When a pet dies?

[Argranade]

When a pet dies do you get another soon after like about a week after or so?

Or do you wait a year or 2?

For me I get a new pet as soon as possible shure I miss the pet that has passed so very much but for me getting a new one helps release pain and gives me a chance to move on so I stop thinking about the death.

What do you do>?

[IRescue452]

I get a new one, especially a dog or cat. When one pet dies, it opens up a window to love and rescue another. I don't sulk for a year or two, sulking doesn't do anybody any good.

[Chilli]

I would say yes.
When Marley died, that very same day we officially accepted the hamster we were babysitting as an official resident (with permission, of course!).
When my goldfish died, leaving her tankmate lonely, I waited about a week, but I did find a goldfish to keep the remaining guy company. And they get along great. :D
As for dogs and cats, I don't know. I haven't had one actually die. I do think I would probably get a new member of the family within a few months, though, but not right away. I'm sure thats what the previous pet would rather me do instead of sulking over him/her.
Mainly the only time I've accepted another pet right after a death is if it left behind a cagemate or a tankmate that was lonely (as with my goldfish) or if it was in need of a home (as with the hamster). I do like to wait for the right pet to come to me.

[k9krazee]

What a sad topic!

No, we have always waited. Thankfully, I have never had to deal with the death of a dog, and hopefully I won't have to for many more years. After my cats passed away though, I never went out and got another, the right cat ended up finding US. I think the only time I wanted to get a pet immediately is after my guinea pig Zorro died, I wanted to get a new friend for Henry. I ended up waiting a couple of months though before I got Elvis. I don't think I'd be able to go and get a new pet so soon after the death of one...but thats just me.

[K9soul]

I don't sulk for a year or two, sulking doesn't do anybody any good.

There is a difference between sulking and grieving. Everyone is different in how they grieve, and for how long they do so. I just think to term it as sulking is somewhat offensive. I think of sulking as petulance.

sulk - to be in a huff and display one's displeasure; "She is pouting because she didn't get what she wanted"

grieve - To mourn or sorrow for; "We grieved the death of our pastor."

For me, it really depends on what my life is like at the time it happens, what my current pets are and what their needs are. Some people grieve very deeply and it can interfere with bonding if they move too quickly.

[luvofallhorses]

When our basset hound, Buddy had to be pts, my parents got Rocky because my parents didn't want us to grieve so much and I have to say he helped our hearts heal. He is almost 10 years old now, I still miss Buddy every day and it's been almost 10 years. I truly believe Buddy told Rocky to be good to us and he has, he really has. but with other pets passing away, we have waited..it's just so hard to rush into another pet so soon for me anyways.

[Vela]

I get a new one, especially a dog or cat. When one pet dies, it opens up a window to love and rescue another. I don't sulk for a year or two, sulking doesn't do anybody any good.

That's a rather rude way to suggest someone is mourning their pet...If my dog were to die tomorrow I wouldn't consider it sulking if I didn't run right out and get another, which I probably won't. Some people need to greive becuse the loss affects them tremendously, others may not feel as attached and thus can move on without it affecting them as much. Everyone grieves differently, some need another pet right away, some can't bear the thought of it. I don't consdier that pouting.

[luvofallhorses]

That's a rather rude way to suggest someone is mourning their pet...If my dog were to die tomorrow I wouldn't consider it sulking if I didn't run right out and get another, which I probably won't. Some people need to greive becuse the loss affects them tremendously, others may not feel as attached and thus can move on without it affecting them as much. Everyone grieves differently, some need another pet right away, some can't bear the thought of it. I don't consdier that pouting.

I agree.

[Sophist]

I picked other, since it depends. I certainly don't plan ahead and get a new pet immediately just because a 'slot' is open. I think rushing out and getting one right away reeks of trying to replace what you lost, and I've never had a pet I could replace. A lot of factors go into when I bring a new pet into my home. The process has been anywhere from days to years to never (so far).

[GreyhoundGirl]

I waited a few years, I didn't want Pheobe to feel replaced. Plus, I didn't think I could take care of a dog anymore. After all, I had already killed one... :o :(

Pheobe died in 2000. :(

I got Jenny in oct. 2004. :D

[PinkSunshine]

Well we've only experienced the loss of 1 pet, our APBT Jake, 2 years ago. He died in Feb 2004 from testicular cancer and he had been my husbands dog for 6 years. My husband was devastated when he passed and pretty soon afterwards he started looking into other breeds. We got Dozer 3 months later, at the age of 12 weeks (Dozer was born 10 days before Jake passed :eek: )....

