I feel a bit stupid....

samf1971

Hi, you're not alone, I had two rescue bunnies who came everywhere with us, even lived in a caravan with us for a year, they were beautiful little creatures and had lovely personalities and they became such a part of our family, when they died we were heartbroken so I fully understand how you feel, pets are such attachments, you're not silly to feel sad about the loss and I think you're doing a lovely thing by creating a scrapbook group hug to you :grouphug:

Curious_George_2

the_other_mce wrote: »

My kids are 9 and 7 and want a pet. I don't want them to get one because I know how upsetting it is when they die......

but you cant protect them from it forever,
this is probably going to come out all wrong but i only wish that my daughter had experienced a poorly pet that had to be put down before she was hit by the full force of a family member dying suddenly over night,
it might have made things a bit easier to explain

to the OP, dont worry about feeling soppy over your pet, we have all been there, ive had a good cry over every single one of my pets (and family pets) that passed on, and was especially upset when my rats got ill (they were my babies) and after months of me caring for them and spoon feeding them baby food day and night they eventually needed putting down, i was heartbroken but you should have heard the comments i got "only rats" "crying over vermin" etc and the jokes i heard about traps etc
some people are idiots.

Smiley_Mum

I had a pet rabbit too, he wasn't even very old when he died. He did have some guinea pigs that he shared his hutch with for company and I think after they died I think he became lonely as he went downhill quite fast, just went off his food and then had a kind of fit one night and that was that. It was just seeing him just before he died, wasn't peaceful. Was quite upset about it, my father was quite harsh about my sadness over it but he was the only pet we had at the time and it was only me that looked after him. He was a lovely little black and white rabbit with long loppy ears. I'd love to get a pet for my children but both have allergies. Less hassle when it comes to hols etc too. You aren't being silly, losing a family pet is like losing a member of the family. You care for them, and look after them and it's only natural you're going to miss them when they are gone, you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel sad over their loss.

bexsta-star

My 2 little ones have had fishes - Thomas and Sarah (1,2 + 3). When Thomas 1 died OH spent a mad afternoon driving around various pet shops/garden centres trying to locate a look-a-like replacement (hint - when buying a goldfish do not select the rarest, most colourful fish in the tank). The kids were told that Thomas 1 had gone on a holiday to Daddy's works and would be coming back home the next day. Thomas 2, and Sarah 1 and 2 have also been on the same holiday. After Sarah 3 died I though enough is enough and we sat down and broke the bad news to the kids (then aged 4 & 5). We dug a hole in the garden, placed her in it, said a prayer and buried her. DD wrote Sarah's name on a big leaf and placed it, sobbing her little heart out, on top of the grave. It was all very sweet until I caught them both trying to dig her up the next day. They missed her and wanted one last look!! - Bless. Cue one chat about decomposition.

bunnymad

(hugs) Don't be upset by little bunny died this time last year and I was devestated, the amount of people that said "it was only a rabbit" grrr
I think it's good for your daughter to see you grieving, it will help her to grieve and show her it isn't wrong to be sad about her bunny dying.
xx

madison's_mum

this is probably going to come out all wrong but i only wish that my daughter had experienced a poorly pet that had to be put down before she was hit by the full force of a family member dying suddenly over night,

My father died suddenly in May & that was the first death my DD had experienced so i know what you mean. I'm not sure if she was upset about the rabbit because she realised from my dad that the rabbit wouldn't be coming back IYSWIM.

Had a great year so far, lost my dad, job & pet! Hopefully the old things come in threes will be true!!

bunnymad

madison's_mum wrote: »

Had a great year so far, lost my dad, job & pet! Hopefully the old things come in threes will be true!!

I truly hope that things get better for you xx

Maybe you could tell your little girl that your Dad is looking after the bunny?

pixiegirl

Its Traumatic when your pet dies!

My dog was ran over and killed last year when she was being looked after by friends when dh and i were on a romantic weekend break in a 5* hotel to get over a recent miscarriage! We were settled into the hotel when i got that dreaded phone call - needless to say i had one traumatic weekend and didnt even want to go home! Cue me that still keeps her ashes in a little box with her coller on top and cant bear to get another dog incase it means leaving anyone to look after it!

Time is a healer although you never forget what you have lost i would have to agree that a scrap book is a lovely idea and a great way to remember!

x x x bunch of soppy sods we are lol x x x

Avoriaz

You have absolutely no reason to feel stupid about being upset at the loss of a loved pet.

We become emotionally attached to our pets and they become little family members in a way.

I know I shall shed a few tears when we lose our 14 year old cats and I am a 55 year old man.

I don’t have children so I am not sure how you handle this with a 3 year old, but I do know children are very resilient and they need to learn about death at some stage.

Good luck.

consultant31

bunnymad wrote: »

Maybe you could tell your little girl that your Dad is looking after the bunny?

I think that's a lovely idea!

I had a little dog I got from a rescue centre, where she was due to be put down the following day as they only kept them for a week. We'd had her for 3 days when it emerged she had distemper. The vet offered to put her to sleep, but I couldn't bear the idea.

I ended up feeding her teaspoons of water every hour for nearly a week (night and day) but she pulled through. She was the best pet I've ever had and I swear she knew we'd saved her life, not once but twice.

When she eventually got liver disease, ten years later, and had to be put to sleep, DH and I took her to the vet, but I was sobbing so hard I couldn't speak. It was awful and I'm sat here blubbing just reliving it.

Our pets are taken into our lives as a family member and the grief is very real when they die.

I hope you feel better soon, but don't be ashamed of grieving, it's perfectly natural.