Over Easter weekend a good friend of ours lost his dog because it was hit by a car. Obviously, him and his wife are devastated. There are a lot of tears shed and it will understandably take a lot of time to be able to move forward. Him and I have been best friends since we were 14 and have shared a lot of ups and downs. He was one of those people who didn’t get people who thought of the pets as kids and then it happened. The nutty fuzzball comes home and you can’t imagine your life without them. Soon you are becoming that person who declines an invite to your friends’ cat’s birthday party because your dog is getting married that day. Doesn’t everyone understand that?
Well, no. But that is okay, I don’t judge them.
We got our furry lab, Fenway, after a year of trying to get pregnant. There were a ton of reasons why we wanted a dog (Mainly I just wanted one) but there were reasons I didn’t realize in the beginning like I do now. My husband is gone a lot. Rebecca is not with us on a regular basis. I struggle with this, a lot. It gets damn lonely, a lot.
Enter this furry ball of energy who needs fed, walked and my constant attention. Fenway gives me a reason to go home at night and not have the silence bounce off the walls. She is someone who acts like she understands what I’m saying when I’m talking through a new recipe. She is someone who dances around the kitchen with me to Kenny Chesney. She is my shadow, my fitness pal, a listener and warm pillow to watch TV with. In the past 18 months she has been my extra support, in this trying to get pregnant battle, that I never knew I needed. She is someone who patiently sits next to me on the bathroom floor when I’m crying over that millionth damn negative pregnancy test.
Pets are a funny thing. You think they need you but really you need them. And then when they are gone, especially suddenly, everything changes. So for everyone who has lost their side kick, I am deeply sorry. For everyone who has theirs sitting next to them, give them an extra scratch and treat today. They deserve it.
What have your pets done for you?
Through My Mistakes 
Yes they are a part of our lives!! I actually lost two – Squeak on December 23, 2009 (dog behind us pulled her through the fence and killed her) and then Snuggles (cat) on December 23, 2013. Both the same day but years apart. Miss them both so much. I still have 3 dogs and 2 cats but you still miss the ones that have left.
Oh and it’s never quite, that’s the best part!
Awh such a loss! And how crazy on the same daybut years apart. You are right, they keep the house lively!
I completely 100000% agree with you. Until you own a pet, you don’t quite ‘get’ it but once you do, it’s all over. they are family, through and through. and losing one is by far one of the hardest things to go through. it is grieving a family member. I still miss Nala every single day and still shed a tear at least once a week when a certain memory pops into mind. Both of my kitties have been my furry soulmates for more than a decade, it’s hard to imagine life without them.
I can imagine that grief never quite goes away. This makes me tear up for you all over again reading this. They sure make a difference in our lives.
oh you and me both. I seriously start to tear up at the thought of B not being in our lives anymore, and at 10, I know that will be a very real possibility sooner rather than later. He will always be our first baby, and he makes us feel like a family, more than just the two of us on our own
He is 10 already!?! Woah. It goes by so fast. They are really in our lives for such a short time but they do make you feel like more of a complete family!