My dog sheba died
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
June 19, 2007 7:13pm CST
I know she was 17 years old, but she had been fine, although we knew that she had a heart condition but it wasn't even severe enough to require medication.
This morning I took her and tazz for a walk before work and she had been so playful.
When I got home after work she was still fine. I had bought more food for them and she was there playing with my feet.
I came to the computer for a bit and my daughter just called me in panic. She had been playing with my daughter in the kitchen waiting for a treat when she just lay down and died in my daughters arms.
ON one hand I can see that it was the best way. She didn't die in pain or distress, just playing with my daughter...
But I still feel so sad. Sheba was the most wonderful dog. She was also the last link to the times when I was happy and carefree, and I'm feeling very empty...
To make it more complicated not only I have to deal with my own feelings, I also have to deal with my daughter's. She is extremely sensitive. She just left to meet a friend right after it happened and doesn't even want to come inside the house. She called me and asked me to take her backpack down and when I went down she had been crying and still didn't want to come inside. She was supposed to go study with this friend and just come back at 9pm. I hope that she is feeling better when she comes back...
5 people like this
21 responses
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
20 Jun 07
well i know that losing a loved pet is tough for the family. One really ends up loving these creatures :) so I send you a big hug for you and your family arka in these hard moments.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
LOL lightnin I am not so sure about fish. Mine are always having babies and eating them almost all, I kind of got used to it in a way.
We also had a bird. A budgee. It was before we had the cats. The bird was used to fly free trough the house and will only go into his cage to eat or sleep. He used to perch on us watching tv and try to eat our food. Sheba loved him and allowed him to perch on top of her too.
I am now wishing I didn't have so many pets. Am I going to feel like this when it happens with tazz or the cats? I bet I am and I'm dreading it already.
1 person likes this
@MJLami (1173)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I am so very sorry for you and your daughter. I can't think of a better way for her to go though than to have been happy and spending time with you both letting you know her love. It will take time to mend, you lost a daughter. I wish I could say something to ease what you're feeling and I know I can't. I've lost loved pets too.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
20 Jun 07
Oh Sweetie I am so sorry about this I really am I know what it is like and I know it is very Hard Sweetie I am sending you a big Hug and lots of Love with this
My Son was the one I had to deal with and my Daughter
Be patient with her Sweetie just hug her xxxxxxxxxx
Sweetie my Heart is with you right now
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
21 Jun 07
My Sweet Twin there is plenty more Hugs here for you and just shout when you need me and if you want him on the Rememberence in Gissis Web Darling send me a Photo
Believe me I know how hard it is
I hope that you Daughter will be ok please keep me informed you have my Addy
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
22 Jun 07
THank you Gabs, you're the sweetest.
I will send you a pic of sheba and would love to have her on gissi's web.
MY daughter is still staying downstairs and if feels really strange, but we were told to let her process it in the easiest way for her, and it seems that this is it. SHe came halfway up the stairs this morning but then lost her courage and went back down.
Thanks for being there Gabs
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
THank you twin. I"m feeling a bit better today. But still feel kind of empty.
MY daughter is still not coming up here, but I"ve been sleeping with her downstairs in my in-law's apartment. SHe's already quite emotional normally, but now the circumstances are a bit more complicated and she needs time to be able to deal with the whole thing.
Thanks for the hugs
1 person likes this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
20 Jun 07
Aw hon I'm so sorry. It's so hard to lose a pet. They become such an integral part of the family. You and your daughter have a good grieving cry and hugs together (or several) and talk about all the fun you had with Sheba. It will help you both to cope with the loss. Talking always helps. Your daughter will be fine in a short time. Kids are tough and bounce back fast.
So sorry for your loss.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
MY daughter avoided talking before leaving and she might not for a bit. She usually keeps things inside so I will have to keep trying until she's ready to talk about it.
It's scary because my daughter tends to get depressed and this is something that would get her down.
I"M here thinking about nice times with sheba, specially our camping trips. She would go in all our hiking trips and was always such fun. I still feel quite sad, but it feels a bit better thinking about those times.
1 person likes this
@myfanwy65 (1030)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I'm so sorry. Pets are family members as much as brothers and sisters. I will be devastated when my kitties are gone. I can't imagine life without them.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
20 Jun 07
It is sad to lose an old and trusted friend, especially when she represented a lot of happy times. It is a blessing for her to have gone peacefully, but so hard on your daughter. I hope she is not feeling guilty about it. Remind her that the last thing that Sheba did was to share the joy of playing with someone she loved, I want to go that way when I die. Friend, you can talk to us, but we are not warm and furry and we are not right there. If I was there you would get a hug, and a hanky as well. You and your daughter share a hug, and plan to feel better at a later time.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
22 Jun 07
Finally starting to feel a little better myself. My daughter is still dealing with what happened and still not wanting to come up to our home. Thankfully my in- laws apartment is downstairs and she has been sleeping down there with me.
