Last night I said goodbye to Dolly, my dog of 18 years. I thought last night would be the hardest, witnessing the vet putting my dog to sleep. But, today was even harder. I woke up crying. I could not go downstairs because I couldn't bare not seeing her sleeping on our couch. When I finally got up the courage to go downstairs, the house felt so empty. Everything reminded me of her. I feel like the pain will never go away. She was not only my pet, but my best friend. She was there as I went through the turmoil of my teenage years and as I grew into an adult.How long does it take for the emptiness and pain to go away?

I am truly sorry for the pain you are feeling right now. It was one week ago that I unexpectedly lost my best friend. I have no idea how long it takes for the grief to disappear, but I also know that it does help when others understand the emptiness you feel, and grieve with you. How lucky you were to have Dolly for 18 years! And even though you must feel inconsolable now, rest assured that the correct decision was made and that you must have done everything right. Take care, and keep coming back to this site for comfort.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet Dolly! I know exactly how you're feeling. I also lost my best friend, Winnie (a beautiful calico kitty who would have been 17 this month), just four weeks ago. I also don't know how long it will take to feel somewhat "normal" again, but I can say that I have seen tiny bits of progress every day over the past month.

What has helped the most is talking with friends, family, and the people on this site about what I'm going through. It is so comforting to know that others out there understand how hard this is, as sad as that thought is. It will take awhile before you'll be able to come to terms with the loss of such a wonderful companion who shared so many years and important events with you! But, I try to remind myself how lucky I am to have so many years of loving companionship with my darling girl! And I do believe that she is living on, in Heaven, watching over me until we can be together again.

Bless you for being such a loving friend to your girl! I hope you are able to start feeling some moments of peace in which you can smile over something silly your Dolly used to do! She IS watching over you and she wants you to remember her with happy feelings, when you're able.

Take good care of yourself,
Eliza

I'm so sorry about your loss. I lost my best friend just over a month ago. He'd also been with me through a rough divorce and restarting my life, always willing to lend his fur to the flood of tears I shed for about a year. I can tell you that these first weeks will be the hardest. The images of their passing are very vivid and hard to get rid of. We had videos of Rush that we watched and photos we collected together to make an album. It really helped to not see him sick and hurting. It reminded us of the long loved life he lead with our family and how many good moments he had compared to the relative few he spent in pain and scared. But it does get better. It's never gone and you never quit wishing for one more day, one more walk, one more slurpy kiss, but gradually, you pass one day without crying, then another, and eventually you find yourself remembering some funny thing and you can actually laugh and smile again remembering the good times.

Hang in there! And remember there's always people here who understand exactly what you're feeling.

Hi,

I'm really very sorry for the loss of your dog after 18 years. You must be unbelievably sad. I'm sad for you. I only had my cat Theodore for 13 years and he will have been gone 2 weeks tommorrow. It's been a rough couple of weeks. And there is no cure for the grief except time. Please lean on all our cyber-shoulders as you move through this hard time. Take care.

Luna

Thank you all for your emails of support. It does help to hear that others are experiencing the same emotions. The mornings are the roughest part of the day. I am glad I found this website--I think that I will log on each morning when I am feeling sad. I also plan to write a tribute to Dolly when I am feeling stronger.She was a wonderful dog and friend. Thanks again. Stephanie

im sorry for your loss, im thinking of you at this painful time

babybears mum sara***XX

OH BOY, I SURE HAD TO RESPOND TO THIS SOON AS I SAW "DOLLY" AS I LOST MY INCREDIBLE "DOLLY" 3 MONTHS AND 4 DAYS AGO. IT STILL HURTS TO EVEN SEE OR HEAR HER NAME. ALL THE PROPERTY STILL SEEMS "HAUNTED" AND PAINFUL. THERE'S TWO THINGS WHICH HELP ME THOUGH . THEY ARE: 1. SHE CERTAINLY IS'NT IN THE PAIN I'VE BEEN AND STILL AM IN (THANK GOD FOR HER) 2. I AM SO GREATFUL SHE PASSED OF NATURAL MEANS EVEN THOUGH SHE DID HAVE TO BE EUTHED.
I FEEL THE MOST SORROW WHEN I SEE POSTS OF ACCIDENTS . I WAS ALWAYS AFRAID WHILE SHE WAS WITH ME AND AM VERY GREATFUL SHE LIVED A LONG HEALTHY LIFE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE USED TO CALL IT "BEAGLE PARADISE".
"D" FOR SHORT, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO SUFFER GRIEF OR ELSE WE WOULD'NT BE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE TO LOVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF OF HER LONG LIFE AND NATURAL TRANSFER , THAT'S GREAT FOR OUR LOVED PETS ; DOES'NT HELP OUR PAIN , AS SOMEONE SAID ABOVE, " ONLY TIME WILL DO THAT." WHEN WE'RE PAST THE SEVERE PAIN( I KNOW FROM PAST PET LOVES) THE POSITIVES WILL BE WHAT REMAINS. BUT LOOSING THESE PETS IS A TRADGEDY NO DOUBT. I'M WITH YA RIGHT TO TO THE NAME (DOLLY)..

I am so sorry for your loss. Just over 6 weeks ago I had to have my best friend put to sleep. She was 15, and was with me for 13 1/2 years. The next day was the hardest, and I would replay the scene at the vets over and over in my head. I kept wondering if I did the right thing. I had made a promise to her many years ago that I would never make her suffer. At first I didn't want to go to work, but I made myself, and it really did help to be around other people. It was hard to get the words out when I told people, but it did help to talk about it. I have read many posts on this site (this is the first I have written). They all tell you it will get easier, and it slowly does, but it will take a long time. They are right when they say that the tears come less often, that the void will always be there, but with time, and the help of friends and family, acceptance and memories will replace the tears. You lost your best friend, someone who was always there for you, always happy to see you, and would never want you to hurt or be unhappy. Even though the pain is incredible, it was so worth it. Right now, be extra gentle with yourself, remember to eat and sleep (the 2 hardest things), and try do something for yourself that is nurturing. You and all who are on this site are in my prayers. God bless.

