Four Pack Sadness Around Here
It’s been such a difficult few months for me, and I know you will understand. My four-pack has become a one-pack, and I miss these babies so much.
Upper left: Tinkerbell, Center: Rosie, Upper right: Chelsea, and front right: Gracie
We said goodbye to Tinkerbell a year ago around this time. She was my first rescue from Muttville in San Francisco.
We had to say goodbye to Chelsea in September of this year. She suffered from congestive heart failure and, towards the end, could hardly breathe. I’ve had her since she was a baby, and she lived to be 16 1/2, so this was an extremely hard one for me. It hurt so much I am just now beginning to recover.
Then, last week, we said goodbye to Gracie. She’s had a cough that wasn’t improving, and she’s been winded after simple exertions. She was drinking tons of water, and I started having to drag her on walks. She would just stop. She’s been on heart medication for about 8 months, and I was relating it to that. I took her in for a check-up, and our vet was shocked when she did an x-ray. She found cancer filling her liver, kidneys, and lungs. It caught us all by surprise. She was fine 8 months ago, and there was no sign of cancer. So this was a very aggressive cancer and too far gone for chemo.
My heart is filled with wonderful memories that I know will never fade. But, Gracie & Rosie were a bonded pair (both from Muttville in San Francisco).
Rosie with her two matching bookends.
Rosie is one lonely little dog. She is staying very close to me, but I can tell she is depressed. I feel so sorry for her.
I think that maybe I should start the search for a new friend for her. A small companion who is as sweet as she is. Have you had a bonded pair of dogs who lost their partner? Any suggestions on how to handle this?
I know it takes time to heal from a loss like this, but dang, it’s hard. At least I understand it, but my sweet Rosie is feeling lost.
Hugs to all of you who have ever lost a pet. I’m thinking of you,
Anne
36 Comments
Kristie Michalowski
Yes I do believe dogs grieve. I am so sorry for your losses. I recently lost my 16 1/2 y.o. pug in August of this year. My other dogs are just getting their zoomies back. Just love your sweet little one as you would…in time it will get better her.
Debbi
To echo many others, my heart breaks for you. Your willingness to rescue senior animals, knowing that your time with them will be short, is such a blessing to the animals you rescue and to the people whose hearts you touch (even when it is remotely, as with the blog).
We lost our Sam to cancer several years ago and Gracie Rae became deeply depressed. Gracie Rae was special needs when we adopted her (completely terrified of humans and virtually everything else) and Sam taught her how to first, be a dog, and second, how to trust the human members of our pack and, eventually, the larger world. Gracie Rae stopped eating and was uninterested in everything. She would not really engage with our other dog, Roux. She just wanted Sam back.
That all changed when I was asked to take on two four week old puppies who were rescued with their mother and the litter. It was a large litter and two of the puppies were not getting sufficient milk and it was not clear if they would make it even with round the clock syringe feeding and subcutaneous fluids. Gracie Rae showed passing interest at first but slowly began to come around. By the time the puppies were adoption age, she was back to something approaching her old self. We wound up keeping one of the puppies, Charlie, and Gracie Rae is a happy, healthy 14-year-old dog now.
I would not actually recommend adopting a puppy but would recommend getting Rosie a companion. Had the rescue not called me looking for help, I would have started looking for a mature dog for Gracie Rae. Most rescues will agree to trial adoptions since they want their animals to be well matched with their families. You might want to think about opening your heart once again to another animal. Do give it time if you decide to do this though. Gracie Rae did not recover overnight but I am think she might have died of a broken heart if we had not found her another dog when she lost Sam.
Whatever you decide, I wish you and Rosie nothing but the best.
Linda B.
I am so very sorry. Precious pups. May the Good Lord comfort you.