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]

Please don't feel guilty about the collar. Patti is right when it comes to "we want to blame ourselves". Vets don't always tell us everything. I trusted a vet here and believed I had to do a senior wellness exam to make sure he was okay. Turns out he was fine and just had arthritis. Well 9 days later he was gone. I went through the what if I had done . . . . I want to blame myself, the vet and the world. I have to say that my family is somewhat like yours. My husband and kids have moved on and I am here with grief. It is different for you because this was your daughters dog and that makes it different. I would do what the counselor has told you and comfort and talk with your youngest. It is going to be hard for her because I think understanding that it was an accident just doesn't make sense to a child that young (my daughter is 8). It is going to be difficult with your 15 yr old. This was her dog. She may hold bad feelings against her sibling but I agree with Patti . . . Let her express herself to a point. There always need a boundry because you don't want her to say something so hurtful to your youngest. You are in my thoughts and take time for yourself to grieve as well. I know your family may not understand but you need to do that for yourself. I hope this helps a little.
Your in my thoughts, ChrissyW