I May Never Welcome Another Animal Into My Life Again Options

[hope2heal]

Has anyone ever sworn off getting another animal altogether?

I've loved animals my entire life, was especially fond of dogs, but honestly don't see myself having one ever again. I can't go through this pain again. I can't believe I made the mistakes I did with my dog. I can't imagine carrying this guilt around for the rest of my life. People say I have to let it go and that with time it will soften. I've lost many other pets--3 dogs included-- but no loss has been this devastating.

It pains me to see dogs anymore, on TV or with friends or relatives. Life has been a nightmare since my dog died.

Has anyone decided they had to keep animals out of their life after a loss, and found they can be okay with it?

[annf]

hope to heal,

I can relate to your feelings. I do still have another dog , she is an 11 yr. old Corgi and I pray she will be with us a while.. but loosing my beautiful baby boy who was killed by a car is the most devastating loss I have ever experiiced. The thought of bringing in another pet is just more than I could imagine. I feel so guilty that I feel unworthy of having another pet, even though I know I was a good mom and cared more than many do, I keep thinking that I would have him still had I done things differently. I have lost other pets and it took me a while before being ready for a new one. This time does really feel different. I still cry every day. I don't want another dog to fill the place that I hold for my best boy. I loved him more than I thought was possible. It was the purest love I ever experienced. It is a different love than I have for my surviving dog. It is one of those feelings that can only be felt and not really explained to others. So filling that with another is just impossible.

whatever you decide is what will be best for you and remember that what you feel today may change tomorrow or next week or next year. We are always free to change our minds and should be open to the possibilities that may come our way. So very sorry for your loss. Take care
annf

[hope2heal]

hope to heal,

I feel so guilty that I feel unworthy of having another pet, even though I know I was a good mom and cared more than many do, I keep thinking that I would have him still had I done things differently. I have lost other pets and it took me a while before being ready for a new one. This time does really feel different.

It was the purest love I ever experienced. It is a different love than I have for my surviving dog. It is one of those feelings that can only be felt and not really explained to others. So filling that with another is just impossible.

annf

annf-- Thank you for sharing that. I also have an unworthy feeling. I know I did a lot of good things for my dog, but I honestly believe I slacked off at the end, and I don't believe I could do such a thing. I know if I want to move on I will have to, but right now there's just no forgiving myself. It's absolutely horrible. I've never felt this horrible in my life. I have experienced some guilt with all of my animal losses, but it seemed like after a few weeks or maybe one or two months feelings would be mostly converted into only grief. It's been over 4 months now with no improvement. I am sleeping and usually eating better though. But I really feel like this time I just let my dog die, and I feel absolutely sick about it.