When a pet dies?

[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...

Pheobe died in 2000.

I got Jenny in oct. 2004.

[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 )....

[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.