Jack

I lost my dog Jack on July 14, 2010, and I just can't seem to get over it, I never even got to say goodbye. I went out of town, and when my parents came to get me they told me he was dead.
I was going through my camera today and came across a video of him on the last day I saw him alive and I just can't stop crying.
I remember the day we got him, I was so excited to finally have a dog, and he was the cutest dog ever.
Then I remember one time my sister and I were messing around yelling at each other and she pushed me and he started barking at her. He was loyal and protective of me, he wouldn't let people touch me, if they gave me a hug he would jump up and whine, but he wouldn't hurt anyone, he was a good boy.
I just wish I had been able to say goodbye at least.
How long does it usually take to feel better? I feel like I'll never feel better.

~Aoi

I’m really sorry Jack died. I understand what you are going through. I lost my sweet kitty over 10 years ago but for the longest time (years) I’d get teary eyed or cry when I thought about her. It’s so easy to get attached to our fur-babies and it’s so awful when we lose them. It can definitely take some time, but I’d say the crying spells typically become less over time.

It’s normal to cry when you come across reminders of Jack like you did. If you are still crying regularly, and in the absence of reminders, there might be more going on with you. Perhaps you have feelings of loneliness that Jack helped to alleviate, so you are crying out of loneliness as well, not just over Jack. I don’t know but maybe it’s something to think about and if there are larger issues, work to understand and address those.

*hugs*

Hi. Sorry for your pain. I lost a cat ten years ago and I still miss him. I did have others since. Now I have one who is a lot like my old friend. He isnt the same, but he is still lovely.
A heart can break but it can grow back bigger. Love another animal-there are so many that need a loving home.
One

@Janjones I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. I have periods where I will think about him and be fine, then I'll have like weeks where I'll cry every night thinking about him. I have mood swings, I'm trying to get help for them, when I'm in my depressed mood he is all I think about because he usually made me feel better, he made me feel important.

@Onebravegirl I'm sorry about your cat. I do have other pets, I love them too, I just haven't been able to bond with them as deeply as my Jack. I do love them though and care about them.

~Aoi

Aoi... since you mentioned mood swings and we were already talking about pets, I thought of this other thread:

bipolar/topic98482.html

I especially liked what Vegasguy said about the reasons we love our pets....

@janjones
I like what Vegasguy had to say. I agree with them. I could talk to Jack about my problems and he would sit on my bed with me just looking at me with this concerned look on his face, he was probably wondering when I would stop talking ha.
Today I am feeling better, it is easier to talk about him and not get so upset.

~Aoi

AoiHana wrote:I could talk to Jack about my problems and he would sit on my bed with me just looking at me with this concerned look on his face, he was probably wondering when I would stop talking ha.

Oh yeah, I have always talked to my pets too. I like it how cats will sometimes meow back at you when you talk to them. It feels more like a real conversation to me when you have that back-n-forth interaction.

AoiHana wrote:Today I am feeling better, it is easier to talk about him and not get so upset.

That's really good to hear Aoi. *hugs* and take care.

We lost our Weim, Trooper, four years ago and there are days where I still expect him to come running around the corner. When you love a pet as you would a family member, you don't ever truly get over the loss in my opinion. You simply find a way to move forward as a different you. I'm so sorry for your loss and sending you hugs!

@janjones I love that about cats too. As long as my cat is being petted he'll listen to anything I have to say. He is getting old too, he is the only one I have bonded with as close like Jack, so sometimes I will feel a bit panicky but I have to remind myself to enjoy my time with him, not worry over how old he is getting.

@positivethinking I'm sorry about Trooper. I sometimes have dreams about Jack and he is alive and I will be wondering where he was for so long but I don't care in my dreams, I'm just so happy to have him back and those are the best dreams I have, I hate waking up from them. Hugs to you too.

~Aoi

It will get easier Aoi. Thank goodness for the wonderful memories we have of our pets and that we were lucky enough to know and experience that kind of unconditional love.