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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsMy dog died this morning.
I was becoming convinced that my brother's spirit passed on, and I was starting feel more emotionally normal. But I knew my dog's time was coming. I spent alot of time with him and helped him get around outside, and he brought himself back into the house. He quietly passed away.
I miss him already. He was a lab-mix rescue, and very protective of me. He would body block my autistic son if he was coming to hit me. He would bark to warn my other son.
I hate cranking up the grief process again.
Keeping you in my thoughts and sending healing vibes
Jim__
(15,295 posts)My last dog was a lab-mix rescue. I had to put him down about 5 years ago. Still miss him.
SheltieLover
(82,081 posts)Healing vibes on the way to you.
LoisB
(13,641 posts)waterwatcher123
(558 posts)Solly Mack
(97,333 posts)padfun
(1,930 posts)We can be with our pets in the other realm.
OAITW r.2.0
(32,827 posts)You love them like your kids. Kills you to have to deal with the loss.
debm55
(62,268 posts)dem4decades
(14,509 posts)ExtraGriz
(512 posts)You were there for him. Always remember that!
I have 3 dogs, one is a chocolate lab mix, he's 14 years old and don't have a lot of time. I spoil him!!!
.
LuckyCharms
(23,215 posts)MIButterfly
(3,285 posts)I know how painful it is. My thoughts and sympathy are with you on the loss of your precious dog. He sounds like he was a wonderful dog.
ABC123Easy
(425 posts)I can commiserate with you. Lost my Aussie last year and my last one, a chow mix is getting close to her time now.
Sounds like your best buddy loved you very, very much. It's good you were there with him in his last moments.
Wish you the best.
TomSlick
(13,104 posts)I have concluded that nothing that loves as unconditionally as a dog can live as long as we would like. The grief is the cost we pay for the love.
I continue to be willing to pay the cost.
cachukis
(4,121 posts)Lifeafter70
(1,224 posts)Hugs to you
Joinfortmill
(21,795 posts)Response to Ilsa (Original post)
Escape This message was self-deleted by its author.
spooky3
(38,927 posts)StarryNite
(12,178 posts)Dogs and cats are family and when they die it is terribly heartbreaking 💔 Watch for signs, hes gone in body but not in spirit.
Maraya1969
(23,604 posts)you,
Figarosmom
(13,988 posts)Dogs are such friends. It's not easy to come to terms with their loss. Sounds like he loved you completely. Always there to protect you. Peace.
Charlie Chapulin
(402 posts)I lost my all time favorite dog this past February. Hard to lose our canine pals.
DarthDem
(5,469 posts)It sounds like he had a wonderful life with you. I'm glad he passed in peace and may he rest the same.
FalloutShelter
(14,682 posts)Remember he will always be with you.
I have a thirteen year old pittie and I cherish every day, but I feel my precious pets around me all the time.
irisblue
(38,002 posts)Skittles
(173,318 posts)nor speak of me with tears
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you
I loved you so
twas Heaven here with you
- Isla Paschal Richardson
Tesha
(21,170 posts)Im so sorry for your grief
orangecrush
(31,490 posts)JMCKUSICK
(6,717 posts)Please help your grief process by celebrating his life and all he gave to you. The tears should about equal the joys.
May it be so for you.
Grim Chieftain
(2,160 posts)Losing a beloved pet is absolutely heartbreaking, been there done that. I hope you can take some comfort from the wonderful memories you shared.
You are in my thoughts.
Botany
(77,999 posts)Sadly, that is beyond my skill set. The more you loved your dog and the more the dog
loved you the more you will hurt. However your dog will live on in your heart forever.
When you are ready there are lots of dog shelters that can use volunteers to walk, talk,
and just be a buddy to a dog.
lindalou65
(396 posts)Our pets are like our kids and when they go, some part of us dies too. I'm sure he knew he was very loved. May he rest in peace.
snowybirdie
(6,760 posts)We love those little guys
Trueblue Texan
(4,673 posts)I lost my baby Emo boy on May 1st and I so know that pain. It will be some time before we can talk about it and I truly think the grief is compounded by losing a family member in a timely proximity. I don't let myself cry at all if I can help it--it just seems to deepen the grief for me, but God, it is so painful. My heart goes out to you and my arms are around you virtually.
calimary
(91,084 posts)Our pets are VERY special Gifts From Above.
