I lost my beloved Sheltie, "Kyla" of 14.5 years over the Christmas holiday. She was diagnosed in July, 2015 with Congestive Heart Failure and was on medication, which helped prolong her life until December 27, 2016. I lost her so suddenly and me and my husband were not prepared to say good-bye to her. Losing her at Christmas time was really tough to deal with. I miss her so much each and every day. There are no words to express the profound loss I feel. My heart is irrevocably broken. I feel so lost without my best friend. She was such a beautiful dog and a loyal companion. She stood by my side through thick and thin. She was my little sunshine. She was such a special little girl to me and my husband. She wasn't just our Dog, she was a member of our family. Although I miss her terribly, I have to give thanks for the time that I had with her and all the wonderful memories she gave me and my husband. Her love will remain in my heart forever.

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I just wanted to share my story and reach out to other's who may have recently lost a pet. Please feel free to share your story and how you are coping.

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Life can be so cruel sometimes and it's so hard losing a loved one.

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Here is a picture of my angel, "Kyla", taken in August, 2013.

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It was a while back, but I lost my little Clarice. She was a black cat, who was the runt and had a personality from day one. I got her at 5 weeks old. She was the smallest cat I'd ever seen. From the moment I got her, I bonded with her. She was my shadow until we lost her in 2014. It started with an inner ear infection (and a layman term they called "dancing eyes", where her equilibrium is way off). She never fully recovered from it, but she was a trooper. I'd never had to put an animal down before, and it broke everything inside me. I still mourn her to this day when I think about her.

I vowed I wasn't getting another cat. We had 2 others, and that was enough. Until the roommate had a coworker who had to get rid of their...wait for it... small black cat because the son was allergic. The poor thing had been thrown out of a window, and had burns from hiding out in a car engine once, before we even got her. (She's fine now of course.) It was six weeks after, and I was vehemently against it. But I relented. She's been a joy.

I've learned that it's okay to get another pet right away; in fact it's almost necessary. You still have love inside you to give out, and if there is no one else there to receive it, it's sorta like holding in a sneeze or a piss. It hurts more and more after a while. Sookie, the new one, has been healing in that I still have that little black cat in my peripheral vision. She has her own personality, but she's been a needed balm on a hurt that runs very deep for the roommate and I both.

Here's Clarice (RIP), and Sookie:

TrivialPursuit said:

It was a while back, but I lost my little Clarice. She was a black cat, who was the runt and had a personality from day one. I got her at 5 weeks old. She was the smallest cat I'd ever seen. From the moment I got her, I bonded with her. She was my shadow until we lost her in 2014. It started with an inner ear infection (and a layman term they called "dancing eyes", where her equilibrium is way off). She never fully recovered from it, but she was a trooper. I'd never had to put an animal down before, and it broke everything inside me. I still mourn her to this day when I think about her.

I vowed I wasn't getting another cat. We had 2 others, and that was enough. Until the roommate had a coworker who had to get rid of their...wait for it... small black cat because the son was allergic. The poor thing had been thrown out of a window, and had burns from hiding out in a car engine once, before we even got her. (She's fine now of course.) It was six weeks after, and I was vehemently against it. But I relented. She's been a joy.

I've learned that it's okay to get another pet right away; in fact it's almost necessary. You still have love inside you to give out, and if there is no one else there to receive it, it's sorta like holding in a sneeze or a piss. It hurts more and more after a while. Sookie, the new one, has been healing in that I still have that little black cat in my peripheral vision. She has her own personality, but she's been a needed balm on a hurt that runs very deep for the roommate and I both.

Here's Clarice (RIP), and Sookie:

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Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Clarice was a beauty! Sookie is a very lucky cat, and she looks super-sweet. Enjoy her!

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We had to have our dog euthanized, and that was the last thing we wanted to do and we carry a lot of guilt because of that, but on the other hand, it would be cruel to let her suffer. We loved her so much and it hurts like hell. My husband and I don't feel quite ready to get another dog right now, but I know we will, some day!

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[Edited 5/10/17 15:00pm]

cloveringold85 said:

We had to have our dog euthanized, and that was the last thing we wanted to do and we carry a lot of guilt because of that, but on the other hand, it would be cruel to let her suffer. We loved her so much and it hurts like hell. My husband and I don't feel quite ready to get another dog right now, but I know we will, some day!

