Do you ever miss a dog even though they have been gone for a long time?

anjamaka · 02-12-2007, 11:11 AM

I had a cocker spaniel beagel mix that I got when I was in kindergarden when I was 5 years old and she lived until I was 14. She was there when my grandma died and going through growing up and all that, well it's been 5 years and I still miss her and cry about her sometimes.

RonE · 02-12-2007, 11:16 AM

A great dog will never leave your heart. Sometimes you'll think back and laugh and other times you'll cry, but you'll never forget her.

I does help to talk about and share your feelings with other people who undertstand.

Tess&Coco · 02-12-2007, 12:15 PM

Profound words, Ron. My first dog as an adult (me not the dog) passed 8 years ago, and I got Tess 9 months later (when I had stopped just wanting Kim back and started wanting another dog in its own right). I have never called Tess by Kim's name until I got Coco 5 weeks ago. Now I seem to call either one Kim by mistake from time to time.

I also dream quite often that I have both Kim and Tess together. Kim was a sweet natured dog and my boys grew up with her. I'm sure they missed her like you do your dog, Anjamaka - you went through a lot of formative stuff together. Losing a dog is hard, but never a good enough reason not to share your life with another.

anjamaka · 02-12-2007, 12:19 PM

Im going through SAD right now, so it's a little hard. I dream about "buttercup" (sue me I was 5, lol) a lot. She was one of those dogs that didn't really need to be trained (cept potty time, she was so stubborn, beagle... lol) She went with me everywhere. I think a lot of it has to do with me missing my big boy dog (Zeus) who is home with my parents. I just hoped I wasn't super weird.

Tess&Coco · 02-12-2007, 12:25 PM

You're probably thinking even more about Buttercup because you have a doggy-shaped hole in your life if you're not with Zeus either. Would you be able to volunteer at a local rescue centre to walk the dogs or play with them?

anjamaka · 02-12-2007, 12:33 PM

I wish I could and I have thought about it, do you think they need people to walk dogs, etc on the weekends, cause they are not open then. My husband is student teaching so he drops me off at school and I am here from 6 am to 4 30 pm and by time I make dinner it's 6 or 7 them i'm off to bed at 8 to wake up at 5.

britishbandit · 02-12-2007, 12:35 PM

Oh yes, I miss every pet I've ever had pass on. I think it's something that gets easier as time goes on, but you never forget them. Sometimes I get a bit sad looking through old pics of them, but certain pics really make me smile and even giggle at times. Such characters, and am happy remember the good times as well as sad about missing them.

sheltieluver · 02-12-2007, 02:08 PM

GREAT words Ron! I lost both my shelties almost two years ago and I know in my heart that I will never stop missing them. I still cry at times when I see their pictures, go to the park we used to frequent, etc. They were BOTH my best friends and even with time, they will NEVER be forgotten or missed. They were too special to me to let go in my heart or in my mind.

Tess&Coco · 02-12-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjamaka

I wish I could and I have thought about it, do you think they need people to walk dogs, etc on the weekends, cause they are not open then. My husband is student teaching so he drops me off at school and I am here from 6 am to 4 30 pm and by time I make dinner it's 6 or 7 them i'm off to bed at 8 to wake up at 5.

I guess you could phone a couple of local shelters and see whether you could help out at a time to suit. I imagine they need to have the dogs walked even when they're not open to the public. (In the UK the shelters I know are open at the weekend, it's the busiest time for people to look for a rescue pet).

sobreeze · 02-12-2007, 04:13 PM

i miss all them i have had animals in my life fore ever and i am 50 now there are ones i miss alot more than others one was a pekenese beagle mix she was a little bitch but she was my best friend i had her for many years i still miss her the other one was mister a registered aussie male best dog i ever had as a kid he could read good or bad people would defend the farm with his life always with me loyal smart died one day after working out on farm came up to house fell over dead had a atopsy done he was born with a birth defect in his heart it just stopped now i have had horses that i have loved alot too one was bojangels lived to 27 years , kahona lived to be 19 years old died of cancer and her mother tishma lived to be 33 years old i miss them alot i had them from childhood some very good times i sometimes wish i had them here with me now but they also are the reason i love animals the way i do all the animal i have had in my live has molded who i am today so never forget them always love them

RonE · 02-12-2007, 06:25 PM

When we put our lab down in mid-2005, my wife (who is not really even a dog person) told me that she had never in her life felt such a profound loss. This from a woman who had already lost all her grandparents, both her parents and two sisters.

