In the last six years we have lost six much loved pets:

In May 2007 our wonderful three legged cat Smudge died from cancer age 12.
In June 2008 our gorgeous dog Ben died following a stroke age 15.
In Aug 2009 our lovely cat Sam died following kidney failure age 14.
In Aug 2010 our beautiful & affectionate kitty cat Spicey died following multiple organ failure age 18.
In July 2011 our wonderful cat Sugar died in her sleep age 19.
In July 2012 our gorgeous little stray Pip died from cancer age 14.

All sadly missed. However, our Tom a softie cat is still going strong age 14 and our new addition from July 2011 is Beauty a beautiful nervous little black cat age 6 who is now beginning to come out of her shell and showing her true delightful character!

It's sad to lose our pets.....but they give us so much love and joy....I could never be without a pet of some kind around the house.

@@@ -says Tom!

I'm sorry to hear about your losses. It's never easy losing anyone, including pets.

My family and I have lost a number of pets over the years and it is hard and they are all missed just as much as the human family members we have lost.

It teaches you to make the most of the time you have.

That's the problem with getting cats in particular... Unless you're in gods waiting room yourself, you're bound to outlive them. I've had and lost many pets over the years. My two current cats are 6 and hopefully will be around for a few years yet! When we relocate back to the UK, we hope to add a couple of dogs to our troop, circumstances depending obviously (I.e me not working and having the at least 1/3 acre plot I want!). One is cutely snoozing on my lap now - I have the most overwhelming love for him and can't bear the thought of the day I don't have him anymore, but I suppose subconsciously all us pet owners choose to put ourselves through that loss.

I guess this is something we always have to accept with animals. Our time is three score and ten (70 plus) - while dogs average around 12 and cats a little more.

And so I have lost four cats and three dogs in the last 40 years. I don't regret any of them - they have shared my life from being tiny kittens and pups -and have been wonderful companions. When the time has come to let them go peacefully - I have mourned and missed them. But it is life. We just live longer.

You must have been doing something right WinterLily, I cant get over the ages of your pets

Losing a pet is so bloody hard, its one of the few times I can actually feel a piece of my heart break.

[quote=JJ75;65639710]You must have been doing something right WinterLily, I cant get over the ages of your pets


I think we can all relate to that JJ.

No, losing pets doesn't become any easier to take, as I found out today. Our collie cross passed away suddenly at home, aged about 12 (he was a rescue dog, and we were never sure of his exact age). I thought he'd had it a few years ago, when both of his rear leg knee ligaments gave out, but the operations were successful, and he was able to get about alright.

Four years ago our cat, who'd lived with us since she was a kitten had to be put to sleep aged 19 (she nearly made it to 20).

Plus two border collies in earlier years.

I think that's it for me.

^^^^^

This

Your pets all had good long lives which is a credit to yourself, sure it hits you like a brick when they pass on but relate that to the the life they would not have had if you had not been there for them, keep doing what you have been doing in giving these critters a good long life because you are obviously very very good at it.

Thanks very much for all your lovely comments. It is heartbreaking when your much loved pets die. However, I could never be without a pet for the joy and love they bring far outweighs the sadness of their loss.

try again you never know it could be lucky number 8

I'm still grieving for my dog, Jess who died at the end of December at the age of 10 years. She was a rescue dog who I had had since she was about nine-and-a-half months old. She fell ill on Christmas Day and it was eventually found out after an ultrasound the following Saturday that she had a massive tumour on her liver. I was absolutely devastated when the vet told me this and I was given no option but to have her put to sleep - poor Jess was actually dying in front of me and it was highly likely that she wouldn't have lasted the day even if she hadn't been put to sleep. Even though it's now nearly five months since her death I am still struggling to come to terms with her loss, especially as I am now living on my own. I would love to get another dog but due to the fact I need to find work it wouldn't be fair to get another one until I retire (I'm only in my early fifties). My family have suggested I get cats but I can't afford to have any pets at the moment.

I lost my cat on 6th Feb aged 9. He was perfectly fine and then just lay down and died. I swear, the shock of that will stay with me forever.
With a bit of distance, I can be grateful for the time I had with him, but there is a piece of my soul missing and it lies with him.

I'm so sorry for all of your losses. Pets truly become our best friends and losing them can leave such a huge gap. I lost my little rescue yorkie to cushing's disease in December, she had been stable on medication for a year but her kidneys started to fail and the kindest thing was to put her to sleep. It hasn't felt the same since. I lost another yorkie the year before to the same blasted disease, we rescued them together, both puppy farm dogs who'd never had any kind human contact right up to the age of 6 but after they settled in they gave us so much joy and were so loving. I will never forget them!

So many loving owners - so many much loved pets.

Knowing this is a comfort in itself