Your Pet Loss Stories

by Monica DiMaio
(Callahan, FL, United States)

Hello my name is Monica. I don't know if I am posting this in the correct spot. I have been searching for pet loss support groups and cannot find many. Friday December 3rd I received a knock on the door. It was my neighbor asking me if all my dogs were inside. (I have 3 apple head chihuahuas) I thought they were all inside.

My puppy, Linus, was 5 months old. He was very sneaky and liked to slip out the front door. Usually I see him and bring him back inside. Earlier Friday morning I had went outside to check the mail. I think Linus went out with me and I just didn't see him.

My neighbor told me that there was a white dog dead in the street. I ran out to the road and it was him. I went over to him and picked him up and just sat in the road crying, with him in my arms, for over an hour. When I picked him up I felt his last breath escape. I don't know how I didn't realize that he was outside. I feel so guilty and mad.

I live down a dirt road way out in the country. The speed limit on our road is 10 mph. Whoever hit him didn't even bother to stop and let anyone know. My poor baby laid in the street for God knows how long, all alone. I buried him in our back yard where he loved to run around and play. In his grave I put one of his favorite toys with him.
I haven't stopped crying for longer than a few minutes. I have never lost a pet. I feel like I lost a family member. His life was short, but had a huge impact. Another issue that I am dealing with is his mother, Mayah. She keeps going to the front door and whimpering. When she went out back, she smelled the grave area, and just laid on top. She wouldn't come in when I called her. I had to pick her up and carry her inside. Now she seems very depressed.

Mayah just laid on the floor or in my bed all day and night. She even looks like she has tears in her eyes. I have been holding her and petting her a lot, but I don't know how to ease her pain. Especially since I cannot even ease my own. If anyone has any suggestions please email me.

This is so heartbreaking to my family and I. Oh, my other chihuahua, Leo (he is the father), hasn't seemed to notice that Linus is gone at all. He is acting like his normal self. Is this normal (for both Mayah and Leo)? I wasn't aware that pets grieve. I also wasn't aware of the extreme pain and sadness that accompanies the loss of a pet, my loved one. I am open to any and all advice. Thank you for taking the time to read about my heartbreaking loss of little Linus.

You may email me at Tulipsniper82@yahoo.com

Thank you all again

- Monica & Mayah