We all know that animals dont last as long as human life spans but does it hurt more when you lose an animal your intimate with, how bad does it affect you? How do you deal with it?

Worst feeling in the world. Although, I have never lost an animal that I was intimate with, as I have only been active for nearly a year (November 1st). But, I have lost 2 cats that I considered my soulmates. The last one died on August 6, 2006. I was devastated. And then on august 6 of this year, I did fine until it was time for bed. And then the tears and waterworks started. It hurt so much, knowing that it had been a year since I had seen him, and that I will never see him alive ever again. And then my current mate, my Husky girl, came and comforted me, and it made me so happy that I had her to help me ease the pain that I was feeling.

When my horse Shadow dies I don't think I will survive it. :(

It is one of the worst feelings imaginable. A bottomless pit that seems like there is no way out, Only with time does it seem like there is a bottom to it, but the feelings and emptiness remains

It's very tough. When my previous dog passed, it took a while to actually accept that she was in fact gone. She used to greet me at the front door every day when I got home, without fail. Not seeing her at the front door, and then suddenly being slammed back to reality is very tough, and something I bet most of you here will understand. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was almost a month before I stopped expecting her to be there.

My current dog is getting up there in years, and doesn't get around as good as she used to. I try not to think about it, but I'm really not looking forward to the day when she will be taken from me :(

Its very had to loose a member of the family. It does not matter if they walk on two or four legs they are still part of my family.

That is one of the prices we pay for this life style.
When anything is born the world is changed
When anything dies the world is changed again.

What is harder is we out of respect for our animal partner must be willing to let them pass if they are in pain or not well.

One of the hardest lessons is how to say and know when to say good by

Rus

i can't even amagin what it would be like to lose him, i am closer to my dog then anybody, if i lost him i really dont know what i would do.

It is very difficult to lose a loved one. I have lost loved ones both family and animals. Most recently was my dog of almost 14 years and although we were not intimate I loved him very much and still miss him. The last months of his life I could see his decline in health and knew the end was near so I made time to spend as much time as I could with him every day. I tried to prepare myself that he would not be with me for very long, as I hugged him every morning I knew it could be the last. I thought I was prepared for the end but when the time came for the last hug I was devastated.
Although the hurt is still there I would not give up the opportunity to share the time we had, the good times were definitely worth it.
RIP Bear

There's no denying that it sucks...a lot. I had an English Springer Spaniel for about 10, maybe 11 years. Since I was about 6 or 7 years old. He was getting old, and he was starting to have bladder incontinence issues among a few other things. He was the only dog I've ever had. For a short time I had a female newfoundland/chow mix puppy, but they ended up not getting along and my mom was worried that it would cause issues for my boy in his old age. I wasn't intimate with him, either. He was my best friend a lot of times though, and he was the first one I went to when I was sad or depressed or anything...he could tell when I was upset, and was always comforting. I went on vacation about 2 years ago now to NYC and while I was gone my mom got rid of him...I didn't get to say a truly proper goodbye and I still miss him now. I don't think it was really fair, but she tells me that he went to a farmhouse in Georgia, with a family who owns other dogs and has plenty of room for them. I have no real way of telling if this is true...so, I just have to trust her. And honestly, I'd rather think that it's true instead of thinking of just about any other alternative. :(

I'll hopefully be getting a dog within the next few months, and maybe I can finally replace the void that his removal from my life has left. I have pet cats and rats, but it's really not the same. Cats are so independent most of the time, and rats are very neat, and much like dogs, but still...not as expressive or loving. I really hope that I'll be able to keep my next dog till his final days, and not be forced to cut our time together short...

Hurts so much I do not have the words... and I never fully get over it. Though I would not want to. It just makes one treasure the memories that much more and keeps hope alive for the dream that you will find another you can love as much.

This post has been edited by dracose on Oct 21 2007, 07:58 AM

i just lost my boarder collie she was my best friend ,i cryed for days .the place dont seem the same with out her .i still have three girls and they helped alot.but it didnt take the pain i felt away . :(

My favorite Great Dane passed away a month ago yesterday. I get along. I function day to day, but life really sucks without her.
Farewell, Jazmine. I shall always miss you.
LTD

Not much more that I can add other than what has already been posted, having another dog, horse or whatever animal you may have had around at the time helps, but there is always going to be that loss that in time will lessen with time, but will never forever leave you. The good thing is the stereotype is true, the good memories tend to overshadow the bad ones as times go on.

like the other have said, its the WOREST thing that will ever happen to you

normally i,m a very closed emotionless fella never cried etc
then i lost one of my fur mates
i was devasted it was like my heart was ripped out of my body
and thrown to the ground and stomped on

and this aftewr many yrs was the event that brought my to tears
i was a sopping crying wreck for days, the emptiness lasted for weeks
even thou i still had his companion mate anothe lover (fem)

and now she gone too

even thou both have been gone many yrs now i still yearn for them both
and still have a hard time when i see a shep or shep mix that remind me
of them


thou there gone in body they are always wiht me in spirit

and there have been others as well i,v lost((((

each has left me the same

but they (these dogs) have made me a better person as far as showing my true emotions