How long is normal to grieve for a dead pet dog?
Grief is unique to you and your circumstances. Never let anyone tell you it's not okay to grieve for your lost doggy friend -- I'll bet she/he was more like family right? My sister grieved for ours for a couple of years. At first we thought it was strange but in hindsight it was more about family and circumstance. Being only three when we got him, my sister had never known a life without our dog Sam. Within a one year time span I moved across the country, our parents spilt up and our dog died. It was rough. She even started making us sister scrapbooks of him. With duplicates of all the photos she could find, she intended to make two almost identical scrapbooks, one for each of us. About three years after Sam died my mom sent me a huge box. Inside was all of the goods for making the books. Turns out my sister had been trying to make the books to surprise me but every time she took the pictures out she'd cry and end up doing very little. I must admit I cried when I saw all of them too, it was like seeing a lost bit of your childhood, but I finished the books, which were about half done, and now we both have one!I have another dog now, a different breed but thy have similar traits, and even now I bring that book out every once and a while. Our pets are more than pets, they are family and we should grieve however we please!
My boyfriend is still grieving for his dead mother?
It's been 2 years since his mother passed. I don't know when he will get over it. I know he misses her and still has memories, but you have to move on. It's impacting me now because when he gets sad, I get sad (and somewhat annoyed). I haven't lost my parents yet, but I have lost a cat and dog and I was over that in a day. I grieve differently (perhaps because I am stronger and my parents told me to not let emotions get in the way), so I don't understand. I think 2 years would be enough, but these feelings of his that keep rising are horrible. When will they stop so he can get on with normal day things?
Is it normal to grieve over a dead pet?
Yes it is completely normal to grieve the loss of anyone that you loved whether they were a person or animal. I lost my dog (15 ½) last December and even though it’s been nearly a year and I will soon be getting a new dog I still get teary eyed about it sometimes. It’s perfectly natural this was a close friend and family memeber for 10 years. To be honest sometimes people take the passing of a dear pet much worse then a losing a human friend. This is often because with animals they take you as you are, you don’t have to worry about impressing them they love fully and unconditional. I think its sweet you made a collage of him that is something you can keep for the rest of your life. If it is too hard for you to look at it right now [which is understandable when your dog just passed away] I would just put it away somewhere and get it out when you are feeling better. As time goes on it will get easier though you may always have a pang of heartache and always miss your departed dog. Try to think of the good times that you had with your dog and that your dog had a wonderful home while he was in this life because many dogs do not. Before my late dog passed away I wrote her a letter and read it to her at the end I told her that I would love her forever and I would miss her until we are reunited in the after life which I know in my heart will happen. You just have to take it one day at a time. Some days will be good and some days will be bad. Also know that there is no time to get “over” the loss of a pet or any loss that one has suffered when a loved one crosses over. I don’t think one every truly gets over losing someone that they truly loved again whether that was an animal or person. There are many books on Pet grief and even support groups out there if you need them. Do not be ashamed there may be some people that will tell you to get over it this people arenot pet people and do not understand how devastating it can be for someone to lose a beloved pet. I am deeply sorry for your loss.
I can still smell my dead dog.. Why?
I am so sorry that you lost your dog. I think this may be more in your memory and it may be that something you are smelling reminds you of it - a clearning solution, for example, or something that is around that triggers you to remember. Another possibility is that if you carpet in your room, there could be a scent captured in the carpet. I think it's terribly sad that you are still grieving so much - you have been grieving for her twice as many years as you had her. I wish you could turn that into something positive and healing for you, in honor of her memory. Would you be able to volunteer at a dog shelter? Do you think you could possibly handle that? If not, then I think it would help you a lot to get involved in a grief and loss support group. Call the social services department at your local community hospital and ask if there is anything like that in your area. The local animal shelter or veterinary referral hospital may have one as well.
Why do I keep seeing my dead dog?
My dog passed away about a month ago after being hit by a pitbull. We ended up burying her in the backyard with a rock above it as a grave. I miss her soo much. She was the only one who hasn't abandoned me and it killed me when she passed. Every time I'm cleaning up after my new dog which I don't have a connection with, I see her outside waiting at the door for her to let me in until she fades away. It kills me because I loved her so much. I've been seeing a lot of things lately and life just hasn't been the same for me. She was what was keeping me from depression, but then she was gone. Am I going crazy? How can I stop seeing her wherever I go? I just can't handle it.
Do dogs grieve when another dog has died?
One of my dogs who was 15 years old died in his sleep at home several days ago. I have 2 other dogs at home. One of them is not acting any different, but the other one seems to be moping around, wandering around, sniffing at all of the places where the dog who passed used to like to snooze and hide his toys. The one who seems upset is an even older dog (18 yrs) and I have a strange sense that the one who passed is almost calling to the other dog from the hereafter. They did everything together for the past 15 years. I really don't want them both to die one right after another but I have a fear of that happening. Could this dog be missing the dog who passed, and how to help her get over it if she is? She herself is a very old dog who I know will not live forever. Just from a selfish perspective, I don't want to have to deal with losing them both one right after another.