Tomorrow will be 1 month since our dalmatian, Princess passed away. We are devastated with our loss. We've had her since she was 6 weeks old. She passed away at age of 11. She died of anemia. I am still crying and I don't know what to do to stop this pain. 2 months before she passed away she suddenly became lethargic. She stopped eating and drinking. She just lies on her bed refusing to get up. We rushed her to the Emergency Hospital, they pumped her with IV Fluids and steroids. After 6 days in the hospital she finally went home with oral medications. About 1 1/2 months passed, she started doing the same thing, lethargic, vomitting, stopped eating and drinking. Took her to the vet and they did blood work on her. Vet said that her bloodwork still does not look good. Took her home and she's still the same. Finally my wife and I decided it's time to put her to sleep. Friday I called the vet and made an appointment for Saturday morning. That morning about 9:30am I was feeding my 5yr old son. My wife checked Princess and she was still okay. My wife started to get ready for our appointment. When my wife got out of our room about 9:50am our Princess is gone. She died peacefully in our home without putting her to sleep. Unfortunately nobody was beside her when she passed away. We are all devastated and it it still very painful. We really feel guilty that nobody was there to comfort her till the end, my wife was in our room and I was feeding my son. We brough her to a Pet Crematory and had her body cremated. Her ashes are now in an urn on top of our mantle.

My son keeps asking where Princess is, we keep telling him Princess is in heaven. My son misses Princess, they've been best buddies since he was born. My wife and I did not want to get another dog. But we kinda felt guilty and seems unfair for my son that he does not have a buddy anymore. So 3 weeks after we adopted a dog from a shelter. She's a Keeshound mix and her name is Lila. Lila is very sweet and my son loves her. Lila is very affectionate and she kinda takes away the pain. But Lila will never replace Princess. Somehow I still feel that it was too early to get a dog. But at the same token it is unfair for Lila and my son. Whenever I see them play together, I feel happy. But I still mourn for my loss.

I am just so confused. I have mixed feelings, sometimes I just break down and cry. I guess time will heal my pain and sorrow.

Thanks for reading my post.

I am so sorry for your pain. Princess was deeply loved. Lila will never replace her, but will in time fill a needed void. Princess died her way. She may not have wanted anyone to be there to feel sad for her. I truely believe our pets feel that way. Years ago I had a very ill cat. I prolonged her suffering because I couldn't bear to put her down. Then I finally told her on a Sat aft. that I would let her go on Mon. She passed away that very night at home. I think she knew it would hurt me too much to do that. Feel blessed for having her so many years. Cherish the happy memories and open your hearts to Lila, she has a lot of years of love to give.. Many Hugs.. Ann

My sympathies for your loss, welcome to the club of broken hearts. You did well to think of your son first when you got him Lila. Children are more resilient because their lives are constantly changing, they have no past. Because you love and protect them so well they are able to overcome their sadness and readily embrace the future. Lila brings a message of optimism, hope and continuity to your son. She shows him that life will continue to be good, there continues to be joy and happiness all around him.
I doubt that you would have been able to offer this to him in any other way poor dear, the sadness of your own loss will be with you for a long time, perhaps hidden forever...

We grown ups, we have been so touched by life, our hearts are more fragile and perhaps our capacity to love is much bigger, our attachments deeper, our grief is a weight that we must carry in silence but it is too heavy for little children, we can only find some consolation by providing them with all the love they need to grace their beginning lives. You are a good parent, I am sure that Princess is so proud to say that she belongs to your family, she will be there for you when all of you are reunited.

Thank you ann and tonnie for your kind words, I appreciate. I am starting to feel better now after reading your posts. It's very hard to have lost her but then again she brought as good times and good memories. I just hope and pray I see her when I get on the other side too. I just miss her so much.

Leo, I would like to offer my deepest sympathy in the loss of your beloved Princess. It's never easy when our fur babies become ill. But, you and your wife did everything possible to help Princess. You were so fortunate to have her in your lives. And she was so lucky to have found, a wonderful home where she was loved. I am sorry that she passed away without you near her. But, she was at home where she was the most comfortable. She just fell peacefully asleep.

I am glad you made the decision to adopt Lila, she is a ray of sunshine to ease your pain. I know she will bring your family so much happiness. And each of our pets is unique in their own way. We don't replace a lost pet with a new pet. For none of them can truly be replaced. I had mixed feelings when I was searching for a lab pup, after losing my lab Lizzy. But I knew there was a baby out there, just waiting for me. My other lab Elly and I were so lost and lonely when Liz left. When I laid eyes on Mandy, I immediately fell in love. I felt alive again!! This little 10 lb bundle of fur needed me. Every day is a joy and filled with smiles and laughter.

