My First Pet Options

[alentrell23]

Hi, my name is Allicia. I had a Yorkie named Montgomery, he was my first pet. He became very ill during the last week of October of this year, 2009. I had to have him put to sleep on Nov. 30th, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
I feel so much guilt, saddness, and despair. I cry almost every day, I miss him so much. He was such a big part of my life
and now my life seems so empty. But at the same time, I feel bad because it was very difficult at times taking care of a dog. It was so much work. But what he gave to me, the unconditional love made up for it. Now that he's gone I feel that I took him for granted. I should have done some things differently. I hope to find some comfort in talking with others who have lost a pet.

Thank you,
Allicia

[ladywolf]

Hi Allicia--

I am so sorry to hear about Montgomery and his passing. It sounds like he was a wonderful, joyful little guy!

I believe in "Doggie Heaven," where all of our buddies go to play with each other and have a terrific time. That's where I want to go when I pass--to Doggie Heaven--because that's where all of my best friends are!

A first pet is a really, really big deal. I've had nine dogs now--approximately three generations--and losing any one of them was always incredibly painful. I'm facing the eventual loss of my 15-year-old Ladywolf, and the recent loss of my Labrador, Poppers (two weeks ago now), and it's painful beyond belief. But what I and a lot of us around here have is the prior experience of losing one or more pets, and knowing that eventually the pain eases, bit by bit, and we can begin to think of them with pleasure instead of sorrow, guilt, sadness, etc.

The circumstances of Montgomery's death make it especially hard, that he was in the hospital for a week before he died. Thank GOD you decided to take him home! That's where both you and he wanted him to be!

Are you young, and that's why he was your first pet? Or are you an older person facing the loss of the first pet? I ask because I am almost sixty, and having lost eight dogs and countless cats to illnesses, accidents and old age, I've become kind of philosophical about it by now--though the idea of Ladywolf's death just totally freaks me out, because I've NEVER had a bond like this one, much as I've loved all of my pets.

Blessings to you, darlin'. Cry when you need to, but keep on truckin'!

Hugs--Margi and Ladywolf