I was away and I told her I would board my dog with a friend. She told me to save the money, that she would be fine and could handle it. I told her repeatedly do not let my dog around the other dog with food around, although my dog is generally great with other dogs and put up with alot from my mom’s dog, the dog was a micro teacup and it wasn’t worth the risk if resources were around. 48 hours before the event happened I texted on the plane responding to a picture of them reminding her to be careful even if they were getting along. My warnings have never taken seriously, for example when this same dog bloated with GDV and almost died my mom joked about how she always thought I was being “psychotic or lazy” for getting upset if she tried to make my large breed dog move around less than 2 hours after eating. This fact alone is enough to make me feel stupid for trusting her with them together. I even bought the little dog food bowls to attach to her crate but I guess they weren’t pink or heart shaped and cute enough to use. She put the little dogs food in a bowl on the ground in a room my dog had access to and left the room. My dog apparently crushed her skull with one correction bite. I’m gutted. I’m angry. I’m heartbroken for my mom, for her dog and for my dog. I can’t look at my dog the same, I know she was set up to fail but I can’t help it. I don’t know how to move on and I feel sick. I personally found that breeder for the little dog, flew to pick her up, had a great time helping with potty training and crate training and she’s just fucking gone. Because of my dog, because I didn’t manage properly. I’m so angry at everything I don’t know how to move on. I don’t want to speak to anyone I’m embarrassed and sad. I feel like I can’t speak about it without my dog being labeled a monster when I know deep down it wasn’t aggression it was communication but she’s a large working breed and one correction was enough. I snapped today at my mom and said maybe if I was allowed to correct my dog for being a fuckwad at her house without hearing “don’t hurt her” (she’s not being abused I promise) then my dog would have had the fear of correction in her mind and not been so quick to take it into her own hands. My mom started to cry and said “yea it’s my fault your dog made my puppy’s eyes fall out of her head”. I can’t take this anymore I don’t want to be here. I don’t want my dog. My entire life feels shattered.

Title says it all. This is like a nightmare. I went from 3 dogs to 1 in just 10 days. My oldest dog (12yo) had cancer, my middle dog (10yo) had a million problems that escalated when his older sister passed, and now I’m left with just my youngest (4yo). My own grief is debilitating… and watching my remaining dog, husband and child grieve is fucking brutal. I know people in here will get it.

My sweet, gentle, delicate cat, Babes, was given 2-3 weeks. I didn't expect this. I went to the vet today to get some medication for her skin allergies. She's always had skin allergies, so it wasn't anything new, but I noticed she was experiencing more distress than past flare-ups. I figured I'd let them run all the tests they suggested, and... they discovered she has terminal cancer. If we are incredibly lucky, she might have 1-2 months, at most. But... they said we will very, very, very likely not and expect about two weeks... maybe less...

I'm in shock.

I rescued her eight years ago. I thought we would have more time... I bonded with her so deeply, I forgot that I didn't always have her... I felt like I raised her from a kitten, even though she was a mother cat when I got her. A mother cat who already went through hell in life... She was at least eight years old when I got her, so that puts her at 16-17 now... She's just... my baby.

She has been doing so good lately too, happier than ever, especially in the last two years and especially in the last half year; she finally seemed to get past her past life's trauma, and we bonded even more deeply than we ever have.

She is the light of my life, truly. And now I know that her life is coming to an end soon.

It all feels so sudden, and I'm completely heartbroken. I'm just trying to hold onto the fact that these last eight years have been so wonderful. It's more time than some get. But I'm so scared to lose her... to experience her rapid decline in the coming days and weeks... At least I know it's coming and can make her as comfortable as possible.

Please share pictures of your cat or cat(s) in the comments. Hopefully that kind of request is allowed. But, idk, I really want to see everyone's cat or cats they are grieving.

My little girl, Misty, died last night and I genuinely don’t know how to cope with the heartbreak.

I know grief is normal and that it will hopefully get easier with time, but I haven’t been able to stop crying since I said goodbye to her. Her condition deteriorated so quickly. She went from being seemingly healthy to extremely sick within a matter of hours, and I don’t think I’ve even begun to process what happened.

