If Something Happened To Your Pet.....Would You Get Another?

[Kro1957]

We have had Dachshund's now since 1978. Our previous one lived to be 18 years old. We said we would never get another one, but we did. Just could not live without one and our youngest Son missed his Dog so much.

But now he is graduating, we are in that transition to FT and as our present
Dog ages, we know comes a time he may not be around.

DW says this is it...... "We are NOT getting another one". Mostly because of the anguish when you loose one and perhaps we are bad, but we really spoil ours rotten!

But also because of the care involved if we are wintering south and decide to go on a cruise or extended day trip there are times where a pet (unless it's a cat) is difficult to schedule around. Our Duke has to go out every couple of hours except at night.

So has any one else with pets thought about if you would get another one if you lost your present one? We say we wouldn't but then again, we said that the last time. We're just plain ole Dog lovers at heart!!

[Blag]

My 17 year old golden retriever died on April 13 2010 and even though my wife says I should go get another, I won't. Even though I miss his company terribly, especially when out in the yard doing chores, I can't bring myself to even think about buying another dog. It's kinda weird, as I'm not usually stubborn about things...

[Gerald Duerr]

Animals can be very close to your heart.Dogs are mens best friend. The problem is if you go somewhere other than with your MH you have to find a place for them to stay. I will not put my dog into a kennel.We have been fotunate to have friends with dogs and they will lock after our dog. In return we will lock after their dog. I don't think we will get another dog right away but later on we may consider another dog. I love my golden retriever.
Cheers Gerald

[Bruce C]

Not again, Great when their young but as time passes, age creeps in and they begin to suffer, and they try to hide their pain to please you. It hurts when you have to accept the fact that your best friend has got to be put down. My last was a abused rescue 5 year old Siberian husky and she was the best friend you could only wish for. Went everywhere with me, loved camping, hiking and people. But health became a real problem, not the expense, but just trying to have her healthy. The vet being a friend of mine did all he could but to nothing seemed to do any good. He came to the house and she was put down in my arms. It affected me to the point that I can't seem to get over her desire to please me even under such pain. Soft I guess, but I was always tough but not this time. I don't think she'll ever be replaced. For those who do replace their pet I envy you and good luck to you.

[Abclipper]

Absolutely Not. I've loved all our dogs and its so hard on us when our pets die Our male Sheltie that we have now will be 7 this year. He is such a special dog we love him to bits.. It's going to be so hard on us when he's gone I don't even want to think about it..So yes I keep saying I'm not having another Dog after Clipper has gone.

[RustyJC]

I guess I'm in the minority. We lost our 7 year old Sheltie, AnnaBelle, to cancer in February 2012. Even though we still had our 6 year old tri-color Sheltie, Coby, the emptiness without AnnaBelle was just too much, and Coby grieved for her even more than us. So, in April 2012, we got our new Sheltie, Callie. One pet never replaces another one, but they will make their own place in our hearts and homes. Addicted? I guess so - Callie is our 7th Sheltie.

Rusty

[BCooke]

When Snoopy, he definitely was, passed I told the wife not for a year.... she said not again... so she started helping at the local shelter..... I think 6 months, after Snoopy passed, we got Atka (photo), mostly due to her prodding. I still miss Snoopy (even now thinking of him) but my new best friend is Atka (don't tell DW).

[AFChap]

We lost our 15 year old Maltese in November 2011. Both of us and the 5yr old Maltese missed her a great deal. In July 2012 we got a new pup of similar size but different breed/color.

[frankdamp]

We've had Labs since 1964, except for a time when we were in rental property that didn't allow pets. Our first one after that hiatus, a yellow male, died of cancer at 12. His partner, who we got as an antidote to his very bad separation anxiety was a chocolate female. She got very morose after his death, so we got a 4 year-old yellow male from the Humane society. She passed away at 14, having had Addison's disease since she was 8 months old!

