The Message Board

RE: Dogs mourning

Posted 101 days ago

Mausy, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that your dogs offer you strength and comfort in this time of need.

I have Winston, who is a 2 year old Jack Russel. About a year ago we made the decision he needed a play-buddy. We bought Chomp, another Jack Russel. 6 months ago someone came onto our property, left the gate open, allowing the dogs to get out. Chomp was hit by a car and killed instantly. When Winston did finally come home many hours and tears later, (by his own accord) we were just so grateful we didnt immediately notice that he was looking for...something.
At night he wouldnt sleep and during the day he would insist on sitting outside (much to my protest - all i wanted to do was hold him tight!) on the porch and watch the front gate. He was waiting for Chomp to come home. We took Winston to the vet where Chomp was handed in (whoever it was that did that, I am eternally grateful he wasnt left in the gutter like trash) and allowed Winston to sniff the form that was Chomp - we had hoped this would help give him closure.

Dogs grieve. They have different times to get over their grief, no different to humans.

We bought Cooper, another puppy. We werent ready, but had hoped that Winston would pick up. Instead he avoided Cooper- sometimes even aggressive- and seemed to want to wallow in his grief and watch the gate.

Fast forward another 6 months and Winston and Cooper are best mates. But Winston hasnt forgotten Chomp - he wont play with the 'shared' toys he had with Chomp and gets aggressive when Cooper tries to, but I guess its all part of the process??

I hope that you have found this helpful, I wish you all the very best.

RE: Dogs mourning

Posted 92 days ago

Hi Mausyf, So sorry to hear about your loss. Yes ! Dogs do mourn. A few years ago I aquired a Factory kitten, it was 2 days old and her mom had been taken away by R.S.P.C.A.Our cleaner found the kitten later in the day,So I took it home with me.I got one of my little girls doll's feeding bottles made a small hole in it and used very very diluted milk fed her every 2 hours,took her to work every day in a fishing basket more feeds every 2 hours, my boss used to wonder where I was going,I didn't smoke. One day he said "Oi, your kid wants feeding, better get out there".
I had that cat 14 years. A few years later we had a whippet his name was Kipling,they became great friends, used to sleep together in Kiplings basket,He would let her play in the yard but would never let her go over the fence, I think she forgot she was a cat. In October 1996 Pussy was very sick,I thought at first she was having kittens, she swelled up in a very short while,so my son and I took her to the vet.She had cancer, sad to say we had to have her put to sleep. We took her home and buried her 2ft down in a little box, put a square garden paver in the top, with a small sleeping kitten ornament on the top.
For 3 weeks KIpling sat on the back step and howled, not all the time, but most of the time,during the day then I had to bring him into the house.At night he used to go and sleep on her grave,it was unbelievable, I had never seen any thing like this. I spoke to our vet about it and he said "it was Kips way of grieving " and he gradually got better. I have moved house twice since then and the stone goes with me, I just can't part with her.
Your dogs will never forget your Husband but they will eventually stop mourning, it will be in their own time, try and spend a lot of time with them, that way you will be helping each other to heal, God Bless xx Love Nanny G.
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Nanny G.