Pet Loss - Eternal Good-Bye To Your Pets

When I was walking Juliette this morning, Mary, one of our doggie lover neighbors, came to talk to me.  Her eyes were red and she seemed to be very depressed.  She told me that her beloved Bichon, Mimi, has just passed away.  Mimi suddenly started vomiting non-stop.  So, Mary brought her to the vet right away.  The tests indicated that Mimi’s colon was on the verge of bursting from colon cancer.  The vet sadly told her that there was nothing else they could do to save her at that point.  Mary didn’t want to see her dog suffering any longer.  So she decided to let Mimi go.  She said the first few days since she lost Mimi were so hard that she didn’t want to see anyone and kept to herself very quietly.  But, she finally started feeling a little better and wanted to tell people who knew Mimi of the news.  Yet, her voice started shaking while she was talking to me, and she ran back home.  Perhaps, seeing old Juliette might have reminded her of Mimi.

 

Emotional Preparation 

A dog’s life span is much shorter than ours.  Their average life span is 15 years.  The larger the body size of the dog, the shorter they tend to live.  The large breeds like Great Danes only live seven to eight years on average.  Yes.  It is very short indeed.  Most dogs grow from a ‘new born baby’ to a ‘teenager (in human age)’ in the first year of life.  Then, they age about 3-5 human years every year after that.  So, let’s say, even if you have a very young puppy right now, it is most likely that the puppy will surpass your age and depart this life before you. 

Since I live with a 13 year-old dog, I think I am prepared to deal with the reality that she will leave me pretty soon.  However, people around me seem to be very concerned about how I would become when Juliette departs from this world.  Coincidentally, I’ve recently came across some ‘timely’ info at the shelter.  It was a pamphlet from a facility that provides animal cremation and pet cemetery services.  Instead of thinking ‘that’s a bad jinx!’ I picked up one of them and am keeping it for … There are many places like the one I found and you can obtain the info by doing Internet research.  But, I am sure your vet can recommend a place you can rely on in case you need it.

When I lived in Japan, we had a family dog.  We named him Pluto after the Disney character.  When he became old, he suffered from Alzheimer disease.  He was always hungry and begging my mom to feed him 24/7.  He was about 17 or 18 years old when he found a way out of our house and wandered out.  He was barely able to walk.  But, he had that determination to ‘run away.’  He never came home.  When Pluto disappeared, my dad’s hearing ability suddenly deteriorated.  Although my dad was suffering from the condition for a while, it took a sharp turn downwards after Pluto’s disappearance.  The shock of losing Pluto was quite real – for all of us.  And you may not realize the magnitude of perpetual presence of your dog until s/he is gone.  

People who say “I don’t think I want to have another dog ever again” when their beloved dog passes away often seek another dog eventually.  It seems almost impossible for dog lovers to have a life without a dog.  Some people come to seek a new dog at the shelter on the same day or the next day of their dog’s passing.  Others take a long process to move on.  I believe it is totally up to each person to decide when to seek another dog.  However, it may not be wise to look for a ‘replacement’ when you are not totally over with the process of mourning.  Not only would it be difficult for you to properly establish a relationship with your new dog, it wouldn’t be fair for the new dog if you are not emotionally ready to move on and have a fresh start. 

The Rainbow Bridge

In the U.S., there is a belief that animals go to ‘Rainbow  Bridge’ when they die.  When they cross Rainbow Bridge, they see an enormous field of beautiful green grass.  All the animals play happily by chasing one another.  All of them get along.  It is a paradise full of food, water, and bright sunshine.  It is said that the animals are watching over us from there. And, since I love dogs so much, I wonder if I could go there when I depart from this world.  I hope so. 

Well, like humans, dogs can also feel stressed for many reasons.  I would like to talk about stress signs in dogs and what dog owners can do to help them ease their stress.

Until next time, Be Kind to Man’s Best Friends!

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