To commit to a pet is to accept that pain lies ahead
Living with pets throughout one’s lifetime brings joy and companionship, but it also presents a unique challenge — our beloved animal companions do not share our extended life spans.
Consequently, the cycle of forming deep connections and experiencing the pain of loss repeats every 10 to 15 years, leaving our hearts shattered each time.
Losing a pet is undeniably profound. Some pets depart swiftly and unexpectedly, as my friend Carol experienced when her dachshund, Teddy, was diagnosed with heart failure on a Friday and had to be put down on Tuesday.
In contrast, my dog Buster experienced a gradual decline over six weeks, during which time he became increasingly selective about his meals. To jump-start his appetite, I prepared a variety of dishes for him each day, ranging from boiled rice and chicken to plain pasta, scrambled eggs and plain waffles. But I knew that Buster’s 14-year journey was coming to an end.
On his final day, he stopped eating altogether. While one might expect most tears to be shed during the preceding weeks, the true emotional weight lies in the moment when the difficult decision to let go must be made. The final farewell was the next day.
After saying goodbye, I wanted to create a memorial for him. I placed an 8-by-10inch picture of Buster on a side table in the living room, along with a candle and his collar. Oddly, the nearby digital photo frame, which cycles through to a new picture every four seconds, landed on and remained stuck on a picture of Buster that day.
His memorial, still adorning the side table six weeks later, serves as a poignant reminder of our life together. His empty
kennel in the living room seems to await his return.
So, the question everyone asks is, when will I adopt another dog? I am not ready for that yet. Grieving the loss of a pet is a personal journey, and it’s important to prioritize one’s own emotional wellbeing during this time. Right now, I want to cherish the memories of our 14 years together.
But I also know the decision of when to adopt again is not entirely up to me. I think I join many pet owners when I say something intuitive happens when you meet “the one.” Trusting your instincts and taking the time to heal and reflect is a wise approach to not only the grieving process but the process of starting over again with another pet.
As pet lovers, we willingly embrace both the delight and eventual heartache of bringing a furry companion into our lives. Thankfully, the love we share in between those heartaches gives most of us the strength to adopt a pet once again.
This is gratifying, considering that millions of dogs and cats in the U.S. are always in need of loving homes.