Have you ever lost a pet?

[madethisfor1post]

My parents bred Samoyed's when I was very young. When we had to move, my grandparents took our last breeding pair to take care of. They died up in northern Ontario cottage country at an old age. I was too young to understand what that loss was.

As I got older, we got a cat. His name was Tuxedo but I always called him Bub. He was just awesome. A few years later we got another kitten. He was a crotchety fuck so we named him Ebeneezer. A few years after that my Dad bought a pet food store and that came with a cat named Smudge. A few years into owning that store, a customer dropped off some kittens she couldn't take care of and we kept one. Named her Shorty. A year or so after that, we got a dog. He's a Pyrenees cross named Cooper.

So here we are with 4 cats and a dog.

Then something I never thought would happen happened. Was the middle of a raid and my dads comes in and calmly asks me to come into the kitchen. I do so. My little girl Shorty is laying on the table dead. She was hit by a car. I was devastated. I immediately broke down and cried. All fucking night. My dad had to make a box so we could bury her. I was just...distant. My brain did not want to process anything that night. Took me a few days to even get back to something resembling normal. Time passed and I got better.

Then our next youngest, Ebeneezer, had a stroke. He lost the use of his hind legs. We made him as comfortable as we could. This one we could prepare for. We had a box ready for the night he finally passed but he hung on for as long as he could. We buried him beside Shorty.

Time passed and as Tuxedo neared the age of 19, he started to lose weight and and fur. Old age was setting in. On his last night, I slept in the kitchen with him making him comfortable. I woke up at 3am. He wasn't breathing. He was gone. He has crawled a little closer to where I slept. Even though I had time to mentally prepare myself, this one hit the hardest. He was MY cat. We had a box and hole ready this time. He was placed next to Shorty and Ebeneezer.

Time moved on a less than a year later, Smudge at the age of 21, died of old age. Same as the others, he was placed out near the garden next to the other 3.

Fast forward to last Summer.

Cooper just turned 12. That is old for a big dog like him. His hips are still holding out but he shakes when standing and doesn't walk far anymore. My fiance and I were in Toronto and we get a call. My dad says that a kitten was dropped off at his store. We get home that night and there's a little kitten for us to play with. He's a little shit and likes to attack peoples feet. We decided to keep him. Named him Dodger.

Now we have an aging and not long for this world dog and a 10 month old kitten.

I guess what you can get out of all of this is always remember the good. For your time together, YOU are their universe. Be it from kitten/puppy or as a rescue you are their everything. Love them while you can.

If anyone needs me Ima go hug my kitty and watch the birds with him.

[-aiko-]

The unfortunate reality is that your pet will most likely pass on before you.

I've only lost a goldfish at this point, when I was very young, but I have a few cats who probably don't have much time left. They are both very cuddly and loving and it will be harsh without them. Just relish the time you had with them.

[Deleted]

So I guess I'll start this out by saying my dog that I've had for 16 years since I was 8 is passing away and I'm going to have to put him down tomorrow. Honestly I feel I don't know how to react, I've just been very quiet and listening to music all day, I don't know what to do. I'll sit with him and pet him etc. shit I even cooked some steak for him to eat tonight, it's hard to see him struggle now and I don't want him in pain. I mean I've lost grandparents and while I miss them I kind of just accepted it whereas with my dog I've had him since my childhood, he's always been there when I come home whether it was from school or work. Always happy to see me even on my bad days, I'm just at a loss, I don't know how to react other than to sit here well crying and thinking he won't be there to greet me every day.

I knew this was coming but it's hard to accept. Have any one of my fellow mmo-champs felt like this before? What did you do when the time came?

Figured this fit's as well it's a quote from scrubs:

I am very sorry to hear that my friend, losing a pet is a terrible thing. But the thing you have got to remember is the wonderful times you have given each other. It will be hard for you in the weeks to come, and there are a few things that might help a bit. First off, say goodbye in a decent way. Many of us did not have the chance, but the only good thing about having to put your pet down is that it can be done on your terms. It might sound cruel, but this way you can be there with him till the end.
Warning, the following contains opinions stated as facts! Please, if you have to put your pet down. Make sure that a vet comes to your place, and dont let him/her die in a strange place I have had one of my pets die at the vet, and i can not forgive myself to not let her die in a trusted environment.

