Death of long time companion dog

I do feel for you silvercollie. Whenever I leave my dog in the house owing to the heat, I see his little face looking at me in panic. He's a rescued dog found abandoned in the road. He's my rock now.
To come back and find your dog dead must have been horrendous. My beloved Westie had to be euthanised in April. Somehow its easier afterwards, if you have made the decision. He was 14, had had a wonderful life and had been totally devoted to me. I took him to the vet four days before and she told me there was no future for him. So I brought him home and during the next two days I dug his grave and I bought a silver birch tree to plant beside him.
The next day I took him back to the vet wrapped in a lovely pashmina. She gave him his injection, we wrapped him up and my friend drove us home. We placed him in his grave snuggled in the pashmina and I put a letter to him into a soap tin and placed it beside him. Then I planted the birch tree and hung his collar in the branches. This 'ceremony' gave me some closure. I know some would say its crazy - its just a dog, but he had ten times the character and honesty of anyone I had ever met in my life. I go down to his grave often and it comforts me to know that because of his devotion to me, I did the very best I could for him all through his life and I did so at his end.

I wish I'd done something like that, specki4eyes.
But I knew we were going to leave that house soon.
I've got lots of photos online though - showing her different moods and habits. She was a real character. Bless her.

I’m so sorry, silvercollie and everyone else mourning a beloved pet. It’sdifferent for everybody and every animal. I had my last dog only three and a half years but we adored each other and I still cry for her. The box containing her ashes seems in no way connected to the warm living darling I loved.
After only two months, unable to live without a dog, I got a little pup. She has brought me great joy and kept me very busy.

I've loved and lost so many pets over the years and every one of them was special. The worst thing is having to make that decision and take them to the vet. The guilt can stay with you forever. I've often wished in my pet's last days that they would go peacefully and naturally instead. We have to accept that our beloved pets don't have the same lifespan as we do and give them the best life possible whilst we can. My heart goes out to you - cry when you need to and then remember the good times.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together..

I hope you can read this silvercollie I Lost both my old boys very recently. I was distraught. I rescued two dogs in need of a forever home and they have been a great comfort to me.

We know that our dogs (or cats) will not live as long as we could but it is still so upsetting when they go. At least she must have had a very peaceful ending silvercollie.
I don't know where our last lovely dog is as it all happened when we were away and the vet dealt with everything - we were too upset to enquire when we got home.
However, DD and family have graves and lovely memorial stones for their beloved dogs, somewhere to go in the garden to have a quiet moment to think about them. If you don't have a garden or it is too small, perhaps just having a memory stone somewhere would help.

They may not be there but they will be forever in our hearts.

jacksmum that is a lovely comforting thought, thanks.

I am so sorry, silvercollie. I know just how hard it is, having lost both our dog and cat within six weeks, after having had them for over 14 years, and having had to make the horrible decision to have them put to sleep. And because those decisions were so awful, I think I left it too late for both of them. But I'll never forget how horribly quiet and empty the house felt during those first weeks and months afterwards.

My sister is just going through this now, with her beloved Lab of over 14, who seems to rally, and then decline, only to rally and wag her tail again.

I'm afraid I can't offer any help, except to say that given time, it does get easier. Eventually.
Of course some people find that getting another dog or cat very soon afterwards does help a lot, but personally I couldn't even think of it.

The Power of The Dog by Rudyard Kipling says so much. All you can do is try to focus on the good times you had together and how lucky you were to have each other. Xx

This probably sounds awful.
Is another dog second best to the beloved lost dog?
We had a dog many years ago but when I was diagnosed with MS I had to find a loving home for him.
If I were mobile enough then I'd want another and I'd struggle with comparing him to my beloved Alfie.
How are these feelings overcome?

When that new dog cuddles up with you, looks at you with big eyes saying I’m hungry, gets all excited when you get the lead out....these are good feelings.

Did you read my Dog’s Last Will.

That says it all

That truly says it all OldMeg brought a tear to my eye. My two rescue dogs are sitting by the kitchen door hoping my husband may drop some meat.

soda I still cry for the lovely old dogs I lost, but then I feel a wet nose pushing under my hand and a big pair of eyes saying ‘I’m here’ and I feel better.