I don't know whom to talk to - I've lost a friend today

walwin

I'm so sorry for your loss and understand how much it hurts xx

RazWaz

I used to keep hamsters, my parents stopped buying me new ones as when they died I was so devastated. You come to love an animal, and your love isn't restricted to the size of the creature, only your heart.

Take solace in knowing if you loved her this much, then you would have given her the best life possible. While it hurts to lose anyone, regardless of species, it will get better in the end. There is no point fighting the grief process, let it take it's course and remember, no matter how much it hurts now, the wonderful time you spent together will always be worth it in the end.

Wellyboots6

Took me a little while to get up the courage to read this thread and post, as I am still cut up about the loss of my dog in January and things like this really set me off.

It shows you are not alone though and I think most people on here will know exactly what you are going through and not think you silly at all!

Don't ever feel daft for loving, its the best gift you could give any furry (scaley, slimey, prickly etc) coming in to your life x

Ellie83

Thank you ever so much to all of you for your kind comments. You have no idea how overwhelmed I am by the kindness you have shown me, despite the fact that you don't even know me. Let's say that I have experienced quite negative attitudes in the past and in RL... Some people can be so nasty, and I pity them for they'll never know how wonderful it is to love a creature that is not even from the same species. Like all types of love, it is rather unique and I feel blessed that we got to have little Isolde in our lives and that we got the chance to love her, even if for a short time.

She died so fast, poor little things. All I hope is that she knows I did everything I could, and that she wasn't in too much pain. I hope she knows I'll love and think about her. She's left behind 2 distraught humans and also a male companion (Tristan, of course ) I cried and cried and cried yesterday when I put her body next to him for him to know she was dead. Rabbits form very strong bond, especially when they are the alpha male and female of the warren. So when we put her down next to him and we saw him nudge her and lick her nose, as if asking her to wake up... I'm crying just writing that... Rabbits do mourn too

I cried when so many of you told me how much you ached when you lost your furry friends. You must all be fantastic people and I wish I had more friends who could display such empathy and kindness.

Isolde was such a little monster She chewed her way through many expensive carpets, not to mention sofa covers and clothes Despite weighing a measly 3lbs, she was such an alpha female She was so domineering with her male companion who is twice her weight and size!

I'll never forget how she would just grunt at you and charge at you when she wasn't happy! She even scared the cat! So much so that we used to joke that Isolde was the real predator in the house! She even used to outwit us sometimes! She clearly thought she had the body of a lion: quite apt given that she was part lionhead

To all of you who lost furry friends and knew the same pain, my heart goes out to you. I don't know where they go, nor where we go, but if there is a Heaven, it's probably mayhem by now, full of mischievous but adorable pets

CC-Warrior

Nothing to laugh about or ignore. Some of us prefer animals to children (I would much rather have a dog or rabbit than a child any day). It's just so painful when they have to go.x

Ellie83

catkins wrote: »

I have lost many much loved pets over the years and I still think of them and can still get upset but it does get easier. I lost a beautiful dog on 19th July last year and although I can think of him without crying now (just about) I am dreading the anniversary of his death.

I am so sorry for the loss of your dog catkins, and I know what you mean about dreading the anniversary of his/her death I have lost many a pet too, mainly because I have had a lot of small animals (mainly guinea pigs and hamsters and rabbits), all rescued from awful situations. So they tend to die quite quickly, which breaks my heart (and that of my husband). But I just can't not take them in when they're in need as I hope we can at least give them a few good years. xx

Ellie83

Loosee7 wrote: »

Im so sorry for you loss. Even though its an animal it doesnt make it any less important a loss to you her owner.

My cat was run over September 2012 and I still feel so upset just thinking about it. I was in bits all weekend afterwards and was glad I found a reputable pet crematorium so i could at least give her a decent send off. For weeks afterwards I took comfort in her ashes and being able to hold them. I had them placed in a wood ornament of a cat.

I was appalled to realise many pet crematoriums charge a lot of money to not personally care for your pet and cremate pets in groups even though they assure you they dont.

Example for the owner of the pet crematorium i used - a recently bereaved owner took his great dane to be cremated and returned the next day to pick up the casket. It was quite large in relation to the other caskets he had of his other much loved great danes. The conclusion was the other caskets were not the whole entirety of his beloved great danes. It makes you realise how other people do not take as much care with an animal as others and realise the passing of a loved pet can be akin to an owners child passing away.

So in short I can understand your pain and please dont think you alone in your grief to mourn a much loved animal.

L x

I hear you about pet crematoria. We had been using a very good one when in the SW. They founded the Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria to fight against unscrupulous big chains with unethical practices. Now that we've moved to East Anglia, we've found another one, belonging to the Association. It's 1.5h away in Essex but we don't care. I know Isolde wouldn't mind what happened to her body but my husband and I do. It's part of the mourning process for us.

And I am the same. I take comfort in having my pets ashes around me. Some may call it morbid but it just helps me, despite the fact that I know that a body is just that, a body. If it helps, then what's the harm in that?

Ellie83

savingjenny wrote: »

we've all got pets on this board, so no-one will think you silly. It's one of the hardest things that our pets live so much shorter lives than we do

Exactly what my husband said Isolde was only 4, and she was so healthy just 2 days ago (or so she appeared). Sometimes I wonder why we make ourselves suffer so much by adopting pets...and then I look at the rescue animals where I volunteer and I understand that it's a "small" price to pay to give another soul a chance to have a good life.

Ellie83

Ash_McCloud wrote: »

Sorry for your loss Ellie83, hope you can take some comfort from knowing you held her as she passed away and she wasn't alone. RIP Little Bunny :A

I know Ash, I can at least take some comfort in the fact that she didn't die alone at the vet's or that we didn't have to put her to sleep. It's almost like she made sure I didn't have to take the decision and passed away peacefully in my arms. But I tell you, seeing death "for real" is awful. It happened to me once before, with our little hamster, and my nights were plagued with nightmares for weeks

Ellie83

marleyboy wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with mourning the sad loss of a pet, pets are part of the family too. Were you to not but an eyelid over such a terrible event, some may question your motives for having a pet.

Speaking as a strong hearted man in his 40's who has a pet cat. I would shed buckets over Tigs if he was to pass away. I doubt anyone would dare call me silly for crying over it, not unless they were anonymous and hiding behind their computer screens of course.

Remember all those happy moments you shared with your pet, for your pet will undoubtedly live on within them. If there is such a thing as heaven, know your pet is now up there doing a jig with his mates whilst looking down on you with pride.

Commiserations for your loss OP.

I agree with you Marley, I would question anyone not feeling upset upon the death of a family pet. Interestingly, it's "petless" so-called friends who were so nasty to me in the past when I lost a furry kid. Needless to say that they're not my friends anymore.

My husband cried so much when she passed away in the car. I actually have even more respect for him now. I knew he was a kind soul but now I know that he's not afraid to show it. And he was completely under Isolde's thumb In fact, he was the one who her at the adoption centre