Coping With The Loss Of A Pup..

[Guest DogmaLondon]

Hey Everybody,

 

My first grey Clandro died in February. I thought I had processed most of the grief until I drove to Michigan yesterday, hoping to bring home another pup. To make a long story short, as I was doing the paperwork I realized I was still pretty sad about Clandro. I guess I'm not quite ready for a new dog yet.

 

Anyways this morning I wrote a blog called "Coping with the Loss of a Pet". I thought it might be helpful to anyone going through the same experience. Thanks for reading.

 

xo

karen

[Guest jenznaz]

Hey Everybody,

 

My first grey Clandro died in February. I thought I had processed most of the grief until I drove to Michigan yesterday, hoping to bring home another pup. To make a long story short, as I was doing the paperwork I realized I was still pretty sad about Clandro. I guess I'm not quite ready for a new dog yet.

 

Anyways this morning I wrote a blog called "Coping with the Loss of a Pet". I thought it might be helpful to anyone going through the same experience. Thanks for reading.

 

xo

karen

 

 

That was lovely, Karen. And helpful as I transition into accepting I'll be saying goodbye to my baby soon.

 

Thank you.

[Guest Patti604]

Very nice. I still have a difficult time and my heart dog passed over 2 years ago.

[carronstar]

That was really beautiful.

 

 

[CaliforniaGreys]

It's very kind of you to share this. Thank you!

[Guest ss556]

That is very nice and so true. It's almost 3 weeks and the pain sometimes is so unbearable. I never loved a pet as I did for my greyhound, Alan. I have received two books from GT'rs and have just begun reading one. I am hoping to cope with this horrific and sudden loss as you are. Someday, when you are ready, you will be able to give your love and devotion to another greyhound. I hope you find that place soon.

[Guest MomoftheFuzzy]

Thanks, Karen. It's definitely an ongoing process so just seeing you write down your thoughts on all this makes me think I need to do the same. I'm reaching a point where I don't know how much longer I can keep things so pent up, especially when coupled with stress that falls into the non-greyhound/mourning category. It certainly is comforting to know others still deal with loss, as well, even if I wish no one had to face any type of sadness like this.

 

[crazygang]

Thank you.

[MP_the4pack]

When I lost Topaz, it was a bit of a shock, she was only 5 and I'd only had greyhounds for 4 yrs. I was "supposed" to have had her anothe 10 yrs.

 

I went looking for a new girl to keep Brindle company. Of course, they were all white/black girls. I cried everytime I went to meet them.

 

It took 2 years before I stopped crying when I went to look at a possible new b/w girly. That's when I adopted her. (my current Pearl)

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, this morning I cried for Topaz.

 

She's been gone almost 10 yrs now. They never leave our hearts.

 

 

 

[nyGreys]

That is so very true. I loved Rusty more than any dog I've ever had, & I've had

many in my life. He's been gone over a year now & I still cry at least once a week, sometimes more.

 

[CaliforniaGreys]

The Journey

 

When you bring a greyhound into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

 

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

 

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

 

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by. You will find yourself doing silly things that your dog-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the pet store aisle looking for the dog food brand your greyhound must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your greyhound enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a greyhound in hot pursuit - all in the name of love. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that old plastic shopping bags are conveniently positioned by every house entrance for pick-up duty in the yard.

 

You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my greyhound's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

 

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your greyhound always knew you to be - the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

 

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear greyhound companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The greyhound that only yesterday was a racer is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun, waking up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must, for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

 

Author Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest jettcricket]

The Journey

 

When you bring a greyhound into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

 

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

 

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

 

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by. You will find yourself doing silly things that your dog-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the pet store aisle looking for the dog food brand your greyhound must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your greyhound enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a greyhound in hot pursuit - all in the name of love. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that old plastic shopping bags are conveniently positioned by every house entrance for pick-up duty in the yard.

 

You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my greyhound's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

 

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your greyhound always knew you to be - the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

 

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear greyhound companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The greyhound that only yesterday was a racer is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun, waking up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must, for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

 

Author Unknown

...that is beautiful....sitting here with tears streaming down my face.

 

Missing my babies so very much.

 

Today is one year since Jett left us....

[Guest DogmaLondon]

It's definitely an ongoing process so just seeing you write down your thoughts on all this makes me think I need to do the same. I'm reaching a point where I don't know how much longer I can keep things so pent up, especially when coupled with stress that falls into the non-greyhound/mourning category.

 

I definitely think it's imperative to release your emotion, not only in regards to losing a pet but in Life in general. If you don't take time to do this, it builds up and causes more problems. It can even manifest as health problems in you or your dogs. I hope I am encouraging others to process and let go of pent up emotion.

 

 

 

 

Also cbuds - thanks for sharing "The Journey".... that was beautiful.

[Guest TBSFlame]

After losing our first greyhound my mother asked me why I would want to adopt another and go through that pain again. I told her if she had to ask the question she would never understand the answer. My hounds have given me much more than I have ever given them. I don't think life would be worth living without a greyhound in it. Thank you for your sharing your thoughts. As I recently told a friend you lost her hound. There is no way around the pain. When I lose one I find my pack will help me heal. There is power in the pack.

[Jiffer]

[Guest jettcricket]

I remember after losing my first greyhound Chance at the tender age of 5 to osteo being so upset and talking to my parents on the phone crying my heart out. My dad told me, "You shouldn't adopt any more pets....you love them too much". I know my Dad said it because he didn't want to see me hurting so much. I told him, "Dad...how do you tell the heart to just love halfway? It's either complete or not at all".

 

A few months later he lost his beloved Rosy the cat. My Mom told me that my Dear Old Dad just sat in his garage for 3 days with Rosy's hairbrush in his hand staring off into space.

 

After that my Dad told me that he understood what I was going thru.

Edited May 6, 2009 by jettcricket

[Guest Snazzy_Chloe]

You know - you have a void left behind by your pup that can never be replaced. It can, however be displaced by finding room in your heart for another living thing. This will help dull the pain and it will subside, you will never forget your old love - but you will begin again with anew which will bring happiness back to you again.

[Guest grey_dreams]

When they are such a huge piece of your heart it takes a long time to go through the grief of loss. Thank you for sharing what you wrote.

[Guest Pipi5]

Having just lost one to cancer in February of this year, and losing 3 to a stroke, a blood clot & cancer in 2008...its been a very difficult time for me. I have yet to get over them leaving. Sometimes I can't wrap my mind around the fact that Gogh Dear Snowy or BuyCut are gone.

I will read your article & let you know my thoughts. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Pipi5

[Guest guinness_the_greyt]

I'm so sorry Karen!

[tra708]

That is very nice and so true. It's almost 3 weeks and the pain sometimes is so unbearable. I never loved a pet as I did for my greyhound, Alan. I have received two books from GT'rs and have just begun reading one. I am hoping to cope with this horrific and sudden loss as you are. Someday, when you are ready, you will be able to give your love and devotion to another greyhound. I hope you find that place soon.

i am so sorry about alan. i understand how you feel because i just lost my first greyhound Abby, to cancer, at 13. this happened just last night. i still can't quite believe it. it's probably the worst feeling i've ever had. i am just taking things minute by minute and trying to cope. i think it will help us to know that others are going through the exact same thing. these greyhounds are so special. and so are their people.

peace,

tracy

tra708@comcast.net