I’ve had Misty since I was nine years old. I’m 23 now, and she’s been my constant companion through almost every stage of my life. She was my best friend, my comfort, and genuinely my soulmate.

This is my first experience with pet loss, and the grief feels absolutely unbearable. There isn’t a single room in my house where I can find any peace because everything reminds me of her. Every little thing brings back a memory, followed by the crushing realisation that she’s never going to be there again. I keep expecting to see her in all her usual places.

What makes it even harder is that Misty was the one who helped me through some of the most difficult periods of my life. Whenever I was upset or struggling, she was always there. Now I’m experiencing probably the worst heartbreak of my life, and the one who would normally comfort me is the one I’m grieving. I feel completely lost without her.

I know it’s only been a day, and I can’t expect to feel better already, but I genuinely don’t know how I’m supposed to adjust to a life without her. The thought of never holding her, seeing her little face, or having her beside me again is absolutely destroying me.

For anyone who has experienced this kind of loss, how did you cope in those first few days and weeks? Did anything help you deal with the overwhelming sadness or make being at home feel less painful?

I would really appreciate any advice, or even just hearing from people who have been through something similar. My heart is completely shattered, and I miss my little girl more than words can explain.

I got a 8 week old kitten not too long ago after wanting to adopt a cat for the longest time. This guy Shiki genuinely made me the happiest ever. Yesterday, I got home and he was acting a little lethargic, though I thought he might’ve just been tired. Later that day he became generally normal again, eating, using litter, and embracing me like nothing had happened.

Today when I came home from work, he hadn’t even touched the food I had left him, so when I went to go check on him, I found him lethargic and cold. I rushed him to the vet as soon as I could, but they told me he was extremely anemic and in critical condition. They tried their best but told me that there was no guarantee that he would live. They told me he was suffering, and I unfortunately had to let him go.

I managed to compose myself until I got back to my room with nothing but reminders of my failure. I don’t know what to do, my room feels so lonely and I miss his little cries. I got him to keep my company, but now that he’s gone I feel so alone and I can’t even imagine trying to get a new cat now, it feels wrong.

I’m lost, alone, and mourning. I tried my best to take care of such a loving baby, but now he’s gone and I don’t know what to do.

my family thinks I’m crazy, but i genuinely still feel depressed and horrible thinking back to one of my cats that passed in 2023, the one time I let him out in the sun for a few minutes and left for a moment and yeh neighbours dog jumped over the fence and got him, it hurts more because I feel as I caused it, even though it was summer and he was gone in under 10 minutes.

I miss him, he was bonded with his brother who is still with me, I feel bad for my other cat who was bonded and I just feel horrible overall, I’ve had so many dreams of this cat the last week, I miss him :(.

I also have a horrible dread for when my other 2 cats go too.. I try treat and play with them as much as I can with our time together but it never feels like enough. I don’t know what I’ll do when they’re gone

just breaking down and sobbing again because i still cant believe i allowed this to happen. i hoped he would somehow get better and start eating again like he did once before. but he didn’t. my denial had severe consequences, and the guilt is destroying me . i didn’t get him to the vet soon enough, and there was a decent chance it would’ve prevented this outcome. now there’s absolutely nothing i can do to make it right or fix what has happened. im just forever stuck living with the reality that my pet is no longer here on this earth because of my own poor judgment. i don’t know how to move past that. it is so unfair that my life gets to go on, like nothing ever happened, while his does not. it’s so devastating. i made a permanent mistake and i’ll have to carry the regret for the rest of my life.

After a year and a half, I realize that when you lose your soul animal, you can never to return to who you were. I am no longer that version of myself, I can't be, part of me died too. That doesn't mean It has to be a bad thing, it's just new, and the reality. Starting to think like this has helped me from drowning in grief, I'm different, but I'm still bringing him with me as a new version of myself. Together we will do great things for other animals. But it still hurts every day. How lucky are we to have known such love though, and to have them in life and death to keep us growing. I miss you boy.

We had to put down our beautiful boy Leroy today, and I just want people to know he existed.

He was vocal. He would wake yell at 5:30 for attention. Or treats. Or just because. He loved to go outside and walk around. He loved coming into the living room and demanding butt slaps. It was his favorite thing.

