Unfortunately for all of the dog lovers out there, our furry companions don't last as long as we'd like them to. They're in our lives for around ten years, maybe more or less, but we learn to unconditionally love them in a short time and we receive unconditional love in return. But every experienced dog owner knows the difficult times that come with losing their dog when their time is up, especially when you have to go through the difficult process of euthanizing them when they no longer have a good quality of life.
1. Putting your dog in the car knowing that it's going to be his last ride.
There's not going to be any more car rides where you look over and see your dog happily sticking his out out of the car window, only to later return home. It's heart breaking to know that this time he isn't coming back with you.
2. The veterinarian repeatedly telling you how sorry he is for your loss.
It just makes you think more about how much you're really losing when you leave that office.
3. Seeing your parent or sibling cry when you're asked if you want to keep your pet's ashes.
It just solidifies even further that everyone's hurting and it's about to feel like something is missing when you go home.
4. Holding on to your dog and feeling his pulse fade away as the vet announces, "he's gone."
It's a feeling that you cannot possibly forget.
5. Giving your dog one more kiss on top of the head before you leave.
6. Walking to the car with a leash that has an empty collar dangling from the end of it.
Maybe you remember the day you bought the collar and how you thought it would look so good on your dog. Now you think about how great it would really look if he were still wearing it and walking by your side.
7. Going home and sitting in your dog's favorite spot, wishing his health never diminished so he could still be there with you.
Perhaps the hardest part of losing a dog is that while they eventually die, their memory lives on as long as you do.
8. When people ask about how your dog is doing and you have to tell them, "he had to be put down."
You're met with "I'm sorry," and "oh, how sad," and it hurts a little every time.
Losing a dog really is like losing a best friend or a family member. It's horrible in many ways and never gets easier, no matter how many dogs you own throughout your life. But maybe the beauty in being a pet owner is that it's so worth it. The love and cuddles and sloppy kisses that smell far from good are worth the chewed shoes. It's worth the muddy paw prints throughout the house and it's worth your dog barking at you because he wants another bone and won't accept that he's already eaten them all. Saying goodbye to our best friends is a moment we can't possibly be ready for, but the pain is so, so worth having the wonderful little creature in your life.
