I hope this won't be a year of continued loss

Most of us have to deal with youngsters who do not understand life per se. You too will do a good job of it Jen... Losing a pet is a devastating experience and when we bring them into our life we definitely know that they will be there for not more than 15 or 16 years.I get these thoughts so off and on. We have had experiences too but "time and tide waits for no man"- life moves on. Have you not heard of the words "After the storm comes the calm. After the calm comes the Sunshine"?

Oh Jen, I am terribly sorry, and that your daughter saw it, that just makes it harder, because she will probably keep replaying the scene over and over again in her head..You didn't mention her age, I am assuming she is at least a young teen since you have an older daughter... My suggestion is to get her to talk about it or find someone she can talk to about it. Also, has she shown any kind of grieving? If she is holding in her emotions, it will just eat her up. But at the same time, she will need space to grief on her own too. I'd say perhaps let her know you are there if she wants to talk, but don't push it, yet don't let her go too long without "letting it out."

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. I certainly hope that 2012 won't be a bad one for you. I lost my dearest dog, Stryder. We had to put him down. It was so sad but he was not able to get around any more. And i remnember when we lost our Momma Cat. She had mothered all the kittens whether hers or brough in(aren't animal amazing?!)so that was sad to lose her. Someone had left anti freeze on the floor of the parking lot and she got into it. All of what you said is what she needs to believe. So sad that someone hit her and then to just drive on like nothing much had happened. People are something. Sure hope it is a better year for you.

Hi jen... I understand your situation and feelings of your daughter. Its very hard to forget the loss of someone whom we love most but it is also a part of nature and we are obliged to bow down as everything is already determined, Just try to console her and if possible bring an another pet. have a nice time.

Oh dear. I am so sorry for your loss. At least they should have stopped and helped more. It was wrong on their part. Anyways, for the daughter... I can understand that grief. I think the right way would be to get one of the same breed for her. She will overcome the shock and the new member in the family would help her forget those scars which I guess would have already started haunting her.

Hello JenInTN, Oh its really sad to know it and more sad that your daughter saw it and sometime some things which happens in our lives we can't forget those so easily and these comes in our mind repeatedly and we become sad everytime we remember those.So you need to help your daughter to forget it.May be you should bring another pet with the choice of your daughter so that she may forget that incident.

Dearest Jen...I am SOOOOO very, very sorry for your deep loss..and in such a tragic manner! A horrific reminder of how fragile life can be! I may be messed in the head...but I truly grieve the loss of a pet, I think most times, more than humanity. I know I am weird, but these little people in fur coats...are the truly, best friend that we can ever hope to have in this life...and they are the ONLY people that accept us for what we are, will NEVER betray us..and are loyal, NO matter what! YOU have the reputation of being the "best MOM" on the planet, dear Jen...and I just know...you will do what you truly feel right, to help your lovely daughter across this huge chasm! It is such a helpless feeling, knowing that you can't right this wrong..but with your great heart, you will prop each other up and get thru this! Hopefully...having his children around you, will help you thru this time of grief! Sadly, the most common loss we have, is those of our pets...Please remember, God doesn't give us more than we can handle, so with that thought in mind...I truly hope his strength helps you thru this time...and the future promises rainbows!

That is really a tough one because even adults like us suffer from a loss even though we expect it....just show her that he will live on in your hearts and photos will bring them back whenever we miss them.

so sorry. to a child this kind of loss is almost as bad as a person. heck to us it is to anyway, i like ambies post. i have my Johns ashes here and it helped me get over some of it. of course i yelled at him some, so dont worry if she does that a little. because the dog brought on his own demiss. the people probably didnt know what else to say or do. it may bare on their mind i guess.

losing a pet is indeed very hard. it is one thing that is hard to face in life also when our pet would leave us.

Sorry about your losses! Give your daughter all the support and comfort you can give her at this time. Just keep doing the best you can.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my best friend 3 years ago too, from old age, she was 15. What "helped' us a bit was that we found a kitten in our garden 2 weeks prior. Until my dog passed we've only had dogs and it was the first time we had a kitten, so it didn't feel like we were replacing her or anything but a brand new beginning.. and the kitten helped us heal. I was able to cherish the moments I was able to create with my dog and learned that I can do that and also have new beginnings as well.

I am really sorry to hear of your loss Jen. It is tough to lose a pet that has been loved for a long time by the family. Even more tough when the pet is taken so unexpectedly like that. When a dog is old, you sort of expect it and realise that it is for the best if they were in pain. But to have something like that happen and for the driver to not even stop is so wrong! We lost our family dog last year so I know how you must be feeling. It was so sudden. One minute she was fine and then she did not come in for dinner when called. We found her paralised by ticks and took her straight to the after hours vet, but there was nothing they could do. They said they had never seen a dog go downhill so fast. She was only 6 years old, but my children had grown up with her. My son got to say goodbye just in case before she went to the vet, he saw her paralised, but my daughter was away for the night and never got to say goodbye. She was very close to her and found it very hard to take. The household was a real mess for weeks afterwards. We each felt guilty and wished we had done more to protect her. The only suggestion that I can make is to be there for each other and to remember the good times with the dog and not the accident.

I am really sorry for your loss. I hope the best for you, and wish you had someone on your side that could help you get over it. Also, do not let it put you down. The past is something you do not want to live in. It is a place that most people love, but when they snap out of the daydream, all is sour in their lifes and nothing seems to please them anymore. Just enjoy other thing you love in life, never forget the things you have lost, but always remember that there was nothing that you could have done, and definitely nothing you can do now. Goodbye!

Rude... Sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry. That is so very sad! You and your daughter will be in my thoughts and prayers.

first of all I am sorry that I could not get to your discussion here earlier as we were away Saturday last week and I am still playing catch up with a heap of notifications.I am so sorry to hear you still have to cope with the void of your daughter having moved out and then losing Max. You know you made his pet life happy and now he is over the rainbow bridge and would say thanks to you for sure if he could speak. Hugs to you and your younger daughter.....