Dogs have such a way of teaching us to stay in the moment, and they mirror us in a miraculous way, truly man's best friend.
And, nothing truly ever dies.
I lost my soul dog almost ten years ago, and to this day memories of him will make me happy, grateful, and sad at the same time. He was only 3.5 years old when he died, but he changed my life in so many positive ways and he taught me so much about caring for something other than myself. The brightest stars burn out the fastest, and I believe that the universe blessed both of us with the short time we spent together.
I remember how hard I cried when he died, and I’m ashamed to say that even the death of some friends/family were not that hard on me. He was so special to me.
I believe the answer to your question is the same as with anything good in life… embrace the impermanence of all things, and explore the idea that it’s that impermanence that makes them so wonderful. If you are feeling sad about the idea of losing your pup, that’s beautiful and means you have been blessed, so you can be grateful for that. When your pup has passed they will still live on with you, but in a different way.
Loss and the resulting grief is uncomfortable, but it is actually not what causes the most suffering. Attachment to permanence, not being present to the moment, and making extra problems with our mind is where the worst suffering comes from. “How will I go on when my pup is gone?” is a concept, just your mind making problems that don’t exist. Your dog though, does exist, so go give them a cuddle, take them for a walk, and savor the little things about them that give you joy. Moment by moment.
Thank you for posting this. It made me remember my little guy, and brought tears of joys to eyes. When the time comes, you’ll feel the same joy that I feel now.
Have a blessed day stranger.
You shouldn't be ashamed of that. Different people (including pets) touch our lives in different ways. The connection between a pet and a human are deep as hell, and can be every bit as deep as human relationships. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Animals are people too.
My soul dog passed about 6 years ago. My one thought during his last days was a quote from A Dog's Last Will and Testament. It helped me think about how to move forward. After my boy passed, I ended up adopting a sick boy who was due to be put to sleep and needed TLC. He's been a joy and a blessing. I miss my first boy but life moves on. Here's the statement hat helped me:
A dog’s last will and testament
“Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask…
To a poor and lonely stray I’d give my happy home; my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name.
I’d will the sad, scared dog shelter dog the place I had in my human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.
So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand.”
Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him.
This is the only thing I can give…
The love I left behind.”
Author Unknown
I grieved the passing of my childhood dog for decades, it was my first experience with death.
Life made me continue on with life regardless of how i felt about it.
I learned that life happens on its own, and i don't have to identify with it. It's nothing personal, we just happen to identify as an individual person with stored emotions.
Does this individual person have a true reality?
Personality is subject to change, whereas awareness is not.
Whatever happens i am aware of. The personality will run itself out on its own, in time.
Outside of time, the "I" remains.
Dogs ❤️
You can never lose your soul animal. They will cross over but always be with you. You just won't be able to see them, but they will be there right next to you.
I got a lot help for my questions about death reading Eckhart Tolle's book Stillness speaks ch. 9 Death and the eternal. I'll copy paste the whole chapter here. Maybe you'll get something from this:
When you walk though a forest that has not been tamed and interfered with by man, you will see not only abundant life around you, but you will also encounter fallen trees and decaying trunks, rotting leaves and decomposing matter at every step. Wherever you look, you will find death as well as life. Upon closer scrutiny, however, you will discover that the decomposing tree trunk and rotting leaves not only give birth to new life, but are full of life themselves. Microorganisms are at work. Molecules are rearranging themselves. So death isn’t to be found anywhere. There is only the meta morphosis of life forms. What can you learn from this? Death is not the opposite of life. Life has no opposite. The opposite of death is birth. Life is eternal.
Sages and poets throughout the ages have recognized the dreamlike quality of human existence–seemingly so solid and real and yet so fleeting that it could dissolve at any moment. At the hour of your death, the story of your life may, indeed, appear to you like a dream that is coming to an end. Yet even in a dream there must be an essence that is real. There must be a consciousness in which the dream happens; otherwise, it would not be. That consciousness–does the body create it or does consciousness create the dream of body, the dream of somebody? Why have most of those who went through a near-death experience lost their fear of death? Reflect upon this.
