Forums » Smalltalk » A Sad Day...

Hello, everyone. . .

I'm here to see if I can cheer up. I just got news that my beloved dog of 17 years, Skip, was put down last night. He lived with my mother after I had moved out of state and before people comment on how I couldn't take him with me or call me a bad pet owner let me make one thing clear.

I absolutely LOVE my pets as if they are my children. I have had them all since they were babies and under certain circumstances, I couldn't bring them with me when I moved. Reasons were is that they're elderly and two have heart conditions that we treat. The ride would've stressed them out and they have been in the same home since the day they were adopted. New surroundings of any elderly pet would send them into a depression and possibly die from it.

I thought about what was best for them and left them with my parents under the circumstances that I send money for vet visits, food and whatever else they may need. They are well taken care of and get the best care. In my new house I'm renting, my landlord prohibits pets. So, I'll have to wait another 6 months when my lease is up to get a new pet.

Now...

My mother called me last night to inform me that my 17- year-old Cairn terrier, Skip, had to be put down due a seizure and his old age. I'm devastated. I've had him since I was around ten and he was my birthday gift.

I'm familiar with losses of pets. I've had a huge depression when my eldest cat had to be put down due to throat and stomach cancer. However...I was still in the some household as her and could physically visit her burial spot.

Since I'm now in a different State, I really don't know how to cope with this loss...

Anyone have any advice to give? =/

Light a candle and drink a beer. It helped me when I had to put a cat down.

I got no booze until Friday. I got hammered when my cat was put down. It was my first time seeing something like that and I didn't know how to handle it. It probably wasn't the best way but it helped me sleep.

I've never experienced the death of a pet, and I can only imagine that it's a terrible feeling. Dealing with losses are generally very hard, and my only advice would be to deal with it how you feel it's best. Some people like to drink a beer and light a candle, as Jay suggested, and some like to maybe just be around friends or family. I'm guessing you won't be able to go home, but if you're close to your parents I suggest you give them a call to tell them how you feel and talk it out. If not, then get a hold of a friend or two? I find having a close friend over for some intense ice cream eating can help when I'm way down.
Most importantly, listen to yourself and ask yourself what you need right now, and then take it from there.

I'm very sorry for your loss, and I hope Skip is in doggy heaven with lots of treats and toys

Thank you for your kind words, dear. I've already told my boyfriend that I plan on going to the store Friday and getting booze and munchies to deal with this.

As for Skip, he's probably sitting on the Rainbow Bridge bothering my cat as he always did.

If I may, I'd suggest not going too far with the hooch. Have enough to remember him by, not enough to forget him by (advice from an old drunk)

The way I coped when I lost my dog suddenly was to remember the good times and not guilt myself for not being there when he passed on.

Dogs never remember when you accidentally step on their toes, hit their head with your knee or the fridge door xD They remember you, the person with the treats, the good scratching fingers! The smell of home and the baby babble voice.

So take a leaf out of the book of dog, do the same. Remember the great times, the wagging tail, the dumb tongue hanging out the mouth, the drool on your new shoes and the scrambling when you put the hoover on.

Raise a glass to your friend who lived to a grand age with a story to take to rainbow bridge, and will be with you when you see their favorite toy, or a pile of leaves, or whatever triggers the happy memory.

I am sorry for your loss

Along these lines, you could go to the dollar store or even Walmart and buy a fake candle. Has basically the same effect that Jay was talking about, but you can leave it on all the time and when you come home from work or school, the flame will remind you that the love you had for Skip will always burn within your heart.

And I just realized how cheesy I sound, so don't do what I just said.

May your beloved puppers rest easy with all the squirrels in Heaven. If he was a squirrel chaser, that is.

I'd like to thank you all for your condolences in helping me get through this sad time.
I really do appreciate it.

Thank you.

Maybe make a little memorial of him with a few pictures or something.