Right now, Im out on our deck, surrounded by our three cats. And with the kids grown and gone, THEYRE our babies now. I know theyll all gonna leave at some point. And I know Im gonna be a mess when that happens.
Just know youre not alone in your grief. Were here for you, even while every one of us pet owners knows itll be us, too, soon enough.
(((((((((( * ))))))))))
sinkingfeeling
(58,133 posts)Permanut
(8,628 posts)I'm glad you were able to spend a lot of time with him.
All the best healing to you, Ilsa.
KT2000
(22,246 posts)It is not easy to lose your friend. Peace to you.
JoseBalow
(9,807 posts)I recently lost my dog, and my partner, so I know how terribly painful your grief is. You're not alone.
Please be kind to yourself and care for yourself as best as you can. I hope you can enjoy the good memories when you are able, and can begin to feel a little better soon.
niyad
(134,513 posts)Oneironaut
(6,338 posts)FakeNoose
(42,693 posts)I lost my gorgeous, loving Buddy almost exactly a year ago and I still miss him and love him to pieces.
I wish I'd been a better Mom, I wish I'd spent more time giving him rubby-tummies and scratchy-backs because he loved them so much. He used to be so patient, waiting all day for me to sit on the couch at night to watch TV, and he would jump right up in my lap. But so many nights, I didn't give him that pleasure, and now I can't do that any more.
I'm convinced that we never get over losing our favorite dogs. It's hard to think about getting another dog ... maybe some day. Maybe I will, I don't know. For me, there will never be another dog like Buddy. That's the only thing I know.
iluvtennis
(21,542 posts)AllaN01Bear
(29,892 posts)popsdenver
(2,722 posts)Take all the time you need to grieve. I seriously grieved my last one for three whole months solid, then slowly for another six months......
Each time, I swear I am never going to get another dog and go through that again......but after awhile I give in (nine times now)
kimbutgar
(27,637 posts)They are our friends and family.
ProfessorGAC
(77,444 posts)The toughest time for every pet owner.
We empathize completely.
Take care.
LetMyPeopleVote
(182,976 posts)brer cat
(27,723 posts)memories will comfort you during this terrible time.
orleans
(37,295 posts)Niagara
(12,276 posts)Cross gently Ilsa's lab-mix rescue support doggie.
Laurelin
(969 posts)I wish there were words to help you in your grief, but I don't know any. I hope you find strength.
❤️🩹
70sEraVet
(5,687 posts)paleotn
(22,909 posts)Been there. It's never easy. My wife and I have been dog parents virtually our entire lives so we've been through this a few times. We miss them all. But after a while, the pain recedes, and your left with wonderful memories of sweet, sweet puppers. We still laugh about their antics long after they've left us. They still live on in our hearts.
Diamond_Dog
(41,297 posts)Been there - they are never with us long enough.
some_of_us_are_sane
(3,763 posts)There's no 'inference' or ulterior motives. They love PURELY and openly.
I understand your grief, Ilsa.
TBF
(37,449 posts)I had one for 12+ years that was a big English lab and wouldn't let anyone near me on walks. Absolute best. I am so sorry for your loss!
Luciferous
(6,614 posts)BigmanPigman
(55,670 posts)My first dog died on Dec 15th and for 10 days I heard her distinct sounds...like trying to open the closet door to sleep, opening the bedroom door to go out and she even moved around under my bed like when she was young. My friend who loved her as much as I did experienced the same thing. This friend taught me about metaphysical stuff when I was younger.
I know of several people who saw their own dog or cat walk past them in the days after the soul went home. This is fairly common but most people don't want to share for fear of being called crazy. That sucks!
The energies of animals (especially dogs) communicate with you after they have passed. Their entire lives are about giving you unconditional love and that is why the come back to visit you. They want to calm you down and make sure that you know they are not dead but are waiting for you to go home with them.
It happened after my dad died when a year later my second dog passed at 11AM. A few days later I was resting and that's when she came to visit me and I saw my dad. It was as clear as day. I saw my dad sort of floating and Spike standing on the floor next to me as usual. When I saw my dad I realized Spike was NOT standing next to me since my dad had already died. I tried to bend down and scoop her up in my arms (she was tiny...7 pounds) but then she went with my dad and they went around a corner together. It was meant to show me that my dad was taking care of Spike until I join them.
