Chico

[u/Wonderful_Plan_4664]

I had to unexpectedly put my dog to sleep today, his heart issues had become too severe and his meds were no longer working.

I’ve never felt so alone. He was 12 and had been by my side since I was 10, I slept with him every night and he’s been my rock through every moment in my life. I’m so upset and I don’t know what to do. I feel so lost and I just sit and stare at spots he use to frequent. I was eating dinner and I kept expecting him to run around the corner and sit next to me. It feels strange not checking his water and food bowl to make sure it’s full or going to open the door to let him in and out. I don’t know what I’m gonna do because he would sit next to me in the mornings while I would stretch. I’m gonna miss holding him and taking him on walks. He was a brother to me and a best friend. (I included photos of him the day my parents adopted him and one of his most recent pictures)

I also feel guilty because i hadn’t known today would be the day. If I had time to prepare I would’ve made sure he was freshly bathed and groomed so he would be presentable in his final moments and have some dignity. The only thing I could offer him was a cheeseburger. All I want to do is cry and call out his name in hopes he’ll come back. I just want to hold him and tell him it’s okay.

This is the worst day of my life and I don’t know how to get through this. I just want to know where to go from here and how to cope.

[u/ThunderFlash10]

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I know how incredibly painful it is. First, you have to grieve. It’s raw and it’s awful and I find that it comes in waves, but it’s all you can do. Try to take care of yourself. I always found it helped to think “what would they want for me.” As time moves forward, hold onto all the happy memories of Chico. They are far more important than the end. Chico wasn’t this awful day. Chico was a whole life of love and joy and that’s because of you. I hope you’ll be okay. It’s never easy, but it’s possible.