I'm gutted. I got home from work tonight to find our Bichon Frise had to be put to sleep at around 8.30. She was suffering a stroke.

It's not unexpected because she was 14 or 15 years old and had been showing it for a while but it was still a shock. I didn't go into work expecting to come home to that.

RIP Poppy you will forever be on my heart xxx

How sad. Sorry for your loss, I'm sure Poppy loved you as much as you loved her

I'm so sorry for your loss, November Rain, and I can only imagine what an awful shock it must have been for you. My golden labrador had to be put down suddenly in November after being diagnosed with an aggressive liver cancer. It was awful at first though time has been a good healer. We grieved together as a family and shared our memories and how we felt about our dog's passing with one another. This was a huge help and lessened the pain somewhat of our dog's passing. It's very important to allow yourself time to grieve for Poppy - if you feel like you need to cry, cry and let it all out. This really helped me in coming to terms with my own loss, and others who have lost pets.

It sounds like you loved Poppy very, very much. Again I'm so sorry for your loss.

All the best
xx

sorry for your loss R.I.P. Poppy

Oh dear, that is sad.
It is never nice to lose your pet.

It hit me like a tonne of bricks when I heard it because although I was sort of expecting it I didn't think it would happen so soon. She'd been showing her age for some time because her balance was a bit off and what have you but she was ok in herself and still full of beans when she wanted to be. However in the last couple of days she became very tender and her balance was getting worse. Last night my mum took her out for a wee but she wouldn't go, she was very disorientated and unsteady, so my mum brought her in and placed her on the sofa with her throw but she weed on there instead. My mum wasn't annoyed because she knew she couldn't help it so she just put her throw in the wash and Poppy followed her into the kitchen but collapsed on the floor and couldn't get back up. So my mum got a lift to the emergency vets but she could tell before she even got there that it was the end, she said the life was drained out of her eyes. By the time they did get there all they could do was put her out of her misery. I didn't know anything about it until I got home shortly after ten.

It feels like there is an empty void in the house. I keep expecting to see her about but then I remember she's no longer with us. I'm trying to remember all the lovely memories and the fact we gave her a good home after a rough start to her life (she was a rescue who'd been badly treated by her previous owner), but it still hurts to think I can no longer hold her, even though having her PTS was the best decision for her.

I'm sorry to hear about your Labrador. What you say about time being a healer rings true. I'm sure I will feel the same way soon but it will take a while.

Thanks for the kind messages all x.

I’m so sorry. It sounds like it was very sudden and must have been an awful shock for you and your Mum.

What happened to your doggie is almost word-for-word what happened to my golden lab. He became very disorientated indoors and very lethargic and was bumping into cupboards and presses, and was falling over (both indoors and outdoors), and peed on the living room carpet (which he would never have done before). We knew then it was time, as sad as it was, to let him go. It felt awful, but we know it was the right thing to have done, just as it was the right thing for Poppy on Saturday night. They’re both free of suffering now and are no longer in pain. I know it's heartbreaking for those of us left behind, but we did our dogs the biggest favour - we freed them from the pain they were in and ended their suffering.

Dogs are such a big part of the family – there was such a big void when our doggie left us, and I can only imagine the void you must be feeling. It’s good for you to think of the lovely memories and the wonderful years you had with Poppy, and try not to think about the events of the last few days. I do hope you will perhaps consider getting another dog at some point – it sounds like Poppy was a very much-loved dog who was treated really, really well.


Thanks. It is true that time is a healer. The grief may seem overwhelming at first, but it does pass. You should have a look at the Rainbow Bridge poem - it's a beautiful poem that was a huge comfort for me after my dog passed.

xx

I know how you feel. I had a Border Collie named Glen who was 15 and he started bleeding from the rear and the vet said he was sure he had a tumour.

He was very weak and had had several other health problemsand he said he wouldn't survive surgery even though we were willing to pay whatever it would have took. I remember I was so upset I actually threw three thousand pounds on to the kitchen table and begged the vet to help him. I had the money for a small business I ran at the time and the money was for computer equipment but I would have gave it to help my little dog, even if it had given him another good six months. The vet said the only thing we could do was have him put down or he would be lucky to live a few days or weeks in pain.

He was going to put him down in the kitchen but we couldn't bear to do that and we had him taken to the vet for it to be done. I couldn't do anything for about three weeks and I was having nightmares and constantly crying.