[Edited 5/10/17 15:00pm]

It really is a case by case basis. Sometimes a new little life can be more healing and joyful that anticipated. I felt absolutely horrible when we had to make the decision to put Clarice down. She ended up with cancer, and was suffering those last couple of days. I miss that little girl so much. I could snap my finger or say "hey!" and she knew what I meant. We used to joke that she was forming words sometimes. She loved to sit outside on the patio in the sun. She never ran off when we let her outside. We'd sit in the grass. She was trained on a leash, and loved to ride in the car. The photo of her outside on the chair is so her. Sookie is a typical teenager right now. But still a joy, and gives the other two (Phoebe and SkinnyGirl) a run for their money.

r.i.p.

First of all sorry for your loss I wish Cats and Dogs could live 40 years or longer. My first real pet was my Cat Isis who died in 2008. Had him for 4 years, was an out door cat who I took in. Still miss him. Waited about 6 months then adopted another cat who I named Angel. I don't think of it as replacing a pet because you can never replace a love one. I see it as an opprotunity for another animal to have a nice home and to be loved. If I didn't adopt Angel they may have put her to rest after a week.

I'm so sorry about Kyla, I know how heartbreaking it is. It's not just heartbreaking, it's devasting.

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I recently lost my yorkie, Kenna, 02/18/2017 to nasal cancer. It spread fast like wild fire.

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I think of her every.single.day.and cry for her every.single.night.

[Edited 5/11/17 10:00am]

Sorry 4 your loss

I am very sorry you lost your baby. I know exactly how you feel. I still miss my first dog I had as a child. Some how pets have a way of staying with you for years, no matter how long ago you lost them. Just take solace in knowing how much happiness you gave your pet and how much joy she gave you. And it's still okay to cry...

It's hard for non-animal lovers to understand how people feel when their cats and dog pass away. I lost my cat back in 2009 due to complications from a 5 year battle with diabetes. Worse pain I ever felt. Completely devastated. I went into a very deep depression after that for about 5 years. I finally decided the only way I was going to heal was to adpot another cat. I did that 3 years ago and it was the best decision I could have possiblly made. I not only saved his life, he saved mine.

So sorry to hear that. It is in a very real way like losing a dear friend or family member.

TrivialPursuit said:

cloveringold85 said:

We had to have our dog euthanized, and that was the last thing we wanted to do and we carry a lot of guilt because of that, but on the other hand, it would be cruel to let her suffer. We loved her so much and it hurts like hell. My husband and I don't feel quite ready to get another dog right now, but I know we will, some day!

[Edited 5/10/17 15:00pm]

It really is a case by case basis. Sometimes a new little life can be more healing and joyful that anticipated. I felt absolutely horrible when we had to make the decision to put Clarice down. She ended up with cancer, and was suffering those last couple of days. I miss that little girl so much. I could snap my finger or say "hey!" and she knew what I meant. We used to joke that she was forming words sometimes. She loved to sit outside on the patio in the sun. She never ran off when we let her outside. We'd sit in the grass. She was trained on a leash, and loved to ride in the car. The photo of her outside on the chair is so her. Sookie is a typical teenager right now. But still a joy, and gives the other two (Phoebe and SkinnyGirl) a run for their money.

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As difficult as it is to lose a beloved pet, we must cherish all the love, companionship and wonderful memories they gave us. Every day it's a struggle and I miss my Kyla more than words can ever say!

kpowers said:

First of all sorry for your loss I wish Cats and Dogs could live 40 years or longer. My first real pet was my Cat Isis who died in 2008. Had him for 4 years, was an out door cat who I took in. Still miss him. Waited about 6 months then adopted another cat who I named Angel. I don't think of it as replacing a pet because you can never replace a love one. I see it as an opprotunity for another animal to have a nice home and to be loved. If I didn't adopt Angel they may have put her to rest after a week.

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Thank you. I'm so sorry for your loss as well. Cats and Dogs don't live long enough, that's for sure!! It's hard to see them getting older and getting sick because we, as their owners love them so much and feel so helpless when we can't do anything for them or make them well again. It's so heartbreaking!

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Thanks for sharing your story. That is true; you cannot replace the pet you had because each one is unique and special. So many animals out there need a loving home! I hate to see any animal suffering or without a home. I know one day, we will get another Dog, when it's time.

PennyPurple said:

I'm so sorry about Kyla, I know how heartbreaking it is. It's not just heartbreaking, it's devasting.

