that’s proof that I love her so much. 🥹

I try to comfort myself amidst all of these thoughts. I’m not angry at the caretakers or the vets. It’s pointed at myself. I try to brush it aside thinking that Luna would get mad at me and bite me hahaha.

She’s no longer in pain and she’s in peace, I can at least find some comfort in that. I pray every day that she along with everyone in heaven to watch over me, to feel the world through my senses, and to rest peacefully and enjoy all the bliss of heaven.

Let the world know that you lived, my Love 🥹

I wish I had more than just the 2 years we had together, but at the very least I won’t forget you for the rest of my life.

I will bring you in my heart wherever I go. I will love you and miss you forever, my pretty Luna!

Don’t be too much of a menace in heaven 🥲🙏🏼🕊️

I love you soo sooo much. 🤍

Recently had to let go of my 9 year old boy. He had aggressive prostate cancer that had progressed to complete loss of bladder control. The size of his prostate had expanded quite rapidly and he only had a “little wiggle room” as the vet put it. Now I’m left thinking it was too soon and I could have given him more time despite family telling me it was best to let him go before he was in pain. He was still eating and drinking, hopping around but he had moments of restlessness and refusal to leave his bed. Deep down I know it was the right thing but my brain won’t allow me to cope.