How has the death of a treasured pet affected you?
We recently wrote about the complicated grief that can come with euthanising a pet, after British formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton shared about the death of his dog.
This is what you had to say about your beloved pets and the inevitable grief that comes with their death.
'Acknowledge your grief'
My wife and I lost our border collie dog two months ago. The grief for both of us is still very raw. Nell was very much a part of our family life. Daily walks, lying inside in the aircon (we live in Queensland's tropical north), even accompanying us on weekend jaunts out in the countryside.
When she died, it was a conscious decision on our part, as she had cancer. She was seven years old.
We both think (and know) that it is important to acknowledge your grief when you lose a pet. Grief comes at the most inopportune times, and it hurts. Let it come. Talk about it with someone close to you. Cry, wail and get the pain out. It doesn't go away immediately. It will take time.
The only other thing that we think is important, is don't get another pet until you have given enough time to grieve the one you lost. Sometimes, you never really ever get over a broken heart, you just live with the new normal. — Jonathan
[One] thing that I felt unprepared for was the distress of our other dog when our first dog died. When out on regular walking route about a week later, he smelt her favourite pee spot, sat down on his haunches and howled! We all did. It was quite gut-wrenching. — Lesley
'She told me I would know'
I have experienced many animal deaths in my 70 years. I have had to take three dogs to be euthanised.
That last euthanasia experience was heart-wrenchingly difficult but Vigo looked to me like he was relieved and ready. He was 17. I could not sit on the floor with him, so my adult son did that … I can't go through that again.
[At] the monthly visits to the vet for Vigo's arthritis injection, [I would] sometimes ask the vet, "How will I know that it's time?" She told me I would know [and] in the end I did. He could not get up or eat one morning and I rang the vet straight away. — Christine
I got it right with … my darling Whisper, a greyhound with a big personality … I didn't opt for uncomfortable tests, or prolonging his life for a little longer, and whilst I would sell my soul to have him back tripping me over underfoot, hiding cutlery, and stealing bread from my kitchen, whenever I'm sobbing at the sight of his empty bed, I have the profound relief that I was able to give him a loving, peaceful end, with his last conscious memory being of me stroking his silky soft ears and telling that big beautiful lanky house giraffe how much he means to me. — Erika
'Time to say goodbye'
Cadbury was my first chocolate labrador, the previous six being yellow labs. I bought her from a local dog breeder. She was beautiful.
After three months with Cadbury, I had her vet checked. The news was not good. She had hip dysplasia on her back right leg [and] a deformed hock and hip on her left back leg.
I informed the dog breeder and … they wanted me to bring her back and would replace her with another. I couldn't do that as I knew what fate awaited her.
Over the first three months we had bonded and she was just so lovely. So, talking to the vet we [made] a care plan.
After seven years, she developed an incurable mouth cancer [and] after another six months, it was time to say "goodbye". I was in my late 50s and cried so much in saying goodbye. But, I knew I had given Cadbury seven-and-a-half years of happiness, love and companionship. She never wanted for anything. — Kevin
It was really difficult to accept euthanising our beloved family dog. The best advice we received was to 'go home and think about it' and have a festival of all the things he loved the most and it was a joyous week, filled with laughter. There was everything from lasagna for dinner to a final beach walk.
I woke up one morning and just knew it was time. Did my heart break? Absolutely.
But, we were ready to say goodbye, knowing we'd loved him beyond measure and given him as much joy as he'd given us for all those years. I still cry about him. Happy tears. — Liz
Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts. Some comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.