Guess what? She STILL comes back to visit me (6 years later)!!! I have learned to keep a Post It pad on my nightstand. Since she usually visits when I am in between asleep and awake I force myself to document her visits so I don't forget them in the morning. I've done research and this seems to be the time when the "soul's energy" is able to break through to the human subconscious. Animals communicate on a different vibration level than people so it's easier for them to reach us when we are in the most acceptable time which is when you are half asleep. I have heard her distinct bark outside the bedroom and on my bed next to the window where she slept, I have felt her move past me (she slept on the bed next to me), I have dreamt about us doing normal stuff, etc. But the time she most often she comes is from the floor next to my side of the bed. She whines, like she always did, to wake me up and let her go outside (I have severe insomnia so she needed to wake me up and that's how she did it). Also, since she died at 11 AM she actually visits at that time more than any other time.
Once you experience something like this yourself you know it isn't crazy BS. Many people share their experiences with me since I don't care about anyone's opinion and if they think I'm crazy. Too many people are afraid of sharing their own experiences since societies and cultures are so close minded but once you DO share so many people finally feel free to open up and tell you that they had similar experiences.
This is a loooooong post but I feel very strongly about this subject. My baby died on June 2 and I lit candles for her on Tuesday I tell her I love her every night and I believe she comes to visit, hoping to cheer me up and to let me know she IS waiting for me. I hope you are open to any experiences you may have and I hope you keep a pad of paper and a pen so you can document any visits. You will feel much better when that happens.
Ilsa
(64,655 posts)I can remember decades ago when my sister's boyfriend came over. He must have been a medium or a sensitive, saying he kept anticipating a medium-sized dog coming around the cornrr of the house. He didn't know that years before, we lost our lost our dog, an alpha, with high energy, always patroling around the house.
Over the last three weeks, I've wondered if my brother, Texas Towelie, had visited me. A couple of times I had that feeling, but couldn't pinpoint the evidence for it.
I have had several experiences in both twilight sleep and a calm, clear-headed awake state where I was visited by a spirit who understood that I had not been notified of his death. Another time an unintended astral projection told me, "I just wanted you to know." A week later I received a letter from the person who projected himself into my twilight sleep. He explained about the death of a mutual friend in the line of duty.
My sweet black mixed-lab didn't want to leave me, even though I told him it was okay to let go, and we would see him again because we loved each other.
BigmanPigman
(55,670 posts)but I didn't know he was dead until the next day. Since I have insomnia I was awake and watching TV at 12:40 AM and I heard a man's hard soled shoes walking in the bathroom in the apt over mine. My dad was the only person that wore that type of shoe and I recognized the sound. I saw my neighbor was going outside to smoke a cig and I went out and I told him someone was walking around upstairs. That apt had been empty for 4 months. I told him to go up there and see what's up since it was dark and I'd wait and call the police. He refused to go up there since he was spooked.
The specific sounds my dogs made and my dad's shoes were clues meant for my ears.
I'm so glad you are open to experiencing stuff like this. If you are visited you must let me know about it!
oldsoldierfadingfast
(430 posts)my own experiences started when I was 5 yo and I do not remember the 1st one, but have been told by others that witnessed it. The events occur at different times of the day when I am wide awake. I have only 'seen' two dead persons; the others I have felt, sensed and/smelled their presence. I do not hear them speak, but their words come into my thoughts. My mother and maternal great-aunt also had this ability - some called it a blessing while others called it a curse. I call it both and learned early to pick and choose those to whom I could tell.
When my brother was in the hospital dying, I was on the phone with him. He told me he loved me; but had to hang up and that he would talk with me again soon. I said "I love you, big Bro." but did not hang up the phone. The next voice I heard was his nurse who told me my brother had smiled, handed her the phone and died. (I was not in condition to travel and his funeral was 2000 mi. away.)
Several days later, when I was doing genealogy and looking for my long lost mat. grandfather as I had done many times but had found nothing on him after finding his 1st marriage, I felt my brother standing behind me, looking over my shoulder. The thought popped in my mind, look up Uncle -----! On the Uncle's death cert. was my grand-father's real name; which was different from the one he used and is on his death cert. and tombstone. I had found him!