He had the most expressive eyes. He would stare into your soul and demand attention. And he got it. He was the king.

He came into my girlfriend’s life 15 years ago as a stray off the streets. Her dad didn’t want him, but bless her mom’s heart since she started sneaking him in at night. A place to sleep during the night turned into a home.

He was the best boy, and we miss him. We love him. And he’s at peace now.

My baby boy Garçon, the love of my life passed 28 days ago. If I am not completely drained from my day I won't be able to sleep.

As soon as I close my eyes I see him come running towards me, or flashbacks of his last moment. It hurts so much, 2 days, 28 days it's the same.

He's gone and it is killing me from inside. Grief is agony. His absence is agony.

I spend my days distracting myself. I binge watch Game of Thrones, paint the house, draw, I do journaling, I got 7 piercings since hes gone. All distractions during the day hoping it will make me fall asleep at night.

Tonight it's a night where my thoughts come before sleep.

I miss him so much. So so so so fucking much.

I’m so sad right now. My sweet male cat had started struggling to use the litterbox and had a blockage. I took him to the vet to get checked out and he had the blockage removed and was prescribed amoxicillin.

I thought he was on the mend and going to recover but later that day he was blocked up again and passed away suddenly during the night. He wasn’t crying out in pain or yowling or any obvious signs of distress. He was drinking water and eating so his death caught me so off guard and shocked me. He was only 3 years old and I’d had him since he was a kitten.

This is awful. I hate this. Rest in peace little guy

My dog died suddenly in an accident where she was hit by a van. She jumped off my car and went running towards the road just next to the car park. I normally have to drag her out of the car as she loved her seat and loved car journeys. So it was very shocking to me and I couldnt do anything but in blink of an eye everything happened. I saw her hit and she rolled over and managed to stand when I pocked her up and ran over to my car to take her to the vet. I drove around 10 minutes to the vet but by the time I arrived she had passed away. Vet tried to resuscitate her but she had already crossed the rainbow bridge. The moment I saw she was hit I was in a shock and I feel like I shouldnt have panicked and should have stayed with her during her final moments or even tried to do some CPR myself. I had a traini my session a while ago but I feel now that I couldnt even save my dog. She os turning 5 next week and I had so much planned for her birthday. Now that I have to spend her birthday near her grave. I am in such a guilt about all these and I am struggling to even look at her videos and photos. I feel like she must be thinking as her mom I didnt do anything. I dont think I can never get over that trauma.
I looked after a dog for a week after her death and it gave me some relief and was able to sleep properly. Before that I was on pills to get sleep. I was even thinking of getting another dog just like her and it might help me go through this well. But at the same time I think its a selfish decision as its too early to even think about another dog. I dont even know if I will be able to see her through another dog let alone look after the dog without panicking and being overly protective. There is no motivation to even go out of the house when I was almost out with her for walks and we loved the beach and the mountains.

Her name is Indy. For anyone who might see this and know her, I know she was a light in your life too. Indy was a 10 year old mix of Jindo, GSD, and Great pyr. When I say she was a floof- she was a FLOOF.

We lost Indy out of nowhere yesterday at like 1am. She was staying with my parents (her beloved grandparents who loved her so much) and my husband and I were away on a business trip. My poor mom gave us a call about the emergency. That they were on their way to the ER but she was was unconscious and hardly breathing/might already been gone, which she was by the time they go to the ER.

I don't think I've ever truly wailed like that in my life. She was my everything. She was my trained service dog since we got her at about 12 weeks old but due to being a bit fear reactive she wasn't able to do that for long in public but man she sure was able to everywhere else. I love her more than anything. She is my everything. I always think about her. I can't wait to go home from everything just to see her even if I've only been gone a few minutes. So not having been able to say goodbye is absolutely killing me. We flew back from our trip immediately so that we could grieve. I cried the whole 5 hour flight home. Coming home was a nightmare. Seeing her things was the worst feeling. I would do anything to have been able to kiss her and feel her floof just one more time when she passed. Anything. To smell her. To cry on her.

