[jamieileana]

it has been almost two weeks now since my little dog passed away.

since then i have come to terms with him being gone from my life but not from myheart, and i still talk to him because i believe his spirit is with me still.

anyway, my life feels so boring now days. i go to work, when i get off work i don't want to come home. when i'm home i want to be elsewhere.

i just don't know what to do with myself anymore. i'm so use to running home to taking care of hm, but now it is like nothing to come to anymore.

i love my boyfriend and all but it seems more exciting if we bicker and fight then if things go along more smoothly.

this is most annoying in it's self as well and i do not want to live this way.

i just feel so empty and alone without my little bestfriend and having someone so close to me as he was to always be my stead companion.

now i feel more alone then ever. i just don't know what to do anymore.

fighting with my boyfriend seems to be the only excitement i can drum up these days.

i don't understand why i am doing this either, most annoying too.
does anyone know what i am talking about here? if so please reply and help me to deal with this weird situation going on in my life, heart and soul and thank you in advance.

[Tony T]

Every living thing on this earth has a beginning and an end. Ends can be sad but they can also be celebrated.

If you really loved your dog and you want to pay tribute to his life and memory, think about what he would want you to feel like now. Surely your dog would want you to relish the happy memories and go on with your life...happy that he had touched your life in very important ways.

To remain sad about the passing of your dog is to insult his life and the good things he gave you. Your dog would want your life to continue on in a richer and more fulfilled manner. Surely you know this for yourself.

Some grieving is perfectly natural. However, to argue with your boyfriend just to bring yourself out of a depression because of the passing of your dog is pretty nuts. Stop it!!!

If you cared anything about your dog at all, put a smile on your face and consider yourself lucky to have shared in its life while it was on this earth.

Get yourself together!!!

[jamieileana]

my point is that since my dog passed away that i feel empty inside.

i can look at his photos now and smile and i talk to him when i am alone.

i believe his spirit is with me and that makes me happy. but, the problem is i was so use to having him to take care of that now i don't have anything to take care.

my boyfriend is so independent, my kids are grown, the cats are not people cat's and on and on and on.

i am just so bored maybe, i am going to talk to the no kill animal shelter to see if i can volunteer there.

but i have two jobs and that may be hard to find time to do.
i am trying to celebrate my life and my time that i had with my pup, but at times it just seems like nothing is worth it anymore.

i don't mean anything stupid like suicide or anything of the kind, i just mean, that life feels empty now days.

i don't know how else to explain it. he was my whole life, he was with me through 16 long years of joy, sorrow, happiness, changes, life, death and anything that i have been through all these years he has been a constant in my life.

now that constant is gone and i feel that i have nothing much with anybody else now days.

oh forget it, i just keep digging myself in deeper with what i am trying to explain because i can't get it right.

It can be very hard to lose an animal friend because of the bond they can share with us. In many cases the grieving is much like having lost a close parent or sibling, and it's perfectly normal. You have every right to feel your grief and work through it at the pace that is comfortable for you.

However, it is true you need some distraction, and not that of fighting with your boyfriend. Maybe you're doing it to relieve your depression and to feel alive, or maybe you're just resentful that he is around and your dog is not. Sounds silly, maybe, but I've seen it before! If it's been a good relationship and you really do wish to continue it, try stepping back when you want to start fighting and suggest the two of you go do something together. That way your mind will be off your dog's passing and your boyfriend can maybe help to ease the grief.

Something else you might want to consider is adopting a new animal friend. Don't think of it as 'replacing' your old dog, because no matter what they can never be replaced. Instead you open up another part of your heart to share, and maybe that is what you need to heal it. Your dog would probably want you to have another fuzzy defender, if you can manage it. Where else will you get a cold nose and a wagging tail from? Unless your boyfriend is a werewolf, anyway...

Hope you can sort it out.

Arnwan

[Dragonflys]

I can understand the emotional loss you must be feeling. Dogs are wonderful companions and can provide more unconditional love than most humans do. I know how you feel. Some people desire the very close unspoken companionship a pet can give. I'm like that, and its hard to find amongst the people you meet. People have things to do and a life to create and depth in relationships is often affected as a result.

First of all, try and get another dog...prefereably of the same breed or at least temperament. Within weeks you will feel the same companionship you got with your previous. Celebrate the many wonderful years like Tony said that your previous dog gave you.

Also, this passing has given you an opportunity to rekindle human relationships while you get to know the new dog. Although the companionship is wonderful, aspects one can enjoy in a human relationship are not there. An important aspect of human interaction is that it stimulates the mind and relieves boredom. It would be beneficial for you to get into group activities with others and get that mental energy flowing. Even though companionship is very nice, too much can lead to boredom and a loss of purpose.

I hope this provides another angle to advice.

Oliver