Although Princess is physically gone, she lives within your heart....forever. May Lila fill your days with love and laughter.

You are a good man and I know you and your wife loved your Princess very much just as much as I loved my Buster, we will miss them for ever and ever, God Bless her up in Heaven and why not? probably she is playing with my Buster too! Jorge Click to view attachment

Thank you Jorge and luvlabs I appreciate your kind words. When I adopted Lila I thought I was ready but I wasn't but eventhough I am not I still give Lila the love she deserves and she gives me love in return too. Even to this day it still hurts. It's very painful, I am glad I found this site. I sit here at work crying feeling nobody cares or nobody understands what I am going thru. Reading some posts here makes me feel better somehow.

Dear Leo,

I am so very sorry to hear about your dog. I wish I could write more but it is getting so difficult for me to come here, the stories are so very sad. I wanted you to know that I share your sorrow. It's nice that you were able to get another dog for your son. I'm hoping my son can handle not having a dog in his life because I don't think I can do it again.

God be with you and your family.

Sincerely,
hope2heal

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know how hard it is and how much you miss Princess. I too have recently lost one of my pets and it is a very difficult healing process we go through. Adopting another dog for you son was a great idea. I believe Princess would be very happy that you opened your home to another furry friend. There are so many animals needing loving homes and I think Lila is very fortunate to have been adopted by your family. You are not replacing Princess - you never could.

My thoughts and prayers are with you family.
Take care.

thank you hope2heal .... We had a hard time deciding to get another dog, but we just sacrificed our feelings because our son needed a companion since he is our only child.

thank you karen-casey....it's been difficult but that's what my wife and I were saying I think Princess would be happy that we opened our home to another friend. I'm sure she does not want to see us sad with her gone. It's just been so painful.

We really do care because we know how much pain this brings. I am glad you found Lila to help ease the grief a little. You know, furkids just seem to gravitate to loving homes. I think they sense love in people.

Take care,
Ken Albin

Reading your story about Princess and your son reminded me of something I posted a while back, about a little boy and a dog. If you would go to the Tribute Section and see my topic called..
A Dog -for anyone who has loved and been loved by one......I hope reading it will give you the comfort it did for me, as in my lifetime I, too, have lost more than one of these precious ones.

I believe from what you said you see your son playing with Lila...it was the right thing to do for him.

Your girl sounds like such a sweetheart. I am so sorry they could not cure her. We are always grateful for the time given to us to spend with them but it is never long enough.

My favorite Mom's saying is: The pain of losing her will never ever be greater than the joy of knowing her. When I feel down, I remember that and it helps.

Hugs to you and your family. It takes time for the pain to lessen..it never truly goes away because it is because we miss them so very much and since we will miss them forever...the pain cannot go away completely. We deal with it one day at a time, one step at a time. It is okay to grieve. It is okay to cry. There are no time limits. What makes us feel better is the right thing to do. That's the path to healing.

Judy

My most sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved Princess. You were certainly a wonderful family for Princess. I know she loved you, your wife and family. She knew it was her time and simply needed your permission to move on to a better place. Please don't feel guilty about getting Lila for your son. Lila is a new addition, not a replacement. Nobody can take those wonderful memories from you. Cherish them. I recently lost my pup to cancer (20 mths. old) and got a new puppy to fill the void. I too felt guilty at first but now am realizing I am making a wonderful home for a new baby.
Please take care and be kind to yourself. Time will truly ease the pain.

Sincerely,
BigDogMom

Always saddens me to hear of someone's loss. Lila will never take Princess's place or her memories.
So kind of you to open your heart up to another furpet so soon. Lila needed you and your son needed her. It is hard for the younger children to understand these things sometimes.
I bet Lila can help with that.

Many hugs to you, your family, and your angel Princess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your kind words, I felt a lot better after reading all your posts.

One more story I have to add. A few days after Princess died, the Pet Crematory called me and told me that the ashes are ready. I go drive up ther and picked up the ashes. I was just so devastated when they gave me the urn with her ashes in it. I cried all the way home. When I got home a few moments later my wife arrived from work. I showed her the urn. She picked up the urn. As soon as she hugged the urn close to her heart. Our storm door latched. Nobody used our front door that day, we all came thru the garage. My wife and I looked at each other, and I told her Princess is gone. She just left and is now in peace.