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

Yes, but I wouldn't jsut rush out to the shelter or a newspaper add and get a pup the next day or anything. This probably sounds horrible, but if Tango were to die tomorrow I'd call my Toller breeder about 5 days later and ask to be put on the waiting list for a new puppy from the next litter or the litter after that depending on how many people were already waiting. I can't/couldn't ever live without a dog of my own for a too long of a time period. I don't get new dogs/pups to replace my past ones, that just isn't possible. I prefer to get another dog/pup sooner rather than later simply because dogs are my life, and like I said, I truly couldn't live without one of my own.

[.sarah]

I would start searching for the perfect new pet probably a few weeks after one died, but the time when I get a new one would vary depending on when I find the perfect one for our family.

When our dog Retread died, we were not ready for another dog right away as we were still grieving his death, but our other dog Buttons was so depressed that we thought he might grieve himself to death. We got Mandy two weeks after Retread died to comfort Buttons. We weren't ready emotionally but she did help us heal a lot, including Buttons.

When Buttons died, we waited three months before we found the perfect dog (Nova) for our situation. I was ready for another dog maybe a month after he was gone, but the perfect dog didn't come along for two more months.


Now, if I had only one dog and no other pets, and it died, I think I would be at the shelter or humane society within a week after it's passing. My other dogs have helped so much when the other passed, I don't think I could grieve properly without a mountain of fur to bury my tears in.

[Suki Wingy]

I don't know! Luckily I've only had to do it 4 times, 3 fish and a hamster. After the fish I got Tigger to fill the tank because I couldn't bare not to have a pet. The hamster was PTS because he had a very large cancerous tumor and he was almost 4 so we couldn't opperate. He wasn't even mine though, my cousin gave him to me to take care of when he moved to England. He didn't know how long he was going to live their but he never saw Hammy again, my cousin ended up staying there 5 years.

[Danegirl2208]

not right away...when my first dane died, i was crushed, ya know to me its like losing a best friend, i just cant go out and try and replace somthing i loved so much..i waited over 2 years before geting another dog after Tank died, that was quite a long time i know, but his death was very hard for me..same with my doby who passed away June 1st of this year..i had been planning on getting another puppy for a while but dobys death definatly put a major hold on that, doby was my first dog i had him for so long, his death was and still is very hard for me to think about

[lute]

it depends. i kinda of don't have a choice of when i get a new animal. random animals just land in my lap. i'm perfectly fine with that! :D although, before i had a group of animals i had a yorkie. when he died i wanted to wait a while to get another dog, but my mom insisted we adopt this adorable red pomerainian. that was my Beanie! :)

[managemysite]

I know it is bad to say, but I usually get a new pet as another pet gets older, to help remove some of the attachement to the older pet. If I had 2 pets of similar age, I might have to deal with the loss of 2 pets at the same time and that would be devistating

[chocolatepuppy]

When my RB Corey died we got Lacey 3-4 months later, but then we didn't have a dog, just the cats, and we missed having a dog. Having recently lost Mandy, time will tell when we get another dog, but I know we will.
I would never judge anyone for getting another dog even the next day, if that is what's right for them. Some people wait years, I could never wait that long, I love having dogs. I don't feel that 'when' you get another dog has anything to do with how much you loved your RB dog. Everyone is different.

[Alysser]

Yes, but not the next day. Maybe a couple of months or 1 year after the pet died. For me, personally, I need time to mourn the loss of my pet. I believe that when a pet dies it can NEVER be replaced, EVER! But you can still save the life of an animal in need, and fill a different place in your heart with the new animal, but the other animal will always have a place too. Your heart is big enough for all the animals in the world, IMO.

I really don't think I'm getting another parakeet though. Star just isn't the kind of bird who likes other ones in her cage. Weird I know, but she used to torture Sunny to the point where we almost had to separate them.

[Sevaede]

I picked other.

I am not ready for quite some time, between one and two years. I still have not gotten another ferret and it's been almost three years.

Soni found us three weeks after Tier passed and I was not ready but I couldn't just leave that poor little kitty out on the street so in with us he came and is staying. :) We got Isis, as a friend for him, two months later.

