Maybe you think it's silly to grieve so hard for a pet, but if you've ever been in my shoes---as many of you have---you understand this unique kind of grief. I've lost a lot of close family members and friends over the years, but this particular loss hit me extra hard. I know that pets ARE family, no matter what anyone else thinks. Unlike humans who become ill and are close to death, pets are innocent and do not understand what is happening when their body starts failing. They depend on us to help them through the pain, even though they are often unable to communicate these emotions. They have no understanding of a higher power or faith in the afterlife. All they know is the here and now---with us beside them---as they are leaving. And we are left with their names forever etched into our hearts.
My husband has offered to get me another dog, but I'm still not ready. I may never be. Savi can never be replaced, and the thought of going through this pain again with another dog terrifies me. All I have left of Savi is a tattoo of her paw print, a box of ashes, and my memories.
Some very kind people reached out to me after my loss and gave me extraordinary gifts to memorialize my love for Savi. One is a stone plaque created for her and another is a painting that an artist sent me after reading my story about her in AARP. At times like this, I lean heavily on my husband and the kindness of strangers. I'm still taking the loss one day at a time, holding my fur baby close to my heart in every way possible.
There is a video on Tik Tok that makes me sob every time I watch it but in a hard way, it's also comforting because it gives me hope that I'll see my beautiful girl again one day. This is from @muthapuppa:
"If your dog could have just one more moment with you, they'd tell you this: I know you miss me. I miss you too. But I need you to know
I will always love and miss you, sweet Savi. I look forward to seeing you again one day on the other side of the rainbow.....
Such a tender post and so touching, you know what can be annoying when people make comments like "it was just a dog/cat" maybe to them it is but to others it is the same as losing any other family member, I get how much a pet can mean to it's human.
ReplyDeleteYou are so correct. Losing Savi hurt as much as losing my family members.
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