How strange it that? Somehow I believe that dogs that we love and care for have souls. Call me crazy but I don't have an explanation as to how our storm door latched. Do you?

Sounds like you may have just gotten a sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you will have many more.

Hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to say again I'm sorry for your loss. Although Princess didn't have anyone beside her when she left, she would have had all those comforting sounds around her that she knew so well. She was home, she was comfortable.

I hope you have lots of photos around of her and that your son is learning to understand that Princess holds a very special place in all your hearts, and will always. Atlhough Princess didn't meet the new puppy, she will always be her big sister.

Wendi.

Thank you Wendi...yeah my son misses Princess and he cries when he remembers her.

My wife is taking our loss harder than me. I don't know how to comfort her because I am hurting too. Very painful, I still miss my Princess. I wish I could turn back time but I can't. I guess time will just heal our loss.

I'm glad your son remembers Leo, that's nice.

There is no comfort really, but only in each other and as a family. I do miss my Dad now, because he would be the one who would understand, he would feel Magion's loss and he would cry with me. No one cries with me - only the other day when I shared with someone when I was having a really tough time yet again, that someone said to me on this site that Mage has now wrapped himself around my heart, she said 'you'll have me crying now.' And the tears started to come to her. I responded that that was good, because sometimes it's nice to have someone share the grief, to cry with you. Grief is one of those times where people can come together. It's not comforting the other, but just sharing and expressing the sorrow together.

May you be able to hold each other in the tears for as long as you need to - without any fear, judgement, or expectation.

Wendi.

Hi Leo,

Just wanted to say I'm very sorry about Princess. I lost my kitty Fraffy the day before Thanksgiving and I can't remember ever being so devastated. Even when my mom died when I was ten, I can't remember being this sad.
I have no one to cry with me either, except for the people on here that I found a day or two after Fraffy left me.

It's like there is an empty place in your house. Not in your heart though because the love will always be there.

And about the latch on the storm door, it may well have been a sign. I believe in that kind of stuff. This may be stretching things, but I have an electric toothbrush that I used and every time Fraffy heard the toothbrush start, she would come in to the bathroom because it was one of our "petting times." It lasted 2 minutes and she would be there usually for the duration of the 2 minutes getting petted.

Well, I didn't brush my teeth or get a shower for a week because I was so devastated and depressed she was gone but when I finally HAD to brush my teeth I went to the electric toothbrush and noticed it was rather slow, like it hadn't charged. And nope, it hadn't charged and will not charge anymore. I tried different outlets and everything. It's basically a new toothbrush too and for some reason it will no longer charge. I don't know, but it sure makes me wonder a bit.

Anyway, I'm thinking of you Leo and I know how hard this is. Sending you many hugs.

Melanie

We started our Christmas decorations on our house, we just realized we had so many dalmatian ornaments and Princess's stocking. That really hurts, my wife and I started crying again. We still hung the ornaments and her stocking. We also added Lila's stocking. She's physically gone but her spirit is still with us. It's gonna be a hard this Christmas, our first Christmas without her.

I'm glad you put up her stocking..as has been done before. She will always be with you and your family in spirit..only now she is healthy again. I think it is really nice to hang every stocking that has a place in your hearts.

I understand what you mean about your first Christmas. Last Year was my first Christmas in a home with no furbabies left at all. The emptiness was awful. I did adopt a shelter cat the day after Christmas cause I decided since I went through Halloween (my cats were black), Thanksgiving, and Christmas with our home empty, I thought a good way to start the New Year, for us, would be to have a bundle of fur racing through the house again...by New Year's Day..our first Holiday with our new boy. I found I really needed to be able to hug one again.

As Christmas approaches...think of the happy Christmases in the past and if you have pictures of those times...I would put them around the room with the tree and the stockings..so you can look into those eyes again, on Christmas, and know in those pictures....they were healthy and happy..that thought can make us smile to remember. Having pictures around sometimes helps to make us feel even just a little..that there they are...with us.

Hugs to you and your family and a special Hugs for Lila, and for your Christmas Angel, Princess.

Judy

Thank you Judy, I appreciate your tips. We are starting to look at her pictures without crying. Lila is special to us since she helps with our healing process. I know it's kind of unfair to her but she won't know, we love her just the same. We just miss our Princess. Have a nice holiday Judy.