This Fall our 8-year-old chihuahua mix, Joey, came down with a cough. We took her to the vet, thinking she had kennel cough and weren’t too worried. When the vet listened to her heart, we were shocked to learn that she had advanced congenital heart failure.  How could this be possible when she seemed so happy and healthy?

The vet placed her on a regimen of medication that she initially responded well to. We were hopeful that we could manage her symptoms and extend her quality of life, but understood this wasn’t a curable disease and that we would have hard choices in the future.

Unfortunately, her condition worsened, and the medication couldn’t provide the relief she needed. After a particularly bad day, we made the hard decision that it was time to euthanize her. We really struggled with this decision because as bad as her coughing bouts could be, 90% of the time she seemed like her normal self. 

Joey’s last day she was virtually symptom free, which really made us question our decision. Our vet was wonderfully patient about walking us through our options, giving us clarity on the likely outcomes of her disease and reassuring us that letting her go was a compassionate decision.  As hard as it was to say goodbye, we were grateful her last day was a good one.

It has been a couple weeks now and our house seems very quiet. I keep waiting for her to come around the corner or bark when we walk in the door.  I miss the comfort of cuddling her and the routine she gave to our days. 

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My husband and I have had three dogs during our married life, and each represents a chapter in our lives. Raney was a yellow lab that we got in our first year of marriage.  She was a big gentle giant that was our first baby.  She moved into our first house with us, loved to run along side us when we went mountain biking and was there when our son and daughter were born. She was so patient when they tugged on her ears and was always waiting under the highchair to clean up their messes.

Luna was our chocolate lab that I surprised my husband with after a long day at work.  She was so adorable and loved tennis balls. Luna is the dog our kids remember most, and she loved sleeping with our son, Kale.  I would tuck him in and find Luna asleep on his pillow and Kale curled up at the foot of the bed.

We adopted Joey when Luna was about 10 years old. Joey loved Luna and would curl up beside her. Luna tolerated Jo and showed her the ropes. By the time Luna passed, our kids were grown, and Joey was our lone baby at home. She was thoroughly spoiled, and we saw ourselves becoming our parents in the amount of attention we gave her (and had judged our parents for giving their dog). I don’t know if you can avoid this. Alejandra, our Marketing Director, reminds me that pets are the new children. 

I know there is another chapter to our story. Although I am not ready to commit to another dog yet, I can’t imagine not having a dog. It’s fun to think about who this new member of our family will be and what qualities we want in a dog. Each of our dogs informs this decision and this new dog will have a lot to live up to!

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Are you coping with the loss of a pet?

Grieving is a profoundly individual experience, and finding support during such times is crucial. Here are some recommendations to help you navigate through the challenging process of coping with the loss of a pet:

• Acknowledge Your Grief: Permit yourself to express your grief openly. Tears are a natural part of this process, and though the silence in your home might be overwhelming, recognizing your emotions is essential. Suppressing sadness can only prolong the grieving process.
• Seek Support: You don’t have to face this journey alone. Reach out to those who can offer a sympathetic ear. Numerous online resources and support groups can provide comfort during this challenging time.
• Create a Meaningful Memorial: Pay homage to your pet through a personalized bereavement ritual. Consider options like:
  • Spreading your pet’s ashes in a meaningful location or creating a designated space in your home with their ashes and photos.
  • Planting a native tree or flowering shrub as a living tribute.
  • Crafting a memory box with your pet’s collar or cherished toys.
  • Exploring pet cremation jewelry for a wearable memorial.
  • Commissioning artwork or a memorial item from platforms like Etsy to honor your pet’s memory.

For more ways to cope with the loss of a pet or resources, check out The Humane Society‘s blog.

Do you know someone grieving the loss of their pet? Offer comfort with one of our Pet Loss Sympathy Cards.