I wish you all the best in the coming weeks, as you will need it. But do remember the good times, he deserves that much!
/hug

[Laraven]

I am very sorry to hear that my friend, losing a pet is a terrible thing. But the thing you have got to remember is the wonderful times you have given each other. It will be hard for you in the weeks to come, and there are a few things that might help a bit. First off, say goodbye in a decent way. Many of us did not have the chance, but the only good thing about having to put your pet down is that it can be done on your terms. It might sound cruel, but this way you can be there with him till the end.
Warning, the following contains opinions stated as facts! Please, if you have to put your pet down. Make sure that a vet comes to your place, and dont let him/her die in a strange place I have had one of my pets die at the vet, and i can not forgive myself to not let her die in a trusted environment.

I wish you all the best in the coming weeks, as you will need it. But do remember the good times, he deserves that much!
/hug

I couldn't agree more about having the vet come to you. But this is only in the case of non emergencies and when you can plan ahead. Mostly this is not the case. And few vets actually offer this service anymore unfortunately. Eh, I wish my girl could of died in our bed. She died in my arms at least, wrapped in our blanket.

[Deleted]

I couldn't agree more about having the vet come to you. But this is only in the case of non emergencies and when you can plan ahead. Mostly this is not the case. And few vets actually offer this service anymore unfortunately. Eh, I wish my girl could of died in our bed. She died in my arms at least, wrapped in our blanket.

Yea, totally /agree with you, but it seems the OP has this golden option. So i just wanted to make him aware of this if he wasn't yet. I know it may cost a bit more money, but im sure that any pet that you have had this long is more than worth it. (not saying that it was a reason with you, but just saying do not try to save money on this.) You would feel better not eating much for a month, then doing something like this not at home. But this is just my personal experience.

[The Ogdru Jahad]

Had a parakeet named Gracie, she knew how to open the cage on her own and get out.

One day while cleaning the cage outside, not expecting her to try anything like that, she took the chance for her freedom and flew away.

A month later my mom was on her morning jog and had Gracie as her phone background. A crossing guard she was friends with saw the background when she got a call and said something about a bird just like that who was sitting on a mailman's shoulder while he did his rounds. Turns out he never found the owner so gave it to an officer and his fiance as a new pet.

My dad is in law enforcement and got into contact with the officer, needless to say, we got Gracie back and it will always be one of my favorite stories to tell!

[Crackleslap]

My current dog is 10 years old. I had to take her to the vet a few weeks ago. Oh my god, it nearly killed me. I was so sad. I feared the worst for her. But now she's all healthy again, running wild and acting like a 2 year old dog! I love her! Couldn't imagine losing her.

[Bakilorne]

Hug and kiss your dog. Remember every minute of it. It'll be amazingly sad but if it's for his sake you have to remind your self he had an amazing life.

I had to put a cat with Leukemia down. She was a kitten, my folks gave her a blood transfusion hoping it'd work but my knowing it wouldn't. She had a few weeks of a healthy happy life, all the love in the world. She was at the point where she couldn't eat, go to the bathroom or even move/meow. Just remember life sucks sometimes but you had a little one you loved and still will.

[Visceroid]

I currently have 4 dogs, all in the middle ages, so far from going through that... again.
Been through this several times. some of them even died in my arms, but nothing compared to the loss of my dog some years ago which was shot by a raging garden owner (mind my dog was outside of his fence, he nevertheless shot through the fence).
No worries, this man is on my list and before I die I'll have my revenge somehow.

How to handle the grief? No idea really.. I mainly distracted myself and tried not to think of her.

The far worse thing tho, I'm getting towards the age where I have to start thinking about losing my parents some day

[Idrinkwhiterussians]

I brought my dog to get put down. I was basically in shock for the whole day, and had someone else drive.

