Pets dying. Always hits you harder than you'd think.

[Asthaloth]

Yep, my rabbit died in his sleep today.
I don't think I have ever really spoken to him, you know? I mean, I am highly allergic to rabbits, cant get within five feet without coming out in little rashes and having my nose bung up, but even so, I dug his little grave in the garden (Bigger and deeper than he really needed) and now I'm shaking like I'm having a sugar hypo.

I've not been able to speak to a rabbit (I say speak because I cannot think of a better term right now) since Thumper died some... Oh, six years ago.
Same for dogs, I just haven't been able to feel close to Florence (Our colly) since Max died (about six years again I think)

And well. The death of Russell marks the death of the last living memory of my home, which hit me as I hefted the slab to lay upon the site.
Well. All in all, a bit of a rubbish day.

Anyway, someone please tell me I'm not just a freak for being hit so hard by the death of an animal I have pretty much ignored for six years?

[Ammer]

I don't think you're a freak at all; it'd be a bit odd if you didn't feel anything after your pet died.

I'm no licensed psychologist but perhaps it's because you've been so emotionally attached to the past pets in your household, that you reacted the way you would've if you were in fact close to your pet. You had the same emotional reaction as you did with the other pets despite not being close to Russell.

Also, since Russell marks the death of the last "living memory" in your household, that can also cause the reaction as you displayed. Perhaps it's a combination of the last living memory and your past pets which caused you to react the way you did.

I hope I helped in some way, and I hope you feel better

[Kitten Medli]

I'm so sorry, man. I know losing pets is very hard, heck, even if you didn't even know the lil bugger that well. It's not strange at all to be sad about it. It just means (despite your debating XD) you're human. I'm glad though that he died peacefully.. he was really lucky in that regard. :]

[Mongrel]

It's easy to bond with animals. Their only rule for love is "You love me and I'll love you." And so we love them, and it hurts like hell when they die, because they are helpless like children and it's still hard to lose the ones we've cared for their whole lives, even though we always knew we'd have to watch them grow old and die before we do.
Feeling the hurt doesn't make you a freak. I think you'd be much more of a freak if it didn't hurt at all.

[Asthaloth]

Feeling somewhat better about the lil dude, trying to think of something to paint on his grave as a memorial, but of curse nothing comes to mind.

Just seemed odd, for it to hit me so hard when I barely knew him, I've seen people I know die and not been hit so hard.
Odd, really.


Scratch that, just went to get some coal, saw the rabbit hutch, and I feel awful again. -_-

[3lla]

losing a pet is definitely hard.
Around this time last year i was going through alot of troubles and then my dear husky Luka died. It was a major blow to me, especially since he was only two years old. I have also lost many a hamster, but that generally to old age so i could understand their deaths.
I think what hit me really hard about Luka's death was his age and the very situation i was in. Since his death, I havent really been the same....every time I see husky or a wolf it immediatly reminds me of him.

Really I agree when it comes to a sense of loss when a pet dies.

[Lee]

I'm sorry you lost a pet. I had to put my cat down not too long ago. I loved that little cat and I miss her every day.

[MarchingDuck]

its perfectly normal to feel pain over the loss of a pet.

I went catatonic (no pun intended) when my cat died. He was 17 and my best friend for most of my life.

you just have to remember the good times and pray you come across an equally wonderful animal later in life.

[Ginger Harp Seal Pup]

So sorry that your rabbit died. Mine died in March last year and, even though I didn't look after her (mum did) it still hit me very hard.

[littleboy6326]

I know how you feel, mate.

My Dog of 9 years, died a little while ago. She stopped eating; the Vets thought it was due to some rotten teeth, so she had 6 teeth out; but still didn't eat. Months past, and she got skinnier and skinnier; we finally decided to get a check for Liver Cancer; nothing, all clear... Then there was another test a week later, and it came up conclusive.
We had her put down, in the front room. I had to help bury her.

Trying not to dwell on it, is the best thing. I know it sounds horrible, but 'replacing' lost pets is good too. Especially if it's a puppy; they distract you so much with your responsibilities, you'd find it easier to forget about past pets.

[Asthaloth]

Nah, no more Rabbits for us, he's the Fourth now (I think... Thumper, Russell, Patrick and Julian) and we got him many a moon ago to keep Thumper company (I think we got him before we moved, so he was a good ten years old)