Death and Pets

**dionne** · 08-15-2007, 12:05 AM

As some of you may know, my boyfriend's dog, Angus was PTS last week because of major organ failure. I was the one who found him and made the call to his parents.

The overwhelming guilt I still feel about it, I believe, has a lot of inspiration for this post.

Please keep in mind while you read this, that I'm not trying to be morbid, and don't really want to be a "downer" or depressing, but I just want to see what you're opinions are on this, just to see if maybe I'm not the only person who thinks this.

Does anyone every get really scared of having a pet? By this I mean, pets generally have short life spans, some shorter than others, some longer, but by no means as much as a humans. Does anyone just get completely terrified about knowing that one day they might have to watch their pet die?

I have two cats as of right now, which I love so terribly much. I love these two babies like my own children, more than most people. My best friend's baby, Soni just died, Sean's dog died, my aunt had her oldest cat (age 17) PTS last month...is there something in the water?

I know these things happen. I know that, inevitably, it WILL happen. But sometimes just thinking about it overwhelms me probably more than it should.

When it comes to Angus, Sean's dog, I cried. And I tear up still. For Angus, for the grief his family feels. Some people in my life (note I say people, and not friends) say things like "It was just a DOG, what's your problem?" or "It wasn't YOUR dog, what's your problem..."

At this point, I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this post...So I will just ask: Does anyone else ever feel this way?

(my mom has always called me a doom-sayer..

)

**IRescue452** · 08-15-2007, 05:06 AM

Sometimes, knowing Autumn is well over the first half of her life. And with Sonny I had weeks to get used to the idea that he'd be pts soon. But I like older animals and I can deal with losing them so long as they've been loved.

Now my mother can't deal with it well at all. She has to get an animal as a baby so she can have it for as long as possible, and it takes her a good year to even start looking for a new pet after a death.

**chocolatepuppy** · 08-15-2007, 05:11 AM

Does anyone every get really scared of having a pet?

I think it's normal to feel that way after losing a pet. In time, hopefully you will feel better about it. Although our pets lives are too short, they are well worth the years we have them.

**Kalei** · 08-15-2007, 06:39 AM

I think most people that own pets get that awful overwhelming feeling. Specially the owners who truely love their pets like their children. I can't even think of my cat Bobo passing away someday without starting to cry wherever I may be. It just kills me inside.

But I think that having the love and sharing the love and joy with your pet for the time that you have him or her is all worth it. I'd rather love that pet for the years than not have loved one at all.

But all in all you are right, it is always really sad, and sometimes you can get extremely depressed and worse, but you always move on sooner or later and then from that time on you keep them in your memories and photo albums, and while they are still inside your heart, they know you still love them dearly and hope you share your love with another like them

**Blue Dragonfly** · 08-15-2007, 08:35 AM

I know exactly what you mean. i am constantly thinking like that. I look at boof, or one of my other pets and i think, i know i am going to have to go through the hurt of losing you. I think this when i am in my most loving state of mind. I think it just means you really love your pet.

I used to worry so much about my guinea pigs outside. they were in their cages, but i would hear the cats making noises outside. i would constantly worry in my bed. sometimes i would get up multiple times and go outside in the freezing cold just to be sure, otherwise i would not be able to sleep.

When i was camping i would seal every inch of their cages so bugs, spiders and snakes couldn't get in there. i could never stop worrying. even if i could get someone to look after them i would worry.

Sometimes i think that it would be better not to have any pets at all. That it would save me a lot of stress, but then i see their little faces, and it reminds me of all the good times they give me. The good far outways the bad. I think it is a nature human reaction not to want to set yourself up for a fall. to be hurt.

Trust me, if you dont have any animals and you come home from a bad day, you just want a pet to cuddle and spoil and comfort you. Rest assured, you are not morbid, just extremely deep and in love with your pets.

Hope this helps.

**Catlady711** · 08-15-2007, 08:34 PM

To me your post makes perfect sense. I went through that the last few weeks Dusty was with me. From what I've read on the net it's called 'pre-grieving'. And honestly getting through that time, horrible as it was, actually helped me somewhat with the grieving process after she died. At least while 'pre-grieving' you still have your pet with you and can do all those things for them that you might not have thought of until later when they were gone.

Hope that makes sense.

Don't fear so much you stop owning pets, just enjoy each day you have with them, pre-grieve now and again if you need to, and just love them for how ever long they have with you.