We have two dogs, one is 13 and has a brain tumor. We have good days and bad with him but we've had him since he was 4 (he's a rescue) and even the thought that he's not going to be with us for much longer is like a knife in the heart. Even worse, he is my 7 year old's best friend and used to sleep with him nightly, though he can't now because our dog needs frequent bathroom breaks and has had seizures.

We are applying for a rescue dog as we speak. We feel that another dog in the house will be therapeutic for us. He/she can play with our younger dog and our older dog can relax and spend his last days in peace and quiet. For our son, we are looking for a snuggly, cuddly dog to help him transition.

I think it's an extremely personal choice. We've never lost a pet before and they are truly family members. The pain of it is going to be excruciating and we will struggle with it for years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It took me a good 6 to 9 months. If something happens that really reminds me of her though I will still cry at times and it's been over a year (dec 2013).

+1 but it was July 2008. I had to put her to sleep and the vet botched the job horribly and I cry every time I think about it. She was the love of my life and I failed her at the end while trying to do the right thing. I still miss her and I'll never get over what happened that last day.

What vet? Please, I don't want to use them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It took me a good 6 to 9 months. If something happens that really reminds me of her though I will still cry at times and it's been over a year (dec 2013).

+1 but it was July 2008. I had to put her to sleep and the vet botched the job horribly and I cry every time I think about it. She was the love of my life and I failed her at the end while trying to do the right thing. I still miss her and I'll never get over what happened that last day.

What vet? Please, I don't want to use them.

I lost my beloved dog 6 years ago and I teared up reading this thread and thinking about her. She was an awesome dog.

You people who are missing your pet so very much. You are exactly who should be pet owners. You hurt because you love so much. This is about you. This is a good thing. Pls share your love with another pet.

3 months ~ probably would have been longer but we got another dog, a puppy and breed that needs waaaay more attention than our previous dog. Dog #2 has almost erased the sadness of losing dog #1. Our kid said, "I think they would have been friends" Thought that was so sweet. I often wonder if dog #2 knows another dog lived here.

One thing that helped me was Etsy--I know that sounds funny, but I searched for pet memorials kind of obsessively to give me something to do when I was sad.

I almost bought this bracelet, but decided not to partly because of the price:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/211552099/memorial-bracelet-glass-cremation?ref=related-5

(BTW, when I first ever heard about cremation jewelry years ago, I thought the idea was NUTS! But, then it seemed totally different when considering it for a pet. Ha!)

I did get a customized picture frame and a dog tag for my key chain with her name on one side and "Gone from my side but not from my heart" on the other side.

Anyway... those are some of the things that helped me grieve and feel like I was honoring her special place in my heart. It helped.

Anonymous wrote:If I lose my pet I will never be able to get over it. I can't imagine and I cry even at the thought of it.

I felt this way. But my first pet that I had for 17 years went through a long lingering decline and death from old age with many treatments, and in the end it was almost a relief to let her go. She deserved peace.

It has been 5 years and I still miss my dogs. I loved them so much. Life goes on but with each loss you carry around little holes in your heart. We have 2 new dogs that bring joy to our family. We got one about 6 months after our other dogs died. I was not ready but my kids were. So having a new dog just gets you back being busy with a pet so it helps. Sorry for your loss.

If I lose my pet I will never be able to get over it. I can't imagine and I cry even at the thought of it.

I think everyone is different OP. Someone told me that losing a dog can be very hard b/c they love you unconditionally.

We lost our dog recently, and I still miss her terribly. I don't think I'm ready for another pet. But I would like to someday. It was my first and only dog, so I don't know if it's like kids, but I imagine it would be. When I had my first, I couldn't imagine loving anyone more, and I worried about this for my second. But you do find room in your heart. I wish you peace, OP.