I am so grateful for my parents for going through this and doing all the could for her. But I feel awful that they had to go through the trauma of being so sure she would be fine to her suddenly passing. She was fast asleep then woke up and wandered off to the living room where he legs stopped functioning and she was confused and lethargic for about 15min before passing out and passing about 20min later on my moms lap. We had to make the call to proceed with cremation before we even really could process she's gone.

I can't understand it. I don't want to do this life without her. I felt I had so much more time with her. She was so happy and active and normal that day. Nothing was wrong. She had great walks, went swimming, kayaking laid in the sun, did all the things she loves most in life. She LOVED it at their home and I'm grateful she passed there. But the fact that we couldn't say goodbye is absolutely killing me. The quietness of the house is killing me. The little traces of her around the house are killing me. I don't know what to do. She was an extension of me. I didn't go with my husband to drop her off at her grandparents because we're co dependant and her watching me leave just is far too heart wrenching for me. So I said my goodbyes told her to have fun on Friday evening. She passed Tuesday early morning.

Any help, guidance, or just words are appreciated. I truly don't know how to process this. Understand it. Make sense of it. Understand she wasn't in pain. Idk. It's just my worst nightmare next to losing my parents. ❤️ Ty.

I came home after a few hours of work yesterday to find my cat dead, I was hysterical screaming crying everything. He was my baby always with me 24/7 slept when I slept awake when I was awake always cuddling I can’t cope with it. I’ve lost pets before but I’ve never had a bond like this. Always there when I was sad too. He was also just the sweetest boy could never even hurt a fly (seriously). When I try to sleep all I see is how I found him and I’m really struggling. He was only 4 years old, so it was so unexpected I thought I had many years left with him.

We just put down our 6 yr old sweet orange boy today. He had been in and out of the animal hospital for the past two weeks due to urinary blockages that just kept recurring. Had a cystotomy to manually evacuate bladder first time and came home after a week, had to bring him back the next day due to straining immediately and he spent five more days there. Got him back two days ago, and same thing, not even 12 hours later he’s howling in pain and not peeing.

Vet agreed he has a very awful case of blockages and despite everything, needed hospitalization again, and we mutually agreed we did not want to put him through anymore with very little hope he would even improve. So we put him down.

I know we did the right thing, and even though we could have kept trying we felt he had been through enough and wanted him to go peacefully. I’m just so devastated, I don’t understand why his case was so bad, it’s just so unfair. He was so young and the sweetest cat ever, and I’m just really struggling with the fact that’s he’s gone and not coming back, especially since we only had him home for like three days out of the past two weeks. It doesn’t feel real, and I just wish I could stop being so damn sad. Just kind of wanted to vent honestly idk what I’m expecting from this post.

I lost my baby Iris Tuesday night, two days ago. She was only 1 year 8 months old, a small golden retriever with crinkly hair on her ears. Although her life was full of adventures and love, she deserved more. We left to the beach, arriving before 3PM, parked up and walked along the beach till we reached a stony coast with cliffs. My sister’s two dogs (4 and 5) joined us. I figured the shade from the cliff and cool waves would keep her cool, with water from my drink bottle… but she’d been drinking the ocean water. A few times in front of me, but likely while swimming where I couldn’t tell her off. Eventually she showed signs, and they got severe fast. I wish I knew better then how critical this all was. The worst part, she ran away confused as we got back to the main beach with family’s and kids near. She stuck close to me till that moment, and after that couldn’t recognise me from a distance either. Maybe her sight/ confused anxious brain made her react this way. Seeing her so confused broke my heart. We manage to get her to the emergency vet around 5.. on the way there I held her on my lap to prevent her lethargic body from swaying too much, her head on my arm licking me with the breeze from the window on her face. She seemed somewhat peaceful here. At the vet, they tried their best but the salt levels were too high, we got that dreadful call. I thought she’d stabilise, if I’d known I’d have stayed with her in the vet. I know the vets were kind to her when she passed. I said goodbye to her that night, I didn’t want to let go. I saw her again in the morning, petting her like she was still here. I still don’t want to let go. She should still be here. I don’t know how to cope. So many things I could’ve done better.. park closer, learn the signs, learn how to prevent it. She was so young and sassy, the smartest dog I know. Dogs will be dogs, and they generally don’t know their limits. I should have known them. So much guilt, shame, anger, sadness. I just want her back.

