How do I move on from the loss of my beloved Beagle?

[Freedom~Mama]

My beloved Beagle was just put down a week ago. She was old and sick and I know it was the right thing to do but I am just having a very hard time with the loss. I miss her so much. I just got divorced and am now trying to start my life as a single Mama, balancing going to school full time with everything else. Losing my best friend (my dog) just makes it all feel like too much. How can I start healing and moving on? I know she was just a dog but she was more than that to me. She was my first baby and my little soul mate. I just miss her. I miss her smell, her soft ears, the way she would howl every time she saw me as if she hadn't seen me in years and was so excited to see me, the way she would sleep with me and when I was sad she would put her head next to mine...this is so hard.

[Breathless Wonder]

The only thing I have really found to help is time.

I am so sorry for your loss.

[maxwill129]

Hugs to you! I just put down my kitty yesterday. I haven't stopped crying since. I've had her for 13 years and I woke up to nurse the baby in the middle of the night and was waiting for her to jump up with me...before I realized that she's gone.

My mom and MIL said that time is really the only thing that really helped them.

[Asiago]

I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you
A dog's life is so short compared to ours, we have to cherish every day of it.
Sounds like you did (and so did she).

[GearGirl]

It's so hard, I think just time helps, he sounds like he was a real cutie. I'm sorry for your loss.

[CassnBeth]

I'm so sorry. We just had to put down the last of our beloved pets a few weeks ago and I am having such a hard time adjusting to an animal-less house. What an awful time for you to have to go through this, too. I am just really sorry.

[JessicaS]

Moving to Pets so the OP can find additional support.

[Freedom~Mama]

Thanks so much to everyone that has replied. Still having a pretty rough time but am trying to keep all the good memories of her in my mind and not her rough last year of life. I miss her so much and I think going through this while feeling so stressed with school and a divorce just makes it that much harder. I am just doing the best I can because I know that really time is the only thing that makes things better.

[KalamazooMom]

I'm sorry. Hugs to you and your family. We lost our beautiful and much loved mutt this past December. It was heartbreaking. We also went through a divorce in 2008 and that dog was such a HUGE part of my kids transition and adjusting to 2 homes instead of one, and for me as I adjusted to being without the kids when they were at their dads. She was such a blessing to our family. She came into our lives because we needed her and she needed us (she had been a stray). Allow yourself time to grieve. It just takes time.

And when the time is right you can think about welcoming another dog to your family. After we had decided we were ready to adopt another dog we found one through the local animal rescue who we thought might be a good fit for our family. The volunteer brought him over for a home visit. After he sniffed around the house he hopped on the couch and laid down, and both kids put their heads on him like a pillow. And I really felt like it was a sign from our Lacey that this new dog was going to be a good member of our family. And he truly has been.

[mom0810]

Time. I'm so sorry for your loss. Time helps. It doesn't erase it but the pain is dulled a bit.

My 14 year old Beardie died a few years ago, and I still cry so hard if something reminds me of him. He was a very special boy. But I have a new herding dog in my life... not a Beardie, but she reminds me of the special love I have for the dog that passed.

In time, another dog may help. But what helps so much is just let yourself grieve. Maybe make a collage of pictures of your dog, when you feel ready.

I'm so sorry. It does get easier.

[wetcement101]

What awful timing to lose a dear friend. Glad you are doing ok.

[Dustyblue]

Big hugs to you.... it's a truly awful thing to go through.

When our last dog died 5 years ago, DP & I got another similar-but-different dog 3 months later from a shelter. He's the new light of our lives.... as others have said, he reminds us of our last furbaby but his differences make us laugh.

It takes different people different lengths of time to be ready for another dog (my Mum took 2.5 years). If you're nowhere near thinking about it, maybe just keep it as a comforting thought for the future, if only as a possibility.

And remember what a wondertful life she had with you.... that's all we can do for our doggies.

[somegirl99]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Subhuti]

I needed to have the time to grieve. It'll be hard because you are occupied with other things -- a divorce, being a single mom -- to find those moments to do the grieving you really need to do.

It took me a couple of years to get over my soul mate Keely, But finally, when I had sent away for a couple of new rescue dogs, I realized, I have to finish this. I have to let go. And strangely, I was finally able and eager to bury the ashes and weep ... and say goodbye.

So for me, actually getting a new dog forced me, or allowed me to, finish my grieving.


Sending much commiseration.

[daisymama12]

I'm sorry you had to say goodbye. It's just so so hard, and even more so as you have so many changes and adjustments. There's no rushing grief.
It will take time, but you will be able to think of all the wonderful things about your dog, without the big sadness, sometime in the future.
Big hugs to you.

[madskye]

Oh, I am so sorry!

My old dog, Casey, died a year ago in April. It was TERRIBLE. I knew I would be sad when he went, but I was really unprepared for how hard it was. I would say, for six months I took it really hard, and just really missed him. Seriously, not to sound corny, but I cried at least once a day and I still tear up when I talk about him.

By this Christmas, my DH and I felt ready to get add another dog to our family again, and that has really been a tonic. We still talk about Casey a lot, because the two dogs are so different, we end up comparing them quite a bit...but now the memories are less sad and painful and we are happy again.

It will get better, but you are just going through tough times now...dogs are such big, constant presences in our lives...they really leave a void when they pass on.