I can say it was not easy, and I miss her greatly (had her for over 14 years, a black lab no less!) but I knew that after the process she would not be in pain anymore. That and waking up to hear her basically death rattle and laying in her own excrement also made it easier. I hope it does not come to that for you.

[Zoma]

Four cats.

First one was from old age. I don't know how old it was, but it was nearly hairless and could barely walk by the time it died.

Second was a stray that we found in our garage. We couldn't find the owner despite putting up signs across the neighborhood, so we kept it. Despite being the youngest of our cats, it died of unknown causes a few years later. We didn't even know it was dead at first because it's eyes were open and it was in its normal lounging position. The vet doesn't know how it died either.

Third eventually died of diabetes. Was pretty sad because my parents had gotten it at about the same time as I was born. Its final day involved several seizures.

Fourth was put down after we woke up one morning to find its back legs paralyzed. It had fallen off my sister's bed. We don't know if it was paralyzed because of the fall, or if it had fallen because of the paralysis.

[Dispraise]

Had to put a dog down about two years ago. It wast especially hard for a couple of reasons. First and foremost because we were still reeling from a loss in the family a few months earlier. Secondly because we had him for over a decade and in all that time he was as exuberant as a puppy. He was always energetic and playful, and gave no signs that he was slowing down at all. Then one morning he was lethargic, wouldn't eat or move, and was occasionally throwing up. We thought he had just gotten into something and made himself sick. But when it didn't clear up, we took him to a vet and found that he had rather advanced cancer throughout his abdomen.

Nothing unexpected for a dog of his age, but it came as a complete shock since he had given no warning signs.

[Zython]

3 dogs here. Had 2 of them in our family since before I was born. The first one died when I was in 3rd grade (he was 13) due to liver cancer. The other died after I graduated middle school (she was 19) after she became too weak to stand on her own. A few months later, my brother found a stray, who we adopted (13 now, still with us). A few months later, my mother got a 2nd dog. Things were great for a few months, and during that time, I went away for a summer course. The 2nd dog was hit by a car and died literally an hour after I returned. Not the most pleasant homecoming. Haven't lost a pet since, but the 3rd dog is getting old...

[Ginantonicus]

I had a tortoise in a pond in the back yard as a kid. He ran away. Must have decided to race a bunny or something.

[Zoaric]

I had a tortoise in a pond in the back yard as a kid. He ran away. Must have decided to race a bunny or something.

That sucks. =/ Still, the phrase "My tortoise ran away," made me laugh...
I might be a horrible person...

[Adramalech]

Yes.

I had a cat since I was around 4. I'm not sure of my exact age when my uncle gave me the cat. He was pretty young, too... not a newborn, but definitely still a baby.

Through his whole life, that cat was the definition of healthy. When I was 16-17, one night while I was at home, he started coughing weirdly. He went to a corner, and lied there. He never got up again.

Some people may find it silly, but I was freaking crushed by his death. Sometimes I'd go to bed during winter, and notice the lack of him lying near my legs as he used to do when it was cold. It was depressing as fuck.
Funnily, though, I'll never forget about him. It may not be the best way to remember someone (or something), but I have a scar on my face that he inflicted on me when I was around 6 or 7 (or close to it).

I'd like to get a dog someday when I have a more stable life, and more space for him.

That sucks. =/ Still, the phrase "My tortoise ran away," made me laugh...
I might be a horrible person...

Don't underestimate them.

I had two turtles at one point in an aquarium. Once when we got home, one of them was missing. It managed to get out, "jump" out of a ~1.80 meters height, and was hiding beneath my bed. Go figure.

[Rykin]

I had to put my cat down last about 2 years ago... here is his story.

He was a stray that showed up on our back porch, all skin and bones with his ribs showing making his giant head look even bigger next to this thin body. He'd come and eat food we left but run away if we tried to approach him.

