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It also meant a lot to me that my vet sent both a card and a donation to the U of I Vet dept in my dog's name. I was really touched by that gesture...still have the card. So many people knew and liked my dog, and so I got a lot of loving, supportive comments. weeks, months later folks would bring up his name and talk about heim---that was great. There are some really nice cards out there now acknowledging the loss of a pet....I bought several so I'd have one on hand if needed for someone else. Some of my friends sent cards to me. A kind neighbor sent a photo of him---very special gesture! I'll always miss him. I do have a really wonderful little dog now, however, so am lucky to have found and adopted a new buddy. my Maxie died about 2 1/2 yrs ago. he dashed out of the house and was hit by a car---died in my arms while on the way to the vets. i was devasted.oh, just thought of another thing that kinda helped...the website about "the Rainbow Bridge" allows you tp post about your dog. I cried buckets reading through it, but helped.
can't understand the callous people who say" but it was only a dog"......why would anyone be so uncaring? And yes, a few people said that to me.
Well, some people just won't hear the sad truth. Just like with people, there can be an attitude of "Doc, do everything you can."
I think all pet owners have to understand that the grief of losing your animal is the price you pay for the joy they bring into your life. (You didn't think the unconditional love a dog gives is free did ya? )
My philosophy is that you give your dog the best possible life you can during the time they have on earth. When it is time for them to leave you help them go regardless of how it makes you feel. There is no avoiding the eventual death of ANYTHING. Nobody gets out alive and to put an animal through medical treatments that will only preserve their lives for a few more months is inhumane and selfish. It becomes about YOU at that point rather than about what is best for the animal. You are not spending money to "save" the animal, you are spending money to postpone your grief.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and feelings!
Kahncss, your montage was a lovely tribute - and yes made me tear up, but it was VERY evident from the glint in your pup's eye, that he was happy and knew he was well loved. It made me smile as well!
I decided to buy 2 books about the love and loss of a pet and donate them to our local library system in my sister's dog's honor. Our main library suffered a cave in from heavy snows a few years ago and the children's section was particularly hit hard. The books are "Dog Heaven" and "For Every Dog, An Angel" which are appropriate for both young and old. I think when it comes to losing a pet, we all remain young at heart.
R.I.P. Lukka!
I think it is always best to acknowledge any loss.....whether it is of a parent or a child or a pet.....it is a significant loss and the grief is just the same. You never know for sure what will be the most helpful.....you have to go on your intuition about your friend.....a card...certainly....the idea of a donation in the name of the deceased a great idea......just a hug and a few words of condolence....but dont decide it is too painful to mention.....find a way to "be there" and acknowledge the loss.
Tallolla,
What a great idea! I think the donation of the doggie books in memory of the beloved pet is wonderful. It reminded me that when my beloved cocker spaniel died years ago, a very thoughtful lady from church gave me a lovely book about a beloved dog. It was a really nice gesture.
My good friends and my vet sent cards ( and the vet had a treee planted in the Shasta-trinity forrest for Phoenix) other friends have made donations to different places..LTTP even made one to Amazing Aussies in honor of Phoenix as it is a rescue that I have mentioned here that rescues the homozygous merles like Phoenix.LLTP's gesture really touched me as I only know her from here and to then zoom in on that rescue what can I say..it warmed my heart.
With other dogs I have lost some people sent me photos and shared memories and that was nice too.
One of the best healing things was just being able to talk about the loss with people on this forum. When Dash went through his cancer I shared it in a thread here and by the time he did die I had made some great friends that also lost dogs to nasal cancer as we all went through it together and supported each other and some of them have become good friends on Facebook. When Luna a dog living in Italy died from nasal cancer 3 of us who had already lost our dogs sent her owner a special necklace and I know how much that meant to her. Pet owners understand the loss of a beloved pet!
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