I lost my sweet baby on Friday, 3 days ago. I still can't believe she is gone. Her name was Belle. She was a 3 year old Boxer. She was in great health. I didn't suspect anything was wrong. I came home Friday evening to find her outside dead. She looked so peaceful. Of all my canine friends who have passed away, I have never had to deal with seeing them dead. My family always took care of that part because I was too young. This is the first time I have found one of my "friends". It was awful. I have 2 children, one is 4 and one is 2. I had to keep them distracted while I covered her up. She was too big for my to carry or move. Then when I went back outside there were neighborhood kids in my yard, uncovering her. I was so furious! Everyone around me thinks I am overreacting. I cry everyday. I can't stand to look at her chain outside, dog food, food bowls, etc. Even now while I am typing this she would have been underneath the desk laying on my feet or my feet would have been laying on her. There is a part of me that says I need to rush out and get a new dog. But another part that, the larger part, says no way. There will never be another Belle. So why even try! I just can't believe my sweet baby girl is gone. She was such an angel. She never hurt anyone. I don't even know what happened to her. My husband says it was probably a massive heart attack. All I know is that she is gone. I don't have my Belle "pillow" anymore. She would lay on the couch and let me use her body as a nice warm pillow. She loved it and so did I. I fill like I am going crazy. Is is ok to hurt this much over her death?

I know the pain you are going through. This past Thursday our dear Rex died. He wasn't sick, in fact he was very happy that day. He was in the living room with us but he wanted to go out. So we let him and when came back, he was in the kitchen were he use to sleep. My husband went to check on him and he was gone. I couldn't believe it! I knew this day would come, he was 13 years old. Mix German Sheperd. What a kind dog. I am retired and home each day. I miss him so. I have another dog name Chipper. We both feel the lost. You will always have Belle in your heart. Its's ok to cry.

Hi you two so sorry about your losses, its so hard to loose our precious babies and quite a shock if your not expecting it, I lost my Sadie in much the same way although thinking back I should have noticed the signs.
Please don’t let anyone tell you your crying too much you need to cry and cry and cry to get out all that hurt and pain.

I have been posting here for 6 months now and would probably be in a loony bin by now if I couldn’t have ‘talked’ to lightning strike.

Belle’s friend please don’t buy another dog just yet, at least not until you accept that the new dog will not be Belle, because she wont be, she’ll have her own character and should not be compared with any other dog. Allow yourself time to grieve for Belle and tell you friends and family that you have to deal with this your way not theirs. Try to explain to them that the pain you are feeling is real and you need their support not lectures and you could certainly use a cuddle, that way you will feel better sooner.
Some people just don’t understand the bond we have with our pets I was having this conversation just this weekend with a friend of mine, she just couldn’t understand, which is a shame – she doesn’t know what shes missing.

And Carroll give Chipper a cuddle from me I don’t get enough doggy cuddles anymore and I miss having hairs all over me

When people lose human companions, others are often so much more understanding. And yet with a furry companion, so much of our energy, daily life and love goes into them and people can be cold.
.... but no one out here is like that, because everyone here has cried as many tears as you will...
It does get better. Try to memorialize Belle and Rex. Think of them, and let the tears come, and ignore people who don't understand.
.... I lost my dog May 28 (Freyja) I got a new dog July 12 (hathor). Hathor in NO WAY fills that hole. I love Hathor and she makes me laugh, but in some ways it makes the grief process harder. Please think carefully about doing that.

Love to you all,
Jennifer