A few years went by and whenever my older brother and his friends were hanging out outside drinking he'd come up and just sit about 10 feet away from them, not letting them pet him just being in their presence. Eventually they just started saying "sup Frank" when he showed up to chill with them. More years passed and he slowly got friendlier, allowing a pat on the head but not much more. He started living/sleep in our backyard and became fiercely territorial, mauling any other cat that came in the yard. He was a big, muscular cat with huge paws.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...tos/frank1.jpg
http://s2.photobucket.com/user/Rykin...ml?sort=3&o=45

One day he showed up with a lump on his neck, after a few days it didn't go away so we made an appointment at the vet but the morning of the appointment he ripped the lump open with his claws and it was a bloody mess, so he had to have surgery and a draining tube put in, vet said the lump was just an abscess probably caused by a cat bite. I let him stay in my room and had to clean his wound daily. He became surprisingly more docile allowing me to handle him and from that point on he liked to be pet but would still claw/bite if you didn't pet him just right.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...s/frank001.jpg


Then one day I found a kitten hiding under a trash can lid in my bac yard, it was very skittish at first but warmed up quickly like most kittens we named her Heidi because she liked to hide. Frank didn't pay much attention to it but allowed it to stay, as it grew older they actually chased each other around and played some. When a different cat came in the yard Heidi would run and hide while Frank fought it off.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...s/DSC00274.jpg
http://s2.photobucket.com/user/Rykin...ml?sort=3&o=56

Sadly about a year later Frank showed up with a wound on his nose that we thought was nothing as he always got cuts fighting other cats, but it never healed and continued to grow.
http://s2.photobucket.com/user/Rykin...ml?sort=3&o=46
We took him to the vet to find it was skin cancer. Common in white cats that get too much sun light. The vet gave him 2 months to live.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...os/rain004.jpg
His condition continually got worse, he wouldn't stop bleeding, he could hardly breath, he started to go blind, but he still seemed... fairly happy. He still ate fine and wanted to just sit in my lap and be pet for hours, but one day I finally noticed him struggling to sleep and that's when I knew it was time. he lasted 7 months before I had to put him down.

The Vet gave me this when I had him cremated.
http://s2.photobucket.com/user/Rykin...ml?sort=3&o=19


It's a tough thing to deal with for sure losing a pet you're close to. I cried that day, and teared up a few times over the days that followed but as they say time heals all wounds. The day after I went for a long walk around my neighborhood, without thinking I realized I walked 10 miles. Not sure why but it helped.

[lazypeon100]

My dog passed away a few years back. He lived to be 15, grew up with him. Big old black lab, he had a very quirky personality. Was afraid of swimming, but loved taking baths. Hated vegetables and other random foods he didn't like. He began dying of old age, developed cataracts in his eyes, started losing bladder control, and started having troubles moving on his own.

Ended up taking him to be put down, I've never had to do anything as sad as that before in my life. Loved that dog to death. I still sometimes have muscle like reactions and cry about him. Miss him a whole lot.

[Racthoh]

yeah when i was growing up my mom had a cat. one day, it was like 2 days before christmas, she just disappeared. she was really old and had issues with her most recent litter of kittens (she had like 20 litters in her time) and our parents always thought she found a quite place to die alone. but we never found out what happened to her.

we kept her final kitten and she is really old now too but still alive and well.

also another cat we had got hit by a car.

[Iamanerd]

Well I had him put down today, honestly can say it's the hardest choice I've ever made in my life. Sadly he was in pain and it started a few days ago where you could really see him struggling, his sight was very bad as it was but it just got a lot worse last week along with his back legs. Thing is I told myself I'd bring him for a ride in my new car I got a couple of weeks ago and well I got to bring him in that, I wrapped him up in a blanket and carried him in myself and well the vet put the IV thing in and once I said it was time to go ahead I sat there hugging him, he went peacefully. While I'm still extremely upset and question my decision deep down I know it was best for him, unfortunately I did want a vet to come to our house but the only one who did that was a good 40 minutes away and wouldn't be able to see us until next week.

All in all I know he's pain free and it was the best for him, I thank all of you for the kind words and stories and I'm taking a few days off from work to just clear my head and come to terms. It's just hard to accept that he was here with me and now he's not, but it's a way of life and I'll come to terms with it eventually.