[Argranade]

I think its realy can depend on the animals.

Like Im shur a dogs death could be taken more painfuly than a goldfish [No offece goldfish lovers :o ].

So if a dog died Im shur you would wait a while maybe a couple of months but as for a fish it can be replaced more easily.

Well for me anyway but I do love goldfish I love my bubbles. :D

[ParNone]

I don't think there's any "right" length of time. You feel what you feel. It doesn't make you a lesser or worse person, because you grieve longer or shorter then somebody else. Depends on the individual and the circumstance.

When Maddie died, I didn't get Gulliver until 6 mos or so. I thought I was ready, but as it turned out, I probably should have waited a lil' longer. I cried the first week I had him, because he wasn't Maddie. I recognized in my mind that I was comparing and that I shouldn't, but my heart needed that lil' extra show of love for Maddie, before I could let go, I guess. I still love her, but I was able to open up my heart to Gull too. Can't imagine life without the Gull man now. It sure wouldn't be filled with as much laughter as it is now. :)

Par...

[binka_nugget]

It depends. When one of my fish die, I do get another one.. because it opens up housing for another betta (didn't mean to make that sound that heartless :p)

If one of my birds died, I wouldn't run out and get another.. unless it was Ozzie as he's my only really sweet one that loves people. But I wouldn't get one right away.. maybe months down the road or even a year.

If one of my dogs died, I know nothing would replace Kai or Kae. I wouldn't go seeking a dog right away but if one that was less than fortunate came to me, I probably would take it in.

[Merlin]

This is sad but when my fish died it wouldn't fit down the toilet and we had to refrigerate it waiting for trash night.

[charmie]

I would say yes most of the time, but I put other, becuase I wan't sure if you ment getting another pet of the same type.

For example, once I had a hamster, I loved him so much, when he died I was very sad, and I wanted to get antoher pet, but I wasn't ready to get another hamster yeat because of their short lifspans, so I got a guinea pig.

If thats hwat you mean, them yes! :)

[zanyshihtzu]

When I lost my pekingese Baby to cancer I knew I would eventually get another dog. I spent a year researching breeds before getting my shihtzu Mia.
I love pekes but no peke could ever live up to Baby. He was a real sweetie.

[lv4dogs]

I voted other because it would depend a lot of different things. Too many to list but some examples would be, depends on how I felt, do I want another pet (for example I love rodents but I just don't really want any more yet), if I can handle, afford & have the time for one, would my other animals & family members be willing to accept another addition, the list can go on & on.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I voted other. I wouldn't rush out and get another pet as soon as one has passed, and although I would probably get another in the future, it isn't to "replace" the one I lost. It would depend on the situation on whether or not I got another and how long it would take. Sometimes you plan a pet, sometimes they find their way to you.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I said "yes", because that is what we did after our Sydney died!
2 days after we found out that Sydney died while we were on vacation,
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/sydney.htm
I realised I could not live without a cat. RB-Sydney directed us to a shelter, where we found our lovely Maya!!

[Corinna]

I waited about 9 months after losing my Merlin . I would have still been waiting if not for Lute and her rescue operations . Tyson is a totally differnt kind of dog than my Merlin. But I love him lots I think even though Merlin whispers in his ear he doesn'talways listen to him either. :rolleyes: :D

[zoey]

I answered yes, but before reading the question after the poll. No. I don't think a week or 2 would be enough time.
The amound of time would depend upon so many things. But if I died, I'd want my doggy to get a new person and i think animals wouldn't want you to be lonely either.

[Miss Z]

I answered yes. Right now, 3 weeks after Zsa-Zsa, I have started to think about another cat/s. It feels empty in the house to not have a cat around. I will always feel sad for Zsa-Zsa, but she would want me to have another cat and to have as much fun and love from another feline as much as I did with her. My mum wants to wait before we get another cat but I don't really see what we have to wait for, waiting doesn't bring Zsa-Zsa back and it just makes us dwell on the fact that she's gone. When we are feeling happier, with another cat, then we can reflect on the times with Zsa-Zsa. I have always been fairly keen to get another pet after I lose one, not simply for the fact of having another pet, but because it feels pretty unbearable to be without one. I've never been without any pets at any point in my life, I would probably break down if that happened now. I need animals to feel happy, as I'm sure everyone here agrees with.:)