This seems odd until you think about it. Our friends and family members have their own lives separate from ours. Our dogs' lives, on the other hand, are so completely intertwined with our own, that we cannot even imagine life without them.

Anjamaka, nobody here can make your grief go away. We wouldn't be doing you any favors if we could. The dreams are normal, too. Your sorrow over the loss of your dog is part of what defines your humanity.

But it's important for you to understand that what you're feeling is normal and experienced, sooner or later, but everyone who loves a dog.

tirluc · 02-12-2007, 08:33 PM

i had a little mutt dog that i lost in my early 20's (so about 23 yrs ago) and i still can't keep from crying at time when i think/talk about her.....and i believe she has sent and been a part of a few of my closest companions since then....

anjamaka · 02-12-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

When we put our lab down in mid-2005, my wife (who is not really even a dog person) told me that she had never in her life felt such a profound loss. This from a woman who had already lost all her grandparents, both her parents and two sisters.

This seems odd until you think about it. Our friends and family members have their own lives separate from ours. Our dogs' lives, on the other hand, are so completely intertwined with our own, that we cannot even imagine life without them.

Anjamaka, nobody here can make your grief go away. We wouldn't be doing you any favors if we could. The dreams are normal, too. Your sorrow over the loss of your dog is part of what defines your humanity.

But it's important for you to understand that what you're feeling is normal and experienced, sooner or later, but everyone who loves a dog.

That really touched me, I sometimes forget how honest and caring strangers can be.

Tankstar · 02-13-2007, 01:19 PM

I miss all the pets I have ever had for one reason or another.I'm only 21, But I have gone through so much pet loss, it could last me a millio years. I will just talk dogs here, but growing up we were never a family with just one dog. we had about 15 pets in the house at any given time, somtimes more. All lived out their lives under our roof with us and were very much part of the family. the first dog I had that died was when i was 5, now that is almost 17 years ago, and I still miss her, i remember every detail of her, little old white poodle that would go on many space adventures with me in cardboard boxes lol.
My real loss was a collie named lassie had her for 14 years, its been almost 6 years and as I type this I am crying. Next was CJ (named after the first dog I mentioned) lost her the year after Lassie, she was also 14 was the sweetest dog ANY one could ask for, she was blind for 6 years, and being blind you would think she would be untrusting of any one who touched her, espeacially strangers. That dog would wiggle so hard at the touch of any one and lick them for hours if sh ewas allowed. The next was Sweetie, we just lost him in october, he was CJ's son. He was 13.

Every pet has a piece of my heart, and always will. No matter if it was my first rabbit, iguana bird or dog. I'm sure I will, as well as all of you will again be reunited with them at the bride, I have very high hopes of seeing them there.

Elijah · 02-13-2007, 04:56 PM

My Katie was euthanized this past November 23rd and I thought I would go crazy for a while. My own sister told me I needed to get a better handle on things and that "you weren't this bad when Mom died". She was right. Mom was old and I knew her time was limited. I also was at her bedside in the hospital, holding her hand when the breath of life left her. That left an indelible mark on me forever and I thought to myself, just as she watched life come into me 61 years ago, so I watched it leave her four years ago this past November 19th. November is not a good month as my Dad died that month 14 years ago.

Katie, on the other hand wasn't old. She was but two and a half when they put her away. It's been nearly three months now and it's not much better. I don't know why pets affect us that way but it appears we're not alone with this. Contrary to what many say, you can't "just go out and get another dog" no more than you can just go out and get another set of parents. We're all unique and individualistic...so are our pets. A Collie may look like another collie in many ways but, the personality is different. It's difficult and my heart goes out to anyone who's lost a pet. It hurts very badly.

