Pet Bereavement Support Group
The loss of a pet or animal to which one has become emotionally bonded can be an intense loss, comparable with the death of a loved one. Whilst there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this community focuses on human feelings, when an animal is lost, dies or otherwise is departed.
On Tuesday, we lost our sweet Rupert. He was just about to turn 11, and I thought we still had more years ahead. He got sick very suddenly, and left us one week later. It all happened so fast.
I wish I could have done something more. We brought him to several vets, including the emergency hospital. On his last day, we had taken him to a veterinary neurologist. Neither my husband nor I cared how much we had to spend. I had savings, and was prepared to use every last penny, if necessary. We'd have done anything for him. Of course, we both second-guess ourselves now, and wonder if we should have made different choices -- taken him to a different vet to begin with, or gone to the hospital earlier. We tried to get him in to see the neurologist a day earlier, but couldn't. I don't know if anything would have made a difference. I do wish we could have spared him from feeling so bad those last few days.
He was so much a part of our daily lives. Now, just waking up in the morning without seeing him at the foot of the bed is weird. I keep thinking about all the things I'm going to miss. How I'll never bury my head in his tummy and smell him or kiss him anymore. We always shared food, too, so even eating anything is depressing. Being in our yard is so sad -- Rupert loved his big yard, and running and chasing the squirrels and birds.
At least we have the peace of knowing Rupert was always happy, and knew he was deeply loved and well cared for. I know he knew that.
He kissed me goodbye. It was so sad and yet beautiful and precious, and I feel so grateful to have experienced that moment with him.
I just wish I knew I would stop missing him so terribly, but I know I won't. There will never be another Rupert. I hate this feeling so much.
I wish I could have done something more. We brought him to several vets, including the emergency hospital. On his last day, we had taken him to a veterinary neurologist. Neither my husband nor I cared how much we had to spend. I had savings, and was prepared to use every last penny, if necessary. We'd have done anything for him. Of course, we both second-guess ourselves now, and wonder if we should have made different choices -- taken him to a different vet to begin with, or gone to the hospital earlier. We tried to get him in to see the neurologist a day earlier, but couldn't. I don't know if anything would have made a difference. I do wish we could have spared him from feeling so bad those last few days.
He was so much a part of our daily lives. Now, just waking up in the morning without seeing him at the foot of the bed is weird. I keep thinking about all the things I'm going to miss. How I'll never bury my head in his tummy and smell him or kiss him anymore. We always shared food, too, so even eating anything is depressing. Being in our yard is so sad -- Rupert loved his big yard, and running and chasing the squirrels and birds.
At least we have the peace of knowing Rupert was always happy, and knew he was deeply loved and well cared for. I know he knew that.
He kissed me goodbye. It was so sad and yet beautiful and precious, and I feel so grateful to have experienced that moment with him.
I just wish I knew I would stop missing him so terribly, but I know I won't. There will never be another Rupert. I hate this feeling so much.
When they hit a certain age, you start preparing yourself for it. I knew Rupert was getting closer, but I thought I had at least a year or two before I needed to start that mental preparation. It's like, my happy, healthy baby just suddenly disappeared.
It's been one month today. I hate that, but I don't know why. Another thing I hate: The spot where we buried him is almost completely grown over now. Soon, you won't be able to see it. My husband needs for that to happen. Seeing the spot bothers him, and he says he will feel better when he can't see it anymore. I feel the opposite. He said I can mark it if I want to, but then that's going to make him feel bad. I think this is one of those times I'm just going to have to suck it up for his sake. He's worth it. But it's hard.