We said "no more", but within 5 months we got another yellow male rescue who was 8 years old at the time. Both Angus and Bailey are 9 at this time. Angus was the pet of an elderly gentleman who developed Alzheimer's and Angus was too boisterous for the nursing home.

At almost 72 (DW a bit younger) we probably won't have any more after these guys are gone.

[Sky_Boss]

Honestly, I don't know. For the most of 20 years we have had at least 2 GSDs and we can't imagine having been without them. We carry the ashes of our departed kids because we can't bear to be without them. Gunny is 8 & Thor is 5 so we don't know how long we will have before faced with that choice.

My hope is that we may do some GSD rescue work when that time comes and work with the older ones. We have always used reputable breeders for our previous ones but we don't breed them. Perhaps it is time to give back to the GSD breed by rescuing those that are in a bad way through no fault of their own.

[G.G.]

When our pug, Bertha, had to be put down, I cried for days. Even though it's much easier not to have a pet, we rescued Oliver within 6 days of Bertha's passing. We've had him 2 1/2 years, and he's delightful. He hit the doggy jackpot when he came to live with us.

We always notice other people's dogs whether they're out walking or riding in a car. We chuckle and comment on how cute they are even if they're really ugly as we just love dogs.

Oliver is now 6, so hopefully, he'll be around awhile, but I'm sure we'll get another dog when he's gone. Plus, it feels really good to rescue an animal. Some of them have really miserable lives.

[Kro1957]

I have read these posts and I think it is fair to say we all share a deep love for out pets. Makes me feel not quite so bad to know we are not the only ones to spoil them!!!
Our Duke knows if someone is ill, He knows when you are preparing to leave. He understands many things we tell him. I know you may not believe it but he really does. They are so smart!!!
But the hurt of what it is when you loose one is so unbearable for us that is why DW does not want to go through that again and again. Yet we know we will agonize with saying good-bye. Not sure what we will end up doing. For now, our RV sign should read. "One spoiled rotten Dachshund lives here."

[Dunner]

Sadie has such sensitive feelings and knows what to expect from me. I think when it comes time, I will get another before she goes. May give her some happiness before she goes. If I go first, I know where she is welcome.

I heard some hogwash that you can't put a pet in a will. Has to be in a trust or something. It was like one of those dinner time lawyer adds saying: If you drank water and got the hiccups, we can get you some money, type adds.

[AdvntureCats]

We've been graced by the company of several cats; one lived to be 20 years old! He was truly part of the family -- the kids grew up with him. Very painful when he passed on, but he let us know it was time. He settled down in the hall to watch me go in the morning, and stayed there, napping, waiting of me to come home. When I retuned, he sat up, rubbed on me, and curled back up and went mostly unconscious. We took him to the vet, who said that he was indeed shutting down; his kidneys would probably fail in a couple of hours more. He was put to rest while he was already dozing off in my arms.

Another came to us after one's life was cut short by illness. We definitely weren't looking for another, in fact we were moving cross-country in a month or two. But he needed us; his litter mates were all adopted and he was going to be all alone, so he came to join us and grow up with our other two at the time.

Another cat bravely fought diabetes and cancer; like some people, he refused to give up until he was too tired to go on, and we had to make the hard choice for him. We waited several years before considering another, but our remaining cat really needed some feline interaction now that his two older kitty buddies were gone.

So, we went looking for a rescue kitten to raise, found one, and then discovered he was inseparably bonded with his brother -- so two half-feral but cautiously social kittens came home with us. We were amazed that no one adopted them sooner, but then they weren't as outgoing as most people might want. We understood and admired their "wild side" from the start. They've grown up to be amazing cats, bonding with us and letting us deeper into their world more so than any cats we've known. They still get upset if they lose track of each other or us -- though that rarely happens. It will be hard for whichever of the brothers who outlives the other; but when that time comes, the loss will undoubtedly be shared between the one left and with us.

Animal companions have a way of coming into our lives on their own time. Loss is part of our lives and theirs; we wait patiently until we discover one who needs us.