I carried him to the vet's car and hugged him goodbye. It was probably the saddest time in my life. I would have happily handed my two sisters over to get Glen back.

A few months later at a family party, my Uncle showed us a video of a litter of English Cocker Spaniels that he had on his mobile phone. The dogs were all very cute and were sitting around on the kitchen floor when this little black dog came running in, leapt into the air, crashed into the other pups and caused chaos...

We HAD to have him!

So, three years later, Kiwi is my dog and he is a fantastic, friendly, happy little dog. Sometimes I still miss Glen but I see an awful lot of him in Kiwi and I couldn't have asked for a cuter, more affectionate little dog in a million years. The very first thing he did when he came into my house was to jump on my lap and he lay there for ages despite having never met me before.

No matter how much you miss your last pet, there is always another little friend around and getting another pet isn't betraying the memory of the old one. I felt I was doing this when I got Kiwi and I found it difficult to like him as much as Glen intially but he won his way into my affections.

I feel your pain, hope you can just remember the happy memories We had to have our poor old dog put down last year. I'd moved in with my gf a few years back and was just as attached. I stayed with him whilst they did it, gave him one of his favourite dentasticks, I like to think he passed on happily. He certainly wasn't distressed. When I went into the other room to tell my gf my chest I don't mind admitting was heaving and acheing, it's all so sad. You do get pangs of pain remembering but 12 months on we just remember him fondly. Hope you get to that happy place soon (I grew up with a bichon..so cute )
Last edited by PeronessDS : 08-01-2014 at 19:18

Awe NR, so sorry for your loss
It's hard to believe how these little chaps grab your heart .
Maybe, like weetomuncher, you'll see a little scallywag face appealing to you some day and will find yet another fluffy bundle to love. Big hugs to you.

you must think that you gave that dog its great life, all dogs die but if they have had a great owner at least they lived a long happy life.

Heartbreaking..... I wish you well

I know whatever anyone can say sounds like platitudes, but still is heartfelt. That is a wonderful age for a dog, and a testament to your family's love for Poppy that she made it to that age. She'll always be part of you and never, ever forgotten - so never truly 'gone', either. Maybe in spring you could plant a beautiful cultivated poppy, to remember her by - they're perennials so will come back every year. Take care and be kind to yourself whilst you heal.

Hogzilla, I think that is such a beautiful idea - and OP, I think you should do it - and/or maybe get a beautiful picture of poppies (by someone like Van Gogh, or Monet, or Manet)- just type their name plus "poppies" on Google, and you'll get something. Frame it and place it somewhere special. Your Poppy deserves it! But especially Hogzilla's real poppy idea.

Also, check out this poem - applies to either humans or animals passing away - is slightly religious, but is lovely to read even if you're not religious -

http://www.poeticexpressions.co.uk/p...op%20brent.htm

Just wanted to say, too, that I too know from sad experience what you're going through - we had three dogs throughout my childhood, two of whom lived to 14, the other to 15 - it helped to know they had had good, happy lives.

You must remind yourself that your grief shows:

Poppy was a wonderful dog

and

You were a wonderful owner


My sister had a Bichon some time ago, and he died of heart disease, age 7. Awful that he lived a short life. But it was a life full of joy and happiness.

She thought at the time she would never get another dog - but now is the happy owner of an adorable Border Terrier, a puppy with a small body, and really long legs!

It's normal to grieve. But you'll remember Poppy as having enriched your life so very much.


All the very best to you


Moll
x

Thanks again for all the lovely responses everyone. Sometimes the comfort of strangers can mean a lot. I put together a little memorial video of her this afternoon, featuring Art Garfunkel's Bright Eyes which I thought was very fitting because her eyes were so full of passion and spirit.

Hogzilla I love your idea of planting a poppy as something to remember her by. It's definitely something I should think about. If not that then maybe I'll go with Moll Flanders suggestion of getting a painting by Van Gogh or someone of that ilk featuring some poppies. Even though we've already ordered a canvas with one of our favourite photos of Poppy on it.

I know how you feel. I had to put my dog Jasper down he was not 8 years old but he was getting fits since he was 6 years old.
I payed loads of money to the vet for tablets. They did stop them for a few weeks at a time but the last fit Jasper did not recover.
I also lost my dear Dad and his 19 year old cat within two months.
I am sorry for your lose

OP - so sorry for your loss. It never gets easier, losing a much loved pet.

So sorry for your loss OP. Pets give us unconditional love and our hearts are always broken with their passing.