I am an old pro at grieving for dogs. I lost my first in Nov. 1956. My parents wre going to get me a watch for my 11thbirthday. We were poor country farm folks, not much money. I was walking over to my cousins one day and a guy u the lane had his English Setter out in the yard with her pups. I never made it to my cousins and I wanted one of those puppies so bad. Daddy had a setter and a pointer for quail hunting, but I wanted one of my own and I had to chose between a $10 watch or a $10 puppy and I opted for the puppy, a beautiful white and gold puppy I named Beauty. I only had her 5 months. But I loved her so much and now, 60 yers later, I will still dry thinking of her, and so regretting we took no pictures--which was a rare thing back then.
Since they I lost several more English Setters--Rascal, Duchess, Mitzi, Pixie, Mack, Pongo, two Irirsh Setters--Red and Boots, five goldens--Scooter, Hunter (my heart dog), Buck, KayCee and Honey and one Great Pyrenees, Shaggy. It never gets easier and talking of any one of them can bring tears. But I try to keep it all good things.
When I lost my heart dog, Hunter (my avatar) on Oct. 16, 2003, I was so crushed because not only was he my soul mate of dogs, I blamed myself. I had taken him off the Interceptor heart worm prevention and put him o the ProHeart6 six month injection and it killed him. He spent 8 days in ICU and I visited him 3 times a day with boiled chicken, even ice cream. I got to take him outside (carrying his IV bag) and sit with him. On that last visit in late afternoon I knew in my heart he was not going to make it. And less than an hour after I got home I got the call he was gone. And I was not there with him. Ihad killed him and then not been there for him at the time of his death. I lost 40 pounds. Then he "vivisted me" using his sister's body to let me know he loved me still, didn't blame me, knew I loved him so much, and after that, I came to my senses and knew it was the fault of the drug comnay. they kep a product out they knew was killing so many dogs. And later the FDA made them pull it. It was off the market for 4 years being reformulated.
No, you never forget, but with time tears will turn to smiles, tho an occasional crying spell with over take you. I always found having another dog to love helps.