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I recently lost my yorkie, Kenna, 02/18/2017 to nasal cancer. It spread fast like wild fire.

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I think of her every.single.day.and cry for her every.single.night.

[Edited 5/11/17 10:00am]

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Penny, I'm SO sorry about your Yorkie! That is so heartbreaking! Dogs give us so much unconditional love and it's so hard to lose them!! It will be 5-months since I lost my Kyla and I wonder if I will ever feel joy again without her.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Sorry 4 your loss

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Thank you!

CharlieGriffin said:

I am very sorry you lost your baby. I know exactly how you feel. I still miss my first dog I had as a child. Some how pets have a way of staying with you for years, no matter how long ago you lost them. Just take solace in knowing how much happiness you gave your pet and how much joy she gave you. And it's still okay to cry...

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Thank you! That was very beautiful.

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I do not have any children, so losing Kyla was like losing my only daughter.

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I still think of the Dog I had as a child and all the other pets I had growing up. You never forget them and each and every one of them holds a special place in your heart, forever.

kitbradley said:

It's hard for non-animal lovers to understand how people feel when their cats and dog pass away. I lost my cat back in 2009 due to complications from a 5 year battle with diabetes. Worse pain I ever felt. Completely devastated. I went into a very deep depression after that for about 5 years. I finally decided the only way I was going to heal was to adpot another cat. I did that 3 years ago and it was the best decision I could have possiblly made. I not only saved his life, he saved mine.

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Kit: Thank you for sharing your story and I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is always difficult, no matter when it happens. It's never easy to say good-bye to the one's you love and that includes pets, who give us so much unconditional love. I have been very depressed since I lost my Kyla, almost 5-months ago. I don't know when I will feel joy again. Maybe in time, I will get another Dog. I'm glad you finally did get another Cat. So many animals out there who need a loving home!

OnlyNDaUsa said:

So sorry to hear that. It is in a very real way like losing a dear friend or family member.

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Thank You! Yes, it is like losing a member of your family. You miss their love and companionship.

cloveringold85 said:

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Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Clarice was a beauty! Sookie is a very lucky cat, and she looks super-sweet. Enjoy her!

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We had to have our dog euthanized, and that was the last thing we wanted to do and we carry a lot of guilt because of that, but on the other hand, it would be cruel to let her suffer. We loved her so much and it hurts like hell. My husband and I don't feel quite ready to get another dog right now, but I know we will, some day!

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[Edited 5/10/17 15:00pm]

We also had to make that decision for our pup, she was only 8 years old. It is the hardest thing and it makes me feel guilty daily.

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My daughter got married in October and my house was the central location for working on the decorations of nothing but beads and glitter. Our dog kept sneezing so we though she just had some glitter or a bead up her nose. Took her to the vet and they thought she had allergies, gave her allergy shots and meds. It continued to happen so the vet thought it might be a bad tooth. She went in for teeth cleaning and ended up having a tooth pulled. (never in my life of having dogs, did we ever get their teeth cleaned) while she was sedated, they took dental xrays and took a xray of her nasal passages, there was something there that looked like a bead, the vet tried to get it out but she thought it was grown over with scar tissue. She kept sneezing and was on a daily dose of benedryl which seemed to help. A couple of weeks after seeing the 'bead' I gave her a bath, and you know how scrawny they look while they are wet, I noticed that her left eye was bulging and when she looked at me, it would roll in back of her head, took her to the emergency and they said with what they seen on her records it probably wasn't a bead, but a tumor. Took her to a specialist and she noticed that the tumor was coming from her nose thru the roof of her mouth and was moving up towards the eye, which is why the eye was bulging so bad. Then she started sneezing blood, pure blood everywhere, but she didn't act like she was in pain. Never, never did she cry in pain. My kids would come over and tell me that they think her eye was getting worse, I couldn't see it I guess because I was with her everyday.

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No matter how ready I thought I was, I wasn't. I thought I would be ok, I'm still not. I regret putting her down, maybe we could've had more time with her. Maybe I did it too soon. Even 1 more day with her, would've have given me more time for kisses and hugs.

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I couldn't vacuum for weeks, because her little paw prints were in my carpet and I could see them.

I don't know if I can do another pet, and go thru this heart break ever again. And besides nothing can take her place.

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She was my joy, comfort & best friend & I miss her fiercely.

Sorry for you all Lost many pets myself. Some people can be cruel when it comes to pets passing i have found in my life.