When my mother was in ICU and still unconscious, I was told to go home and get some rest, they would call me for any change. I got the call just as soon as I laid down; dressed and went out to the car to find my stepfather - he had been dead 3 years. He sat beside me and I could sense his sweet-diabetic aroma mixed with his after-shave. He stayed with me into the early hours of the morning when I was called back into ICU. I was given the opportunity to be alone with my mother for a few minutes. Told her I loved her and would be OK, then I sense her moving toward the upper corner of the room where my stepfather waited. I sensed their smiles and waved good-bye thru tears.
For years, I could sense when something bad was going to happen soon; just not what or to whom; my Ex call it my "sense of impending doom".
I also used to be able to meditate and enter an altered state or to use a semi-self hypnotic state where I could control any pain that I had.
It seems as if I have lost all the above abilities in just the past few years and I don't know why; but I do remember them with clarity.
BigmanPigman
(55,670 posts)over the past few years. I'm not nearly as sensitive as you were, I wish I were and I hope I don't lose the ability. That would make me very sad. Sometimes I'll get many visits in a few weeks then none at all for a few months. When I have done research I learned that asking spirits/souls/energies (what ever you choose to call them) to visit is helpful. Every night I ask them to visit me and make sure I remember the visits but I still keep a notepad by my bed since I DO forget and when I see my note the next day it reminds me what I'd experienced. My sister thinks none of this really happens. I guess most people don't believe it until they personally experience it first hand, what a shame.
lonely bird
(3,071 posts)Have gone through that twice. It is never easy but the memories soothe the pain over time.
wendyb-NC
(4,742 posts)Pets are family members they become essential to our lives. They have a heart, soul, spirit and mind, they understand us.
Take care, may you find peace as you grieve in your own way.
FoxNewsSucks
(11,982 posts)electric_blue68
(27,531 posts)hamsterjill
(17,864 posts)Gosh, it's just a punch in the gut to lose one even when you know the time is near. I'm grateful he had a gentle passing, and as a rescuer, most grateful to know one was loved and cared for.
I hope you will find some strength and calm, and I will say a prayer for you and your puppy dog tonight as is my practice.
Peace and comfort.
MLAA
(19,820 posts)❤️
Morbius
(1,169 posts)It is good that he went peacefully; that's something anyway.
debsy
(1,063 posts)🥺
Ilsa
(64,655 posts)It's been me and my younger son grieving all afternoon. The sweet ladies from Restful Rainbow also recognized my pain and gave me hugs.
It really does feel like he's still with us.
Dear_Prudence
(1,201 posts)Condolences to you and to your family.
red dog 1
(33,592 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(17,786 posts)I'm sorry Ilsa.
area51
(12,766 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(11,677 posts)It's been almost eight years since we had to let our doggie go. The first had passed about five years before he did.
I am still not over either one, to be honest.
Lulu KC
(8,910 posts)It's the worst.
niyad
(134,513 posts)loving arms, and send peace and comfot to his grieving loved ones.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your precious boy. And so soon after your brother. May you find pece and healing. Do not be surprised if your boy comes to visit you.
Deuxcents
(27,899 posts)As precious as those we love and I wish you all the comfort and peace you deserve now and always 🌺
cate94
(3,129 posts)catrose
(5,380 posts)littlemissmartypants
(34,859 posts)oldsoldierfadingfast
(430 posts)to you right now while you go about you usual routines without him; however, prepare yourself to see him again. He will be the 1st to greet you at the Gate.
With Lab blood in him, he can out-run all the others (esp. people) who will be waiting for you when it is your turn to pass.
There are five candles of different sizes beside my computer; I light one each time I am on DU and read about a death.
The 1st (smallest) is for well known people about whom I cared.
2nd, (larger) is for a friend of a DUer.
3rd (even larger) is for a family member of a DUer.
4th (largest) is for a DUer.
The last one is in a silver replica of an Angel holding a taper aloft. (other candles are not tapers) It is for our pets. It is now burning.
UpInArms
(55,507 posts)The loss of our friends is such a stinging pain
I often feel like Mr. bojangles
after fifteen years he still grieved
HeartsCanHope
(1,769 posts)The love our furred family members give us is so pure and strong. It is so hard when they leave us.
Sending you light, and love. You will be in my thoughts.
TommieMommy
(3,147 posts)Fla Dem
(27,818 posts)The depth of our sorrow is the love we had for them and them for us.
Wolf Frankula
(3,853 posts)I wish four legged people could live longer.
Dem_in_Nebr.
(361 posts)I've lost dogs, too.