Dealing with the pain of loss of a pet?

Poems always help me cope with the loss of a pet. Animals hold something very close to their humans & touch their hearts. It's hard to loose an animal, as they showed you to love & care about something. I do rescue work for animals & I know it's hard to loose a pet that is very much loved. The animal knows that it's been loved & will never forget the life you gave it.

Here are a few poems that may help you:

I'm Still Here

I was near you, by your bed last night; I came to have a peek.

I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I chattered to you softly as you brushed away a tear,

"It's me, I haven't left you. I'm well. I'm fine. I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast. I watched you pour the tea.

You were thinking of the many times your hands reached out to me.

I was with you at my grave today. You tend it with such care.

I want to reassure you, that I am not lying there.

I went with you back towards the house. As you fumbled for your key,

I gently touched you with a paw, I smiled and said, "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.

I tried so hard to let you know that I was sitting there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday

To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, and then smiled. I think you knew

In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over - I smile and watch you yawning

And say, "Good night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I'll hop across to greet you and we'll enter side by side.

I have many things to show you. There is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

- Author Unknown -

Mourn not my passing

For you saved me

You answered my asking

And you gave me

Home, a special place

I never knew love

Yours was a special face

I bless you from above

I no longer suffer

I recall only joy

You were my lover

I wasn't your toy

So many passed me by

Some said they'd pray

You never asked why

You could only say

"This one deserves better,

I will give that gift"

I send you this letter

To give you a lift

The coin was tossed

And this time I won

So many loved and lost

So many more are just gone

The darkness was lifted

The warmth settled in

They thought I was gifted

But they just let me in

Death is not the end

It is but a transition

Broken hearts will mend

To leave was my decision

The torch must be passed

Please honor my legacy

Another one has asked

Please give them my ecstasy

If I could touch your sky

It would be clear blue

I need not say why

But thank you, thank you, thank you...

We've had so many happy years

What is to come can hold no fears.

You'd not want me to suffer so

The time has come, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend

And please stay with me until the end.

Hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see

The kindness that you did for me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering, I've been saved.

Please do not grieve it must be you

Who had this painful thing to do.

We've been so close, we two, these years. Don't let

your heart hold back

its tears.

author-unknown

Hope this helps a little!

Lily

First of all, I am sorry for your loss. A pet is a part of the family, and losing a pet is painful. Do not think there is anything wrong with being depressed or sad or any other emotion. You are going through the grieving process, and it is the same for a pet as it is a person. I had to put my dog down in 2004. I have just now gotten a new puppy. I personally don't think trying to replace the animal you lost with a new one is the answer. I think you need to acknowledge the loss, and work through it, just as you would a person. And, now, 2 years later, I do love my new puppy, but don't think for a minute I have forgotten Brittany. Just take time and work through the grief. And, know it is normal to feel the way you do!~

Last September my cat began to gradually sound congested. It graudally got worse and worse. He began to stop eating and was lethargic. At first when I noticed the congestion, I attributed it the fact he was over weight and always snored when asleep. After I noticed it wasn't his "normal" snore, I took him to the Vet. We did several sets of x-rays (weeks apart) the Vet looked for an obstruction, we tried allergy meds, eye and nose drops, antibiotics...all with no sucess. I felt so bad shoving pills down his throat. Finally with no sucess from any of the medications, I took him to a specialist for a endoscopy so they could scope his nose and throat. They found a large mass obstructing his throat, which paritally blocked off his air supply causing him to sound congested. They biopsied it (they really thought is was cancer) and did a funal culture. Turns out it was a fungus called cryptococcius which causes masses and lesions. There is treatment, but 1) he was already so far gone, and 2) the treatment can be any where from 6 mos to a year. I wasn't going to put him through the torture of giving him a pill everyday, sometimes they even require life long treatment, so I had my poor baby euthanized. I've been a Vet Tech for almost 8 years and have seen so many pets suffer unneccessarily. He was a rescue cat, he only had 3 legs (poor baby)....I gave him a good 5 years of life, he was a happy fat cat. Although, that still didn't make me feel better, I wanted my baby back in the same condition he was in months prior...but I knew that wasn't a possibility. It took a couple weeks before I could get through a day without crying. It's now 9 months later and I still get upset thinking about him, but time does heal all wounds (or at least most of them). Just know that you're making the right decision, although that doesn't make it easier. You're doing the right thing by not letting him suffer and not putting him through things that aren't even guaranteed to make him better. I felt as though I'd never get over it and I'm still not and probably won't ever be. I feel like I failed him in a way, but I did everything I could for him. You will be very sad at first, but day by day it will get better. So sorry about your baby.

I too lost a pet but to old age.. I was fortunate to have my dog for 17 years.. She still acted like a puppy and she just died like that one morning... I could tell she wasn't feeling good but had no idea she was going to die 1 hour later... It was horrible and it is still hurting me.. But any loss of a beloved pet is not easy.. I had told myself recently that I knew this was going to be coming and just started thinking what would be my next kind of dog to go with the other one who is now next in line.. He was the soul mate to my girl... He is 13. He is still very active and my new Aussie gives him more energy than he has ever had and he seems ok now. I can't live without a loving dog. But you must let it go and realize you gave this

love and didn't want him to suffer.. You did the right thing, so try and move on.. Remember the good times, keep pics around, and start looking for a new pet.. There are many that need to be adopted and when I decided to get an Aussie when I always had every size of Poodles out there, I put an ad in Craig's list under pets looking for a pup.. I mentioned that I could not afford to pay but would and could give a dog a great home.. I received an email shortly afterwards from a breeder and she turned me on to a gal who had bought two but could only keep one... I was the lucky person who got the greatest dog ever..... well, now that is.... I am very happy.

You need to focus on a new pet but take your time and get the right breed and a dog loves you ...... good luck

I went through the same problem I just lost my dog in April. I had to put him to sleep too. He had a heart attack and a tumor in his body also a broken leg from another dog that had bit him. I was crying for days. I did not know what to do. I would think about him everyday and look at old pictures of me and him and seen how happy he looked. As I thought about him I started thinking about how he was so happy and now he is in a even happier place. Try thinking of things that he did that was funny my dog would snore allot I thought it was funny. I started thinking about how funny that was and now every night when I would go to bed I can hear him snoring and it makes me smile. Now when I really think about him I can hear him which lets me know that his spirit is still with me and that he is still my pet and he is here with me forever.

Petlover- I have lost many pets. One of my cats was even eaten by a Bobcat in my own backyard. I know it can be hard. But it's for the best. I'm still mourning him but he's not in pain and plus, he's with his little sister. No one really forgets, you just have to learn to deal and make use of the things you have. I'm sure your dog is thankful that you didn't put him through that, he might have gone another way, but at least this way is peaceful.

-hAwThOrNe_LOVE

I too have lost a pet due to having to put them down... It isn't easy to deal with, but I did find these poems/writing helped...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...

but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.

I'm writing this from the Rainbow Bridge. Here I dwell with God above.

Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.

Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,

God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.

As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.

I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.

There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.

And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.

God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years

because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.

Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.

But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.

I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;

but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.

It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...

that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,

then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."

And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,

knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,

just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.

When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;

I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,

remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.