The first day after is always the hardest. You get used to a routine with them and when that is broken and you face the reality of never having that again, or seeing their beautiful faces, the pain is numbing. The day after Odin died was extremely difficult for me. He had died on a Sunday, and I had decided that I would go into work. It was better than being at home in a depressed state. I remember getting into the shower and wailing like a baby. He had this habit of jumping on the side of the tub between the shower curtain and liner to try an paw at the falling water. We would have these water fights where I would try and splash him with water. Then I would have to fill his mug with water. He would never drink from his waterbowl. Always from his red mug. When I realized that I would never do that with him again, I simply lost it. Its dificult, but it does get easier. Take comfort in the fact that Dolly had 18 wonderful years of love and happiness with you. She was a very meaningful soul in your life and that loss hurts. Just try and cope one day at a time. Its the best that we all can do.

Take Care,
Cynthia

WELL PUT CYNTHIA. I MAY ADD AN OBSERVATION FROM MY "JOURNEY". EVERY REALLY FOND MEMORY (LIKE CYNTH SAID - RED MUG) TURNS HORRIBLY PAINFUL. IF THEY WERE IN THE HOUSE WITH YOU AT XMAS ETC. OH BOY. PAIN, PAIN, PAIN. BUT,,,,, I NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THESE THOUGHTS ON AND SUFFER WITH THEM (TEARS AND ALL) THE NEXT TIME YOU THINK OF THEM; IT'S NOT QUITE AS PAINFUL , SORT OF LOSES A LITTLE OF IT'S STING. YOU ALL MOST HAVE TO WEAR IT OUT. I GUESS THIS IS THE "WORK" YOU MUST DO IN GRIEF. AND YA KNOW WHAT ELSE ? I THINK YA GOTTA PROVE TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ACTUALLY CAN LIVE WITHOUT THEM. GOD KNOWS WE'VE ALL HAD TO PROVE THAT OVER HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER., BREAKUPS AND SUCH. AND TO ME THEY PALE IN COMPARISON. SO TIME MUST GO BY JUST TO PROVE TO OURSELVES WE CAN GO ON. AS THEY SAY "IT AIN'T EASY".

Thanks again for your messages. Today was the first day I did not wake up crying. I guess I am starting to slowly come to peace with losing her. Although I still feel empty with out her, I know Dolly would not want me to be sad. As many of you have said, take one day at a time and each day will get a little better. I am glad Dolly was able to go peacefully and not have to suffer any pain.

PHIL LONNE--Was your Dolly a Beagle? My Dolly was a Beagle mix.

So happy that things are getting a little better. Don't be surprised if you have a little relapse into sadness now and again. You are entitled to those feelings. And perhaps, some day in the not too distant future, the sadness you feel now will be replaced by happy memories. Take care! And keep us up to date on how things are going.
Pat

HI DOL 531,

YOU BET . DOLLY WAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL BEAGLE , WITH GORGEOUS MARKINGS INCLUDING A UNIQUE "ONE SOCK " LOOK - ONE PAW WAS COMPLETELY BROWN AND OTHER 3 WHITE. I HAVE A REALLY NICE PICTURE OF HER AND I, THAT I'M GONNA TRY TO PUT ON HERE IF I ONLY KNEW HOW. (ANY HELP APPRECIATED)
THIS MORNING I WAS RUNNING FREDDIE IN THE FIELDS AND WOODLOTS BEHIND MY HOUSE AND YOU COULD SMELL THE HONEYSUCKLE (FANTASTIC AUTUMN SMELL) THAT I CERTAINLY EQUATED TO PAST DAYS WITH DOLLY RUNNIN AROUND WITH FRED. AND THE TREES ARE STARTING TO REALLY FLAME HERE IN NO. EAST PA HILLS. I JUSTLOST IT. BROKE DOWN . I WAS O.K. YESTERDAY AND LAST NIGHT BUT TODAY: BANG !
I AM REALLY WONDERING ABOUT A GRIEF COUNSELOR OR SOMETHING .(BEEN 3 MONTHS NOW)'
I'LD LOVE TO HEAR ANYONE'S EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. HONEST TO GOD , THE MOST SURPRISING THING WHICH TOOK ME BY SHOCK , IS HOW YOU SUFFER ACTUALLY MORE OVER THESE LITTLE PET KIDS OF OURS THAN WE DO OVER LIKE AN 88 YEAR OLD GRAND MA ETC. AMAZING. AND VERY PAINFUL.

I know how you feel. I really do. We lost our dog Parker yesterday. And I feel so alone. The house seems so empty and has lost its soul. Please hang in there.

I am sorry to hear your sweet dog Dolly had to be put to sleep. She sounded like a real sweetheart. I know it is so hard now because you just can't imagine your life without her.I understand because I lost my cat last week. But I am glad you are sharing your grief with animal lovers who can understand your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sharonkay

a few years agoi I had to put my dog down too. she was always there when I was scared or happy. My parent got her 2 years before they had me I had her my whole life and cried for weeks but I knew nothing would change it. Luckily for me my best friend had her dog die wich she also had her whole life the previous day of christmas. she had stayed with her the whole night and morning trying to comfort her. youll miss her but shes looking after you know and shell always live in your heart.