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Dog down, coping strategies for kids (and adults)...

rockhopper70 · 2022-06-13T09:12:40Z

I still can't quite believe this has happened but on Saturday night our wonderful little dog Flo, suddenly passed away. She died in our arms, in her bed in the kitchen it was so quick. She was 10 and a bit, spritely with no health issues we knew of. And she was so, so part of our family it has left a gaping hole. We have three kids, girls 21, 19 and a boy just turned 16. She she been part of their lives for a significant proportion, particularly the lad who has lived with her since he was 5. We have been looking through the photos we have, and obviously in this modern era there are hundreds to go at and it just reminded us how much a member of the family she was. Even daft stuff at the time you don't think about, like always looking for dog friendly accommodation when we holiday'd so she could come with us. We have some great videos of Flo playing in the surf with the three kids, pictures of her sleeping on top of the kids when they were snoozing on the carpet. She also kept me company when I was home alone working, and we'd often go out for a lunchtime power walk to the local coffee van and she would get a snack from the seller. Daft stuff, the toaster slots are too small for a normal loaf so she would always run to her bed from wherever she was in the house when she heard the bread bin lid coming off, hoping to get the trimmed off edge that would make the slice fit. I didn't want to open the bread bin today... It's recent, it's raw and it hurts like heckers. WFH again today for the first time, the house will soon be empty of humans and she won't be here, snoozing in my eyeline, then waking and reminding me to break off and get a brew (and give her a biscuit). Such a great dog, and if you don't have dogs you don't get the hurt. And everyone thinks their dog is the best, I get that. I am sorting out the cremation, and the older two girls are thinking of getting some jewellery with the ashes incorporated. The lad is being a tough nut, but I've taken him to school today for his second GCSE maths paper! I've told the teacher about the loss. He put a montage of photos of him and Flo on his Instagram account with the message "rest easy". We got a paw print when we took her to the emergency vet to look after her until arrangements are made and I have told the kids to choose a special photo and we'll get a nice frame for their rooms. We are already trying to have conversations about the funny things she did. They don't want her bed and clutter taking away yet, she had a toy box in the lounge she rummaged through when she wanted to play, bells hanging on the door handle she'd ring when needing a pee. The inevitable conversation with Mrs R has already taken place, do we get another dog? I can't see another dog "replacing" her, and it's not on the radar at all. I just wanted Flo for another 4-5 years, I'm hoping to retire in three years or so and we planned to give Flo a marvellous twilight to her life, going to the beach and steady walks and spending our days with her. When she passed in good time, then we didn't plan on getting another dog and hoped to be a bit more adventurous in retirement but those first few years were going to be about Flo, properly pay her back for being such a good companion and looking after our children. Maybe I was looking for advice here, or maybe I just wanted to vent, I get time heals, but we didn't have time to prepare our brace ourselves. She'd gone just way too soon. Do we need to know what happened? An autopsy, but it's not going to bring her back. I keep wondering did we miss something but she wasn't long ago at the vet for a anal glands thing. There were no red flags. we didn't have time to get her to a vet on Saturday night, she just went. I can't think of a suitable last sentence so I'll stop now.

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Sandwich

Posts: 13349

Free Member

Maybe stick the ashes in a spot close to your brew place and drink with her for the rest of your time in the house.

Posted : 15/06/2022 2:57 pm

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