RonE · 02-13-2007, 07:22 PM

Elijah, you can't just go out and get another dog and make the grief go away, but my experience is that a new dog is a lot better than no dog.

I think I intentionally look for dogs that are nothing like my last one. And I'm nearly superstitious about making comparisons. I would NEVER tell Esther that she's the 'best dog ever' because that would be disrespectful to the previous great dogs.

This thread is taking some interesting directions and I hope anjamaka doesn't think I'm trying to hijack it, but this might be a good place to talk about how we go about the business of euthanizing a dog.

My Irish setter was living with my parents for the last year of her life because my new wife was dangerously allergic to her at the time. I made the decision, but my father, who adored that dog, took her to the vet for the shot. It was cowardly of me not to be there and I am still ashamed.

The vet wasn't quite ready so they told my dad to just leave her and they'd take care of it. For the remaining 26 years of his life, my father was haunted by the look that dog gave him as they were leading her away and we never knew for sure where she ended up.

When we put my lab down, the entire family was there. We sat with him and he had his head on my lap when he went to sleep. There was no struggle, no resistance - just acceptance and, I think, relief on his part.

Three days later they called for me to pick up the urn with his ashes. He's sitting on my shelf a few feet from here with his bandanna, his favorite stuffed squirrel and a few pictures and cards from friends. It is very comforting to know exactly where he is all the time.

I don't spend a lot of time wallowing in grief, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the great dogs that I've had in my life and sometimes I do cry out loud. It makes me appreciate the great dog that lives with us now and I try to treat her as if we might lose her tomorrow.

Elijah · 02-14-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

When we put my lab down, the entire family was there. We sat with him and he had his head on my lap when he went to sleep. There was no struggle, no resistance - just acceptance and, I think, relief on his part.

I don't think I could have took that. I've always had a rough time with that sort of thing.

Quote:

It makes me appreciate the great dog that lives with us now and I try to treat her as if we might lose her tomorrow.

Exactly-that's why my signature says just what it does. Tomorrow is promised to no one...human or animal.

snook · 03-01-2007, 07:11 PM

Yes. http://bunkiestory.blogspot.com/

Maril · 03-14-2007, 03:34 AM

I have buried 26 four pawed friends over the years, and 4 four hoofed ones rest on my farm. I remember every one, mourn them, and celebrate them. The horses I all had into very old age, 15 - 18 years they were with me. I have 12 dogs now, all but one rescues. Just lost a Brittany Spaniel last month. Vet said she was probably about 16 when we had to euthanize her. I feel so blessed to have had her for almost three years. I found her (and others) dumped out on the road, as monsters do, running hopefully after cars trying to find the people she loved, who didn't love her. She was the finest, sweetest lady of a dog. Heartworms, skinny, nails so long they curled. I am grateful we were able to surround her with love for her last bit of time, feed her lots of treats and let her know it was OK to lay on the sofa and sleep in the bed with the mounds of dogs. Every one of my 'pack' loved her and was gentle with her. Of my 9 horses, 5 are in their twenties. I have a Dobie, 9, my heart, my constant companion, a rescue blue Dobie with gray in her rust muzzle, a 9 year old Boxer, an elderly Yorkie, and Border Collie cross. The rest of my dogs are kind of middle aged, except for the Jack Russell, the only youngster. When I lose them, it breaks my heart, but the other loving hearts that surround me, heal it again. Don't ever feel that you're weird for having a loving heart, that you miss a friend. There's a wonderful poem at Hoofprints.com about losing a canine companion. Check it out. it makes you cry and smile. Good luck in filling that hole in your heart.

squirt1968 · 03-14-2007, 03:37 AM

Remember you had that dog most of your childhood so it is a big part of your childhood. A dog is a wonderful friend to grow up with. precious memories