Your Pet Loss Stories

by Carl
(Cornwall, England)

My story has yet to unfold because my Golden Retriever companion reached his 10th birthday in February this year and he is still a very fit and happy creature apart from the beginnings of arthritis in his forelimbs which is being controlled with nutrient supplements at present.

I suppose there was something about his reaching double figures that made me suddenly realise that I can no longer relax and think we have together forever. Our time together is now unknown. He could reach his end at twelve or he could go on until fifteen.

It is this not knowing that is causing me to already begin to mourn his loss, to feel grief as though he has already gone. I find myself bursting into tears when I am alone, holding back tears when I am in company and worst of all, running through what it might be like to take that terrible last trip to the vet for him to be put to sleep.

The worst of this is it has come to me as an indication that his passing will crush me.

The best of this is it has come to me early on and it is a timely reminder to spend as much time together as we can, to give to him my whole attention and to drink deeply from our moments together.