This is long, you don't need to read it. I just feel really alone right now and had to tell my girls story.

2 and a half years ago I came across a poorly looking cat living amongst the tractors and hay at the farm where we have a small office set up.

It was just before the winter in 2024.

She looked just like one of my childhood cats who would have been the same age.

I coaxed her into my office with some treats and got her to sit on a thick blanket on one of the chairs. She fell asleep soon after and from that day onwards, she became my little companion.

Soon after taking her in, she became unwell. I took her to the vets and we learned 3 things; 1. Her name was Sprocket, 2. She was 17 years old. 3. She had late stage 2 kidney disease.

We left with new meds and new diet instructions. I had the thick matted fur gently shaved off her and bought her a new heat pad to sleep on.

I learned that she had been left to live in the farmhouse by her first owner who went into a nursing home. That must of been about 8 years ago or more. The people who moved in must of made it so she wasn't allowed to sleep inside any more. On rainy days she would sit outside the front door crying her heart out.

Winter 2024 came and went, I wasn't sure if she would it but she did. It was a hard winter. Summer came and she started perking up, she started exploring the farm again, spending more and more of her days in the sunshine rather than sleeping on her bed.

The seasons changed as her visible love for me did.

Winter 2025 came around and we were prepared. Multiple blankets, heat pad, new renal food selection, new heater for the office. We managed to keep it warm in there all Winter. It was about this time where she developed a daily habit of jumping onto my desk and let me actually stroke and rest my hand on her without trying to nip at it.

She made it through another Winter.

And this summer we were blessed. Albeit being a bit slower, eating a bit less, and sleeping more, she continued desk hopping, she went back outside into the sunshine, and she let me love her deeply. And I felt her love back.

And then 3 weeks ago, I could tell from the way she looked at me that time was running out. This good spell was coming to and end.

Over these 3 weeks she ate less and less. Slept more and desk visits became noticeably less frequent. As the days are growing colder, her bones were becoming painful. She started showing signs of intense nausea, she wouldn't get her meds in her, and yesterday, when she refused her chicken completely (she normally always eats some chicken) I felt like I had to make the hard decision.

Sprocket went to sleep for the last time with her head resting in my hand at 11:40am yesterday, the 14th October.

I know that I only had and was able to care and love her for 2 years of our lives, but im so sad man. Im so so sad. Im dreading walking into the office today.

I keep telling myself I did the right thing. And that above anything, she left this world feeling loved. Unconditional love. And she knew it. She still knows it.

Sorry I just didn't think id grieve this hard and I just had to speak about her.

I have a mini schnauzer rescue that was abused and neglected before we adopted him 8 years ago. Charlie attached himself to me all those years ago and we have been inseparable ever since. He is my last best friend because I’ve already lost my other three best animal friends. Charlie is my only connection without him I don’t have anybody. My heart has been shattered since last Friday when the vet said Charlie has a low quality of life and recommended euthanasia. I’ve been crying ever since that night and haven’t been able to stop. I just lost my dad 9 months ago and find it completely unfair that I have to lose my best buddy now. I realize he has lived an amazing life with me and he’s had more love from me than he probably had in his entire life. I wish I didn’t have to lose him but it would be incredibly selfish to keep him earth side. My mom and I have a chi poo but she is attached to my mom and doesn’t love me the way Charlie always has. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him. I know one thing is for sure, I will be lonely without him.