Sorry for your loss. In my experience, pets, especially cats and dogs, are familiy members just like human beings. They have their own personality, they can help us through bad times, and they show unconditional love and can sense when we are feeling down.

14.5 years is quite an old age for a dog, and while I know that this is only a small consolation, just keep in mind that you managed to keep your dog happy, healthy and alive for such a long time,and it just goes to show that you took proper care of your beloved pet. I´m sure Kyle felt and appreciated that.

I see no problem in getting a new pet real soon.

I know some people would rather wait but I agree with TrivialPursuit on this matter.

That´s a quite a sad story. I don´t have a cat but I absolutely love cats, and they love me..even the most difficult ones.

I like dogs, too, but I feel more drawn to cats.

So what was it like to have a similar looking cat? I understand that they both had completely different personalities (and maybe differed in the looks department, too) but isn´t it a bit weird to have a small, black cat again after losing one?

I think it´s a good thing that you got a new cat again.

Who knows where she would´ve ended up if you hadn´t adopted her. I think the cat is very lucky.

TrivialPursuit said:

It was a while back, but I lost my little Clarice. She was a black cat, who was the runt and had a personality from day one. I got her at 5 weeks old. She was the smallest cat I'd ever seen. From the moment I got her, I bonded with her. She was my shadow until we lost her in 2014. It started with an inner ear infection (and a layman term they called "dancing eyes", where her equilibrium is way off). She never fully recovered from it, but she was a trooper. I'd never had to put an animal down before, and it broke everything inside me. I still mourn her to this day when I think about her.

I vowed I wasn't getting another cat. We had 2 others, and that was enough. Until the roommate had a coworker who had to get rid of their...wait for it... small black cat because the son was allergic. The poor thing had been thrown out of a window, and had burns from hiding out in a car engine once, before we even got her. (She's fine now of course.) It was six weeks after, and I was vehemently against it. But I relented. She's been a joy.

I've learned that it's okay to get another pet right away; in fact it's almost necessary. You still have love inside you to give out, and if there is no one else there to receive it, it's sorta like holding in a sneeze or a piss. It hurts more and more after a while. Sookie, the new one, has been healing in that I still have that little black cat in my peripheral vision. She has her own personality, but she's been a needed balm on a hurt that runs very deep for the roommate and I both.

Here's Clarice (RIP), and Sookie:

KoolEaze said:

That´s a quite a sad story. I don´t have a cat but I absolutely love cats, and they love me..even the most difficult ones.

I like dogs, too, but I feel more drawn to cats.

So what was it like to have a similar looking cat? I understand that they both had completely different personalities (and maybe differed in the looks department, too) but isn´t it a bit weird to have a small, black cat again after losing one?

I think it´s a good thing that you got a new cat again.

Who knows where she would´ve ended up if you hadn´t adopted her. I think the cat is very lucky.

I was very against getting another cat. When we did, I tried to bond with her at first (she's very kind and curious and feisty), but I felt I was holding back. Having a cat that looks very much the same (and actually has a lot of the same weird habits that Clarice did), Sookie proved to be a distraction well needed. As I noted, it was good to have another cat around the house that looked like her. It wasn't purposeful that we sought out a similar cat, but having her in my peripheral vision around the house and having that energy has been nice. We still get pretty upset if we talk about Clarice too much. She was a special girl, above and beyond our other cats. And she knew it. It's hard to express just how much it went beyond love. I feel like I was meant to have her for the 13 or 14 years we had her. She was perfection. Sookie, while not perfect, is just as spunky as Clarice was, and adventurous, (and trained on a leash), so even walking another small black cat gives some normality to what was missing with Clarice being gone.

PennyPurple said:

cloveringold85 said:

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Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Clarice was a beauty! Sookie is a very lucky cat, and she looks super-sweet. Enjoy her!

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We had to have our dog euthanized, and that was the last thing we wanted to do and we carry a lot of guilt because of that, but on the other hand, it would be cruel to let her suffer. We loved her so much and it hurts like hell. My husband and I don't feel quite ready to get another dog right now, but I know we will, some day!

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[Edited 5/10/17 15:00pm]

We also had to make that decision for our pup, she was only 8 years old. It is the hardest thing and it makes me feel guilty daily.

