how long do u greive for pets?

Coz I lost my dog 3 years ago and i can't seem to forget him . it's like there's just an empty place where he used to be. i know i can get another dog but i don't wanna do just to "repalace him" if you know what i mean - i want to be fair to the new dog and not use it just to fill that place.

i dunno hurts

((((((((((ycinsha)))))))))) I'm so sorry about your dog. Maybe you could rescue a puppy or dog from a shelter, that would make it meaningful and I don't think there would be a problem, it would just make you a bit happier and the dog would have a home. You're not going to love the new doggie less.

Thanks jasmin. i know, at some point i hafta get another dog and learn to let go i guess...

Maybe you could spend some time visiting dogs at the pound or shelter first, to see if you're up for it.

Hi ycinsha,
Sorry for your loss (((hugs))) . I just want to share a little of my experince with you,eveyones experience of grief and loss can be different .I believe grief is a process and the time can vary from person to person .I sadly lost my closet friend ,one of my dogs he was and still is my soul mate 3 years ago I then sadly lost one of my other dear dogs just 11 months later .I am still grieving for them both ,I have found it very difficult to share with others just how much pain I have and how it feels .Thankfully I have some friends who do understand how wonderful,precious and special our dogs can be but I have also had lots of experiences of people who basically dont understand at all and have said very thoughtless hurtful comments which Im sure they wouldnt have said if I was mourning a human best friend .My dogs are my life and I love them unconditionally and they love me back .to me the fact that they have four legs and fur doesnt mean that we cant have a wonderful relationship .When I lost my soul mate dog ,my heart felt totally broken and I still miss him desperately ,each of my dogs are individuals and I love each of them for who they are .Although I had other dogs when I lost my soul mate ,none of them replaced him or ever could .All of my dogs are rescue dogs and since losing him Ive now gone on to adopt 2 more wonderful dogs needing loving forever homes .My heart still hurts over him and there is not a days goes by without me shedding some tears for him .For me i came to realize that nothing was going to take away my pain but i knew I could offer a loving home to more dogs and for me I really felt that it was part of my legacy to him ,that I could help more dogs and give then a second chance in life .
i dont know if me sharing this helps at all,but I hope it helps you feel not so alone in your grief .I think you have to do things when you feel ready .

Thinking of you Cloudgirl

thank u Cloudgirl , i know what you mean, dogs are family. many ppl who never had pets they dont' understand how it is and sometimes they say what is insensitive but i think its just because they don't really understand.

Ycinsha,

I'm sorry for your loss. Pets can become extremely important to us, especially those of us who have trouble trusting people.
I don't think you have to forget about your dog, or replace him in order to get another. Many people have more than one pet, and they love them all equally. Your life feels emptier without a canine companion, there is no shame in wanting to get another to feel that companionship again, and help you to feel better. It doesn't mean you loved your dog any less, or will miss him any less, or care any less about him or his passing. The 'new dog' doesn't have to be a replacement, just another dog to help share and enrich your life.

If you're concerned about feeling like a replacement, why not go for a different breed or temperament? A dog that doesn't remind you so much of the little guy you lost, but who can keep you company all the same.

Animals are special, especially dogs, we can connect to them and they understand us, they are forgiving, its unconditional love which is more than a lot of people give us. Some people think aw its just a dog, but I think they just havent experienced what we have. I have two lovely poodles who I love with all my heart, Ive been lucky enough to get to 9 and 10 years with them so far, and I actually do have one with mental illness, which dogs get too, and most people dont realize that dogs get mental illness., he is a handfull, and people tell me to have him put to sleep, but I cant do that, I love him daerly too, and when I lose these two dogs I know I will be a cot case. They are my whole life, so to anyone here who has lost a pet I feel for you deeply.
I suppose you just have to think that part of your life has closed now and its time to move on, they say one door closes and another opens which is true sometimes, maybe if you find a course to do for grief it might help, maybe its just a matter of thinking about it the right way I dont know, but I do know its dam hard though.

So far it has been a month of grieving.

When I was a child my cat died and I cried over him and refused to get another cat that would just be there to replace him. He was very special to me despite having cats come and go (they weren't all ours, but they would come into the yard or be dropped off and we'd do the best we could.)
Eight or nine years later I finally got another cat. I didn't grieve for that whole period, but I didn't want to go through loss again.

So, the first pet I got after him was a sheltie (five years had passed). Then the cat I mentioned. Finally, I settled into a house and brought home two dogs and another cat.

Now, the last two years weren't good to me and my family. My mother had a long battle with cancer which really devestated me. After she passed, some of my pets started going and one year later I had them euthanized. My sheltie was with me 14 years and 10 months. My boxer was with me for 8 years, and my cat was with me for 11. Both the cat and boxer had health problems that I couldn't do anything about along with being seniors.

usually months. then everytime, I remember her face, I cry. All the memories makes me happy and emotional.