Ran across this article by Joe Yonan, the Washington Post's Food and Travel editor and felt it was so appropriate to post...especially since his dog was a rescued Doberman.

Washington Post

i think any of us who've lost our dogs can agree to that.

i still cry regularly when i think of Deck. and it'll hit suddenly, too. it sucks.

Very interesting article that made me bawl like a baby, I seriously can barely see the screen right now. I have often felt guilt that the death of my Quin was harder on me than any of the family members I have lost. It has been 4 yrs since my sweet boy passed, and when anything triggers those memories I break down. I can't talk about him without tearing up even a little.

It's been a horrific week for me personally, yet I'd take my issues over the 4 friends who lost their dogs this week. 4 in ONE WEEK BOO!!

Grrrrrr


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Thanks for posting this Linda. Feel like we need to invite him to join DT! My biggest fear (and I try not to think about it too much or dwell on it) is coming home from the store or shopping and finding that Baron has gone to the Bridge without me being there. I was with all my Dobes and even my horse when they left me. But with Baron's DCM, this scares the hell out of me.

I almost didn't want to put this in writing (yesterday), but amongst like minded dober friends, I choose to let my guard down (some)
- pretty much sums up my answer, to the posted question / they are my "short lived" human child / so YES & usually MORE

My last dog, a choc lab, had this effect on me. We had just moved to a new house on a farm and he had snuck out and I didn't know it. When I couldn't find him I knew something was wrong. I drove everywhere looking for him, finally finding him on the side of the highway. At that moment I just broke down. I even lost weight the weeks that followed. His collar hangs in my room to this day, 6 years later. I also lost a 17 yr old at the same way. I had her since I was 5 yrs old.


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I was just thinking about this earlier. I often think about Sasha my first dog (she was a husky mix) that died 6 years ago 15 years old. I had her almost half of my life. The death of her seemed unbearable....sometimes it still feels that way. I feel like I grew up with her. I will miss her everyday for the rest of my life and will be ecstatic when we are reunited again! She felt like my twin....a little bit of me died that day. 9/11/06

I still mourn Levi everyday. In fact, I still dream of him almost every night. It will be one year in May and I still can't let go. I will always feel incomplete without him near me. His urn resides in my media cabinet in my bedroom.

Huh...meaning???

This thread/that article made me shut down a bit emotionally. If I didn't, it'd be days before I would be getting out of bed... I still haven't quite managed to deal with the loss of mine.

That aside, I'm really thankful you shared this Linda. Seeing people out there that understand and are familiar with that crippling and mind-numbing pain will certainly make those experiencing that loss a lot less alone.


For those who don't have strong families, losing a dobe (the description of love, devotion and loyalty) is something that is beyond words.

It's been four months since I lost Dillon and it seems like yesterday. Losing him was by far the worst loss I've dealt with in my 48 years.

Totally understand your fear, but that worry should be a long way off.

I've wondered if anyone has explained to him that his Red probably had DCM.

I hope you managed to read all of the article as it explained and made sense of why we feel the way we do when we lose a beloved pet. This guy certainly has a way with words. You can see how he makes his living writing.

Yes, very good article. Came up shortly after I lost Priscilla, and has stuck with me. I pass it along to many people.

https://www.dobermantalk.com/doberman...death-pet.html

It made sense of it, didn't make experiencing those feelings any easier lol sigh ...


I think the best part of the article is that it helps someone feel a lot less alone in their loss.

We all deal with loss in our own way.

Some of us 'brush it off' (not me personally).
Some of us 'lose it' (yep I do that)
Some of us 'don't know how to convey what we feel'.

This guy hit it the nail right on the head with his writing.

May all out beloved pets, whatever they were who have passed before us be waiting at the Bridge when our time comes and lead us to eternal paradise with them by our sides.

Thank you for posting this. It explains a lot about my intense feelings of loss that I've been exeriencing since Gracie passed away New Year's Eve. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in these feelings. The article also mentioned a pet grieving group that meets near where I live every 3rd Wednesday of the month. I'm definitely going the next time they meet. Thank you!

Not sure exactly how old the article is, so I hope the group is still meeting. Maybe let us know by posting on here or making a new thread. I really hope it is as that could help so much.

Sure will, I have a name and phone number. I hope still meets at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on West Ox Road, I'll let you guys know.

By Joe Yonan, Published: March 26, 2012

You know, this might be s good sticky for the rainbow bridge forum.

Thanks pdubois, you're a life saver!

The first horse we lost I totally fell apart and bawled like a baby for months. I really was no help to my poor children. As the months went on I began to understand that the love of an animal is so pure with basically no harshness and all unconditional that it is hard to imagine or have that between humans. Doesn't mean we don't love people as much. But when the air finally cleared I could think of dear Hope with nothing but pure wonder and joy and the gladness of owning her. It took a LONG time to get past the pain to the pure love and memories. I don't dwell on that part of having Kiss, but I'm not dumb. I know it is something I may have to face. Sometimes I even worry more what would happen if SHE lost me. That's scary, too!

I grew up on a Morgan show farm, and I professionally train. Add that to also being a tech (large animal and equine as well as small animal), and I've seen a lot of horses euthanized/pass away. I say that because even though I'm "used to it" for lack of a better term, when I lost my "special horse" (he was that "one", which I know other horse people know what I mean, just like our heart dogs), I couldn't function for months after he passed. I had had him for 18 years, he and I made an incredible show team (although he was a born show horse, I don't think he really needed me), and our bond was so incredibly deep. To this day he remains the very best friend I have ever had, he "got" me, we connected deeper than I have ever connected with anyone or any other animal.

My family bought him for me when I was 6, he was to be my main personal show horse (they couldn't pass up this horse even though he wasn't really a kids horse). Thing was, he was young too, and A LOT of horse. We weren't well matched when I was little, but even then we bonded so closely that I could safely ride him. He passed when we were 24 (we were the same age). That horse took care of me when I was little, and then challenged me (A LOT) as I became a strong rider. I credit him with helping to develop me into the rider I am now. We cleaned up wherever we went, and I can safely say the only living things I have ever loved more than him are my 2 kids.

I rambled but the little bit of post I quoted made me feel compelled to share that story. He really was the love of my life, and I miss him every single day (I'm 32 now, so he's been gone a while). I have an incredible graphite drawing of him that I had commissioned, on my living room wall (and I talk to it/him every morning). My guest room is also the "show award room", and I have a special spot for the most special of his awards, plus many of his show photos framed there. I still feel his presence all the time, if that makes sense. I kind of sound crazy now, but yeah he took a piece of me with him when he passed, and I hope he's waiting at the bridge for me (with my Quin dog, and other loved pets), when it's my time.

i have had relatives die it didnt up set me as much as the death of my pet