We Lost Our Puppy Today Options

[mindy]

It's 4:30 a.m. and I can't sleep. I'm not sure what will help but maybe writing about the day will offer some comfort. My 15 yr old daughter decided to get a puppy instead of a newer car (she is about to get her license). We agreed and found the most beautiful and precious peke-pom mix puppy and took her home on July 1st. She named her Duchess and took care of her like a little mama. She loved that puppy!! This morning she was so proud of Duchess because she didn't whine last night in her crate at all. She was sleeping in my daughter's room. I was so happy for her and the whole family, including a 3 yr old mix dog we have named Trixie, loved little Duchess. Today was my 7 yr old daughter's b-day. She had the puppy outside and in a freak accident, tripped over the leash while Duchess was running and the puppy's neck snapped. I saw it happen and really came unglued. It was horrible. My 15 yr old ran upstairs and held Duchess while we tried to get to the emergency hospital but Duchess died in her arms on the way there. There was nothing we could do. Everyone is devastated. My 15 yr old can't stop crying and I am so worried for her because she has had some problems with depression in the past. And my 7 yr old! She is feeling so guilty and we are reassuring her but she is little and doesn't understand how accidents happen and it was her birthday!! This is all so awful I can't think about anything else. We do have a counselor we see for my daughter and we will see her on Tues. We only had Duchess for a week and a half, but she fit into our family like she was always there and we miss her so much. I feel so bad for my daughters. Please pray for us. This is so incredibly hard. I have never seen anything pass away right before me. It's just heart wrenching. In my head I know we will recover but my heart is broken and I can barely keep myself together for my kids. Thanks for listening.

[ChrissyW]

Oh I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know that my children are very connected to the animals we have. Loosing my Indy I thought it only effected me but, as I found out, it didn't. It envolved my whole family. We had to work through this together and all my children act differently to the situation. My oldest, she is 11, was depressed for weeks, my middle, she is 8, cried the day she found out and then it was just gone, and my son, who is 3, kinda remembers him. My husband wasn't connected with my Indy, he was saddened but quickly got over it. So with the reaction my older children gave me I had an idea that I got from my mother in-law. We went out and found a special plant and the kids were going to take care of them and they represented Indy. It was my way of trying to ease the pain for them and telling them in a different way that Indy will always be with them. Your Dutchess is in everyones heart and will never leave. Not having her here in person is very hard, I know. But I try to talk to him and consull my children when it is bothering them. No other pet will ever replace Dutchess but somehow and someway you will make it through this horibble time. I am still going through it everyday and it does lesson as time goes on. You all are in my thoughts and maybe my Indy is up there greeting your precious Dutchess and telling her one day she will be reunited with her family. Light a candle for Dutchess and my thoughts are with you.
Chrissy W