Have any of you experienced any sort of afterlife once your pets passed? My dog passed over 7 months ago. The day after he passed, I was sleeping in my bed and I woke up to a heaviness at my feet. It felt like a big heavy dog and I woke up and saw a silhouette of him which quickly vanished. I have another dog but he is small and I would know the difference in weight between him and my deceased dog. I haven't been able to shake that feeling since. I actually convinced myself he was coming through to me through my child's keyboard but I think the battery was just dying lol. But that first experience has really stuck with me and I wish I could feel it again. Sorry if this is strange. I would just love to know other people's experiences. I just miss him and I really hope that what I felt that night was real

life just feels so empty now. dull. i feel like those around me just don't understand or care about the fact that i lost my entire world in a matter of a few hours.

i have nightmares every single night since his passing. even before then, when i noticed he was getting weaker. sicker. i am exhausted. sleep deprived. depressed. alone.

a lyric i keep coming back to:

"you're just thinking it's a small thing that happened

the world ended when it happened to me"

i am struggling to get myself to work. to feed myself actual meals and not just eat tortilla chips and oreos. even to brush my teeth. i know he would want me to be happy. but how can i be? my happiness is gone, it left the exact moment his body went limp.

My dog died. I knew it was coming, just didn’t know when.
First two days was hard. And then for the first time in my life, my brain was silent for the first few weeks. No over thinking, no thoughts, no crying…

It’s been 2 months and now I think my brain is slowly starting to grieve? I lost my nephew 2 years ago and then had another family loss 2 weeks after my dog passed. I don’t want to miss her. I don’t want to rmemeber her and I feel so guilty. Like I just thought about it. My dog is gone and I’ll never get her back and I hate my life. I have a toddler who keeps reminding me she isn’t here. My family have been amazing allowing me to grieve but I wasn’t grieving I was just blank until now. I’m just so lost and feel selfish and guilty. My priority should obviously be my child but I suddenly just hate the world right now and I genuinely want my dog back so badly but every time I go to think or cry about it, I force myself to stop because I’m so afraid. While I didn’t feel like I was grieving, my grief shows in other ways. I’m impatient with my daughter, I avoid social outings even more now and it’s making me feel even worse.

This was my first long time dog she’s been with me 1/3 of my life and through everything. And I recently lost her to Closed Pyometra and she had multiple health issues. Collapse trachea heart mur mur they said she was anemic and cold and a lot of white blood cells not sure what it all meant to be honest but they said it was bad. They said she could go in for emergency surgery but with her health declining so bad and really how bad she was she would not survive the surgery and I kinda beat myself up wishing I would have atleast tried the surgery because she ended up passing anyways and if there was any hope. VS me having to put her down peacefully was still the sadess moment in my life and been crying every night because I miss her and I wish I could see her one more time in full happy form. Honestly when I took her to the vet and I thought something was wrong I thought maybe she ate something bad or swallowed a pill that feel and was gonna get treatment or medication and come home. I did not know I would have to put her to sleep and take her into the vet almost lifeless she couldn’t move she pooped & peed on herself 3x. I was really happy right before we gave her good bye shot she stood up on all 4’s and walked towards us and we hugged her and then she went down. And we were just balling idk how to handle all this tbh. I’m not naturally emotional person but this is hitting me so hard I cry every night thinking wishing I could have done something. Better or if I can see her one more time to tell her I miss you and hug her. I know this sounds so sad but I just don’t know how to deal. She was my 5 lb Maltese baby girl. Growing up I never had pets so she basically was my first real true love and pet and I can imagine this is what real heart break feels like. These emotions come in waves I can cry all day/night and then be fine for 2 hours it’s just hard right now.

Hi everyone, to jump right into it, I lost my soul kitty almost 2 weeks ago. He passed naturally of old age (18 years old), in his favorite spot, with me next to him. It was completely unexpected but I know he was happy. My grief has been unbearable. He’s the first pet I’ve ever lost, and he was my closest companion for all of those 18 beautiful years. Now, I’m scared to be alone and I can barely stand even being at my house. I have never felt such a deep loneliness.

That brings me to my problem… I’ve never lived without a cat, so my boyfriend and I have started making plans to welcome two kittens into our hearts. Part of me is so happy, but I can’t help but feel guilty for getting a new pet so soon after my baby passed. Everyone I talk to seems to have mixed opinions. Half have told me to go get a cat right away, others have said they waited years after losing theirs. I feel like either way, I’m not making the right decision. I know timelines are very individualized, but is 2 weeks WAY too soon?? I like to think that my past baby is guiding me to my next friend, and that I’m on the right path, but I still feel like I’m disrespecting him in a way. Has anyone else ever dealt with these feelings? What did your timeline look like?