I am going through this right now. We had to euthanize our dog the night before last and am so sad. We had such a special relationship, a real relationship and he was part of the rhythm of moment to moment daily life, even if only in the background. Now he’s gone and it’s so obvious how great he was even if I didn’t fully appreciate him at the time. I feel like people think I’m insane to be so sad. Supposed to go to dinner tonight with friends and might have to cancel because I am too sad, face all puffy.

Maybe not as profound, but we lost 2 gerbils in quick succession. I felt so guilty because one passed before the average lifespan and the other clearly suffered before the end. I thought I had provided a healthy environment for them.

It’s going to be terrible when our dog and parrot pass on. The parrot is supposed to have a 20 year lifespan and is an intelligent and emotional individual.

I lost my dog last year. She was with me for 19 years. I am not over her and will never get over her. The love that she gave me is irreplaceable. I will never experience that type of love again. It hurts me more because my husband admitted that he doesn't miss her at all. She was a sweet girl and a Velcro dog. She never left my side. Every day I cry, and I am still in mourning. Every time I see a dog it brings me to tears. It is not easy to move on.

My heart goes out to anyone who has loss their pet.

I lost my cat to cancer a year ago and it broke my heart.

I am no some sheltered person, either. I lost my mother as a teen, and my brother a few years later. I was surprised at just how hard my cat's death hit me; I had known she had cancer, and had a few months to prepare. But it wrecked me.

My dh and ds were not upset to the same degree, and somehow this made it more isolating. I also felt like I couldn't talk about my cat the way I did when I lost people who were important to me because nobody I know really considers losing a pet to be a tragedy.

But I still think of her often and saved a little piece of her fur in my jewellery box.

She was my friend, and I loved her.

I don't know, OP. I think grieving a pet is worse in some ways than grieving a person because most people really don't get it.

Unfortunately our fur babies/pets are only on loan to us…..

Not easy to come to terms with once they are no longer w/us.

Grief really is the ultimate price we all pay in the end for the gift of love.

But I would do it all over again if given the opportunity again bar none.

I just have to train myself to adapt to this new normal.

I still miss my two cats who have been gone now for three years.

When they first passed on I could barely get out of bed or stop crying.
They were a constant on my mind daily.

Time does lessen the pain but their loss will always remain a profound hole in my heart. 💔❤️‍🩹
I have no choice but to continue on w/my life w/out them in it.

I miss them immensely & hold on to the hope that I will be reunited w/both of them one day…..

We never got over ours. 16 years gone, loved missed and talked about every day.

I haven’t really gotten over the loss of my dogs, seven years ago and a year ago. I just carry on as best as I can.

Sending hugs to all the pets and families. Enjoying my aging dog and cat as much as I can and worried when they feel out of sorts.

I lost my boy in April and still cry about him. He was my "soul dog" and although we have a second dog (who's three) who I love very much, he was my guy. I'm married with young adult children so it's not like my house is empty. But, he was with me through some tough times (losing both of my parents and my only sibling, my daughter's life-threatening illness, etc).

As someone else said, only you can answer if the pain of losing them is worth the immense amount of unconditional love they give.

Sending you a big hug. I feel your pain and you are not alone.

We just lost our beloved kitty at age 11 with cancer. She had the best personality and loved to cuddle on our laps. Our other two kitties don't enjoy it that much. I can't imagine the pain won't ever go away.

It will always scar you. If it doesn't, you didn't love them. Same with humans.

It doesn't ruin you; you heal (eventually). All love is risk, especially the sort of pure, unconditional love we get from our pets. All great love carries the ending of great loss.

You either decide that's worth doing (again) or you don't. For me, it's always been worth it to love again.

It's so hard. Mine died in late August this year and I am just at the point where I was able to begin cleaning and putting away toys and bedding they last used.

Having gone through it a few times, it crushes me every time, like it takes a little bit of my soul, and it doesn't get patched up. How do you deal with it and move on without it scarring you?