Gone But Not Forgotten

it's hard to believe that i lost my 14 year old male maine coon grey
tabby 3 years ago. i've been struggling to come to terms with his death and the horribly unjust cir%%stances surrounding his passing ever since. i feel a bit sheepish about seeking support since i've got the passing of time on my side, something which most bereaved pet lovers here have not had yet. i can tell you that some of the pain does subside in time...i don't weep continually anymore. losing my dear kitty marvin was the most painful experience of my life. he and i were devoted to one another since he was a baby and i was an 18 year-old living on my own for the first time. we grew up together. more than any other living being, he was my steadfast companion. he died at age 14, still healthy and active. he was killed by my neighbor's 2 dogs when they broke loose from their yard. he endured a violent and brutal death and i blame myself for not restricting him to an indoor life, as did the owner of the dogs, a rather nasty person who had no sympathy for me or marvin. the weeks and months following marvin's death were agonizing and my friends and family could not or would not empathize. mom said my grief was inappropriate. so i have felt very isolated in this experience and have resisted attending pet-loss group couseling
(support groups are not my thing). but when i read postings here from other people enduring the same loss of unconditional, pure love , i felt it was time to conncect. thankyou for understanding.