One of our friends is a psychologist and she told us to give her a few days sleeping downstairs if it's still too difficult for her to come up and face the place where it happened, so we're doing that.
THanks for being there, my friend.
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
20 Jun 07
I am so sorry. Loosing a pet is like loosing a member of the family and sheba had also been in your family for so long that the pain can not be avoided.
I am sure that it will fade with time - however be allowed to moarn and cry.. you have lost someone important..
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
I think I didn't feel this bad with some members of the family - specially from hubby's family :)
The truth is that sheba was so much part of all of us. We do have tazz still and in his own way he's still dealing with not understanding where her partner in crime is. So we've been giving him some extra attention as well.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I'm really sorry for the loss of Shelba. She will be missed by both of you and its so hard to watch when our child is sad. Take care and a big hug to both of you now.
@badpenny (741)
• Lancaster, Texas
20 Jun 07
I feel your pain, sweetie. I have lost two dogs this year, My chihuahua of 13 years, Bubba, and my husband's Pit Bull just last week. It's like someone yanked one of your kids away. I know this is little comfort now, but the pain will lessen over time, and you and your daughter will heal. At least you still have Tazz, and he is probably mourning now, too. Hug them both lots and you will all heal together.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
I"m so sorry about your two dogs. I can just imagine having lost two.
Tazz seems a bit confused. He used to wait for Sheba before eating and he still seems to be waiting, I have to be there and encourage him to eat.
My daughter is still feeling very down. ANd she's still not coming up.
I talked to a friend of mine who's a psychologist and she told me to allow her to sleep downstairs at my in-laws apartment for a few days so she can process her feelings. I will be sleeping downstairs with her and we'll be talking about sheba if she feels she can. But I will give her the time.
@bigpinkmomma (449)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
oh I am so sorry to read of your news . It must be just so horrible to loose a pet after so many years . I have cried after losing a cats that I have had less than a year .
I am sure it was even harder on your daughter to be right there playing with and having the dog die in her arms. She sure is going to need time to grieve like you all will. If need be I would suggest a good counselor. However ,the best thing is is just to be there, don't a lot just listen. Then your daughter will talk when she is ready .
1 person likes this
@White_Angel (96)
• Fiji
22 Jun 07
Im sorry for your loss..you must be going through such tough times....hope you daughter is able to understand
1 person likes this
@yammydudes (865)
• Philippines
20 Jun 07
hi!sad to hear that...I'm just curious ,why did you named your dog "sheba'?
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
Actually we didn't name her. We got her from the shelter when she was 4 months old and she was already called sheba by everyone there, so we decided not to change her name since she was used to it already. It was a pretty name anyways and she seemed to love her name, she would always perk up when she heard it even when we were not talking to her :)
@birdearly2 (2)
• United States
20 Jun 07
My heart goes out to you. We had to put our little dog, Prissy, to sleep in 1998 and it still feels like yesterday. We had a trucking company at that time and I took care of the payrole, and I remember crying that entire day and I still do not know how I was able to function. We have her picture on our refrigerator and she will never be forgotton. She was a child to us. My deepest sympathy to you and your daughter. Annie. p.s. I do believe God has a special place in heaven for sheba and prissy.
1 person likes this
@vinney_143 (662)
• India
20 Jun 07
so sad that you have lost your dog... but i dont think it's worth giving too much of an attention to a dog.... but, i feel very sorry for you
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
20 Jun 07
Awwwww Im sorry for your loss. I cryed when I read this discussion. And yes your are so right that she went peacefully. I do hope you will feel better and your daughter too. Its always painfull when we lose our pets I do know the feeling.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
20 Jun 07
I am sorry to hear this. Losing pets is always hard, and when it happens unexpectedly, it comes as such a shock.
I'm keeping you guys in my thoughts and sending over special hugs for you all right now.
I hope that your daughter will be okay and that she's feeling a little bit better.
1 person likes this
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I am also so very sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose a pet, especially after having Sheba for so long. Yes, it is good that she did not suffer and yes she got to spend her last moments in this life feeling the love that you guys have for her. I know your daughter must be devastated, that is a tough thing for it to happen right there in front of her. Just remind her that Sheba appreciated her being there for her in those last moments of life. Share your grief and pain, so that your daughter knows that it is ok to be in pain over the loss. I am so sorry for the both of you. I wish you luck in the coming days and remember that Tazz is probably going to be grieving, too.
1 person likes this
@axter69 (379)
•
20 Jun 07
sorry to hear about your dog, I know some folk think dogs are pets and thats it but I know the bond that you can have with a dog can be better than with some of your friends.
bit strange but at least a dog will never cheat on you or anything like.
@NorthEastBlues (35)
•
20 Jun 07
I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like Sheba had a wonderful life and a beautiful last day with her family. You were blessed you didn't have to make the painful decision to put her to sleep. I know your daugher will feel better soon. You too.
1 person likes this