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My daughter got married in October and my house was the central location for working on the decorations of nothing but beads and glitter. Our dog kept sneezing so we though she just had some glitter or a bead up her nose. Took her to the vet and they thought she had allergies, gave her allergy shots and meds. It continued to happen so the vet thought it might be a bad tooth. She went in for teeth cleaning and ended up having a tooth pulled. (never in my life of having dogs, did we ever get their teeth cleaned) while she was sedated, they took dental xrays and took a xray of her nasal passages, there was something there that looked like a bead, the vet tried to get it out but she thought it was grown over with scar tissue. She kept sneezing and was on a daily dose of benedryl which seemed to help. A couple of weeks after seeing the 'bead' I gave her a bath, and you know how scrawny they look while they are wet, I noticed that her left eye was bulging and when she looked at me, it would roll in back of her head, took her to the emergency and they said with what they seen on her records it probably wasn't a bead, but a tumor. Took her to a specialist and she noticed that the tumor was coming from her nose thru the roof of her mouth and was moving up towards the eye, which is why the eye was bulging so bad. Then she started sneezing blood, pure blood everywhere, but she didn't act like she was in pain. Never, never did she cry in pain. My kids would come over and tell me that they think her eye was getting worse, I couldn't see it I guess because I was with her everyday.

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No matter how ready I thought I was, I wasn't. I thought I would be ok, I'm still not. I regret putting her down, maybe we could've had more time with her. Maybe I did it too soon. Even 1 more day with her, would've have given me more time for kisses and hugs.

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I couldn't vacuum for weeks, because her little paw prints were in my carpet and I could see them.

I don't know if I can do another pet, and go thru this heart break ever again. And besides nothing can take her place.

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She was my joy, comfort & best friend & I miss her fiercely.

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Penny: I am SO sorry!! What a heartbreaking experience you had. Losing a pet at any time is never easy. They leave such a void in our lives.

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My husband and I carry a lot of guilt because of what we had to do. That was the last thing we ever wanted!! Kyla was the love of my life (well, my husband included).

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I cried this morning, missing my Kyla and after I read this post, my eyes teared-up again. You know, there are areas of my carpet that I can't vacuum either, because her fur is there. I just cannot do it. Also, she left paw prints in certain areas and I cannot vacuum/distrub that area. So, I know exactly how you feel.

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It's too soon for me to get another Dog, but maybe some day. There are so many dogs out there who need a loving home!!

Guitarhero said:

Sorry for you all Lost many pets myself. Some people can be cruel when it comes to pets passing i have found in my life.

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Sorry for your loss as well. Losing a pet is really tough. Some people just have pets as an accessory, but my Dog was much more than that; she was our "family".

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I have to say, I know people who have lost a pet(s), and they don't seem too emotional about it. I guess some people can shrug it off quicker than others?

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I have also found some people that I personally know to be very cruel by not acknowledging my loss. I have a hard time accepting people who cannot show any compassion or empathy.

KoolEaze said:

Sorry for your loss. In my experience, pets, especially cats and dogs, are familiy members just like human beings. They have their own personality, they can help us through bad times, and they show unconditional love and can sense when we are feeling down.

14.5 years is quite an old age for a dog, and while I know that this is only a small consolation, just keep in mind that you managed to keep your dog happy, healthy and alive for such a long time,and it just goes to show that you took proper care of your beloved pet. I´m sure Kyle felt and appreciated that.

I see no problem in getting a new pet real soon.

I know some people would rather wait but I agree with TrivialPursuit on this matter.

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Thank you for your kind words. It's hard to accept when your pet is gone. They give so much love and when they leave us, we long for their love and companionship. Life can be so cruel. We lose our loved ones and beloved pets, but somehow we are supposed to carry on without them. I feel guilty for trying to enjoy life anymore. Losing a pet or any loved one makes it feel almost impossible to feel joy ever again. But I agree, I think it is important to eventually get another pet. Love is what makes the world go round, and there are so many pets who need a loving home.

I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for your kind thoughts and words of encouragement. I think it's important for people to share their stories. I can't tell you how much this has helped me. I thank you all, and I am uplifted!!

It hurts a lot but you get used to it after a while. I lost my bemoved Terry 2 years ago he was a golden retriever, and the worst part is that he died because i neglected him.

214 said:

It hurts a lot but you get used to it after a while. I lost my bemoved Terry 2 years ago he was a golden retriever, and the worst part is that he died because i neglected him.

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I'm so sorry for your loss!! He died because you neglected him? Do you care to elaborate?