I lost my best friend and baby girl, Sugar, on Christmas Day. She was only 5 years old. Another neighborhood dog killed her. My family was spending a week here with us for Christmas. We all had been letting the dogs outside and letting them back in when they scratched on the door. I was the last to let the dogs out sometime in the afternoon on Christmas day. Later on that day after my mom got home from work I noticed Scout (my mom's chihuahua) was inside but didn't see my little Sugar (also a chihuahua). So naturally I assumed she was curled up underneath her blankie as usual for her. But she wasn't there. I became very worried immediately because it's not like her to still be outside where it was chilly. She was a mere 5 lbs and hated to be cold. So I called for her inside and out but no Sugar. I then started crying because I just knew either someone had picked her up or she was dead. So I went out looking for her as all of my family sat down to eat Christmas dinner. Then when I returned, my dad, uncle, and grandpa set out to look for her. I left again going to all the neighbors houses to see if they had seen her. And as I was walking back to the house from one direction I saw my dad walking back from the other direction carrying a plastic bag. I LOST IT!!!

This can't be happening.... I screamed NO..NO..NO..NO! Don't take my baby away from me! I was hysterical. I couldn't move. I fell to the ground and I couldn't get up. I could feel my heart being ripped right out of my chest. This is the worst pain in the world. My dad told me it was another dog that had done this. But I didn't have the heart to look at her. I was afraid it would make me feel worse or that I would have nightmares forever.

I couldn't sleep that night and haven't really been able to sleep any night thereafter. I cry myself to sleep every night. And sometimes I just curl up with her blankie to try to smell her. I took pictures of her the day before on Christmas Eve with my camera phone and I look at those pictures everyday. I guess I still can't believe she's gone.

And now with Scout still here I know she's mourning too. But when I pet her and try to comfort her I feel guilty. Because if you were ever petting one here the other would come. And I feel like I'm betraying Sugar. I know that I'm not and she would want me to comfort Scout but I guess I feel this way because Sugar was my baby and Scout is my mom's baby. The pain is just too much to bear. I have to return to work tomorrow. I hope I can make it through the day. Thanks for listening to me for all who read this. Talking about it kind of helps.

My boy was 14, and we've known for the last month that he was not the same, but he made it through Chritmas, we took him to the vet on Tuesday. The diagnosis was lung cancer and a huge fast growing tumor. We didn;t know then we only had hours left, but unlike you, we at least had those hours to love him. How very hard that must have been. I do however understand your shock you must be feeling.

He died wednesday morning with my husband and I beside him loving him as he took his last breath.

Though we knew his time was limited, it still does nothing to diminish the feeling of loss. He was my best friend, my son, for 14 years. He walked me down the aisle to my husband, he was with me on my 21st birthday when I had the stomach flu and was throwing up for all the wrong reasons. He was with my all the time, and the emptiness he's left behind is so raw, and painful there are no words on earth to describe it.

I woke up this morning for the first time in so many year with no sound of a tail beating against the floor in anticipation of morning walkies. That empty hallow lack of sound drove me to the floor in tears.

But, as so many have been telling me, he didn't suffer, he went quickly, and he went surrounded by all the love in the world.

Your sweet sugar, I am sure though of you, and knrew in the end that she was dearly loved.

My thoughts are with you.

Oh honey

I'm so sorry you lost your Sugar! She is so cute, such a little girl, so precious. You must miss her so much.

Don't feel guilty about loving Scout, she is in grief and pain too. Let her help you while you help her.

The first week is the hardest. Try to sleep, and try to remember that making yourself sick won't help. Take care of yourself. Is there any way you could take tomorrow off?

We lost our Moustache Kitty two months ago, I don't think I slept for a while, just couldn't.

Thinking of you and Sugar
Lori

I'm so sorry for your loss of Sugar. Something like that is so sudden and tragic. It's not a betrayal to seek comfort in the other little dog. Your Sugar knew she was loved and wouldn't want you to keep it all to yourself in this sad time.

I am so sorry that this happened to you........you must still be in shock over it.The first few days are the absolute worst but it does get better.It's going to take some time and you have to give yourself a break.Try your best to get some sleep,that will make you feel better right away.Then allow yourself to grief for as long as you feel you need to.There is no set time table as to how long it takes to get over losing a beloved pet.You never really get over it,you just learn to live with it.I know what your going thur...I lost my kitty Sox who was 16 yrs. old back on Oct. 13th and I am still mourning him and missing him and thinking of him every day.There's not a single night that goes by that I don't silently wish that he were still here or promise anything just to have him back for one more day...It's okay to feel the way you are feeling.Those of us here understand your pain because we've all been right where you are right now.It's an incredibly painful time for you and you have every right to grief at your own pace.If you can do it,call in sick tomorrow and take some time to get yourself together.If not,then go to work and just be quiet and get thur the day.When I went back to work I found that was the best way to handle things because I didn't want anyone telling me Oh,he's just a cat,get over it...That I could not handle! What you decide to do I hope you'll find some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your feelings and that there are peolle in the world who care about and love animals just as you do.My thoughts and prayers will be with you tonight.Sincerely,Renee (Sox's mom)

I am sorry for your loss. But you are here among the most understanding and compassionate group of people you will likely be exposed to during this time of terrible grief. I have recieved much healing from the kind folks here that I can never pay back. Your story is the beginning of a healing journey. Please come back to write and talk. This thing will not be easy as you are undoubtably aware already...but if you talk about the anger (which I am sure you must be feeling because off the wat it happened) and the guilt and the pain....you will find many similarities shared amongst the cyber inhabitants here. It will help and you will notice it in time. Take care and be kind to yourself

Although there are no words that can magically heal the pain we all feel of losing our dearest companions may peace be with you as you heal from your loss. Your little dog was so cute and I am sure brought you great joy as my little Miss Ellie did for me.

John is correct you have come to the right place for kind, loving support. You are safe here to tell your rawest feelings and no one will fault you. They will kindly give you permission to forgive yourself and relieve all guilt. There isn't one person here that hasn't felt the pain you are feeling as I am just heartbroken over the loss of my Miss Ellie. WE lost her in the wee hours of the morning the day after Christmas she fought a long battle with heart disease.

I had a kitten that was attacked by a dog when I was just 9. I cried for days at her loss, it's just so hard. Only time heals broken hearts...

Thank you all for your support. It has helped to talk about my Sugar and share her with everyone. Some people just don't understand what a pet means to you. She was my little girl. Every day has been getting a little better. I returned to work and I think it helped a little to keep my mind off of what happened to her. I just don't like thinking of what happened to her because it tears me up inside. I just want to kill whatever killed her. It was another big dog that lives around here. There's another neighborhood chihuahua that lives around here that runs loose all the time and I get so angry that my dog is the one that got attacked. Not that I wish it was someone elses dog but I just always ask why? And that is a question that will never be answered.

Scout is getting better too I think. We are putting her on a chain now when she goes out and keeping a close eye on her because sometimes these other big dogs are running loose. (pit bull, german shephard and a dingo) We try to comfort each other. I can definitely tell there has been a change in her. She misses Sugar just as much as I do.

Here's a picture of my Sugar when she was a puppy