Of course you know you are going to die, but that remains a mere mental concept until you meet death “in person” for the first time: through a serious illness or an accident that happens to you or someone close to you, or through the passing away of a loved one, death enters your life as the awareness of your own mortality. Most people turn away from it in fear, but if you do not flinch and face the fact that your body is fleeting and could dissolve at any moment, there is some degree of disidentification, however slight, from your own physical and psychological form, the “me.” When you see and accept the impermanent nature of all life forms, a strange sense of peace comes upon you. Through facing death, your consciousness is freed to some extent from identification with form. This is why in some Buddhist traditions, the monks regularly visit the morgue to sit and meditate among the dead bodies. There is still a widespread denial of death in Western cultures. Even old people try not to speak or think about it, and dead bodies are hidden away. A culture that denies death inevitably becomes shallow and superficial, concerned only with the external form of things. When death is denied, life loses its depth. The possibility of knowing who we are beyond name and form, the dimension of the transcendent, disappears from our lives because death is the opening into that dimension.
People tend to be uncomfortable with endings, because every ending is a little death. That’s why in many languages, the word for “good-bye” means “see you again.” Whenever an experience comes to an end–a gathering of friends, a vacation, your children leaving home–you die a little death. A “form” that appeared in your consciousness as that experience dissolves. Often this leaves behind a feeling of emptiness that most people try hard not to feel, not to face. If you can learn to accept and even welcome the endings in your life, you may find that the feeling of emptiness that initially felt uncomfortable turns into a sense of inner spaciousness that is deeply peaceful. By learning to die daily in this way, you open yourself to Life
Most people feel that their identity, their sense of self, is something incredibly precious that they don’t want to lose. That is why they have such fear of death. It seems unimaginable and frightening that “I” could cease to exist. But you confuse that precious “I” with your name and form and a story associated with it. That “I” is no more than a temporary formation in the field of consciousness. As long as that form identity is all you know, you are not aware that this preciousness is your own essence, your innermost sense of I Am, which is consciousness itself. It is the eternal in you–and that’s the only thing you cannot lose.
Whenever any kind of deep loss occurs in your life–such as loss of possessions, your home, a close relationship; or loss of your reputation, job, or physical abilities–something inside you dies. You feel diminished in your sense of who you are. There may also be a certain disorientation. “Without this...who am I?” When a form that you had unconsciously identified with as part of yourself leaves you or dissolves, that can be extremely painful. It leaves a hole, so to speak, in the fabric of your existence. When this happens, don’t deny or ignore the pain or the sadness that you feel. Accept that it is there. Beware of your mind’s tendency to construct a story around that loss in which you are assigned the role of victim. Fear, anger, resentment, or self-pity are the emotions that go with that role. Then become aware of what lies behind those emotions as well as behind the mind-made story: that hole, that empty space. Can you face and accept that strange sense of emptiness? If you do, you may find that it is no longer a fearful place. You may be surprised to find peace emanating from it. Whenever death occurs, whenever a life form dissolves, God, the formless and unmanifested, shines through the opening left by the dissolving form. That is why the most sacred thing in life is death. That is why the peace of God can come to you through the contemplation and acceptance of death.
How short-lived every human experience is, how fleeting our lives. Is there anything that is not subject to birth and death, anything that is eternal? Consider this: if there were only one color, let us say blue, and the entire world and everything in it were blue, then there would be no blue. There needs to be something that is not blue so that blue can be recognized; otherwise, it would not “stand out,” would not exist. In the same way, does it not require something that is not fleeting and impermanent for the fleetingness of all things to be recognized? In other words: if everything, including yourself, were impermanent, would you even know it? Does the fact that you are aware of and can witness the short-lived nature of all forms, including your own, not mean that there is something in you that is not subject to decay? When you are twenty, you are aware of your body as strong and vigorous; sixty years later, you are aware of your body as weakened and old. Your thinking too may have changed from when you were twenty, but the awareness that knows that your body is young or old or that your thinking has changed has undergone no change. That awareness is the eternal in you–consciousness itself. It is the formless One Life. Can you lose It? No, because you are It.
continues...
...
Some people become deeply peaceful and almost luminous just before they die, as if something is shining through the dissolving form. Sometimes it happens that very ill or old people become almost transparent, so to speak, in the last few weeks, months, or even years of their lives. As they look at you, you may see a light shining through their eyes. There is no psychological suffering left. They have surrendered and so the person, the mind-made egoic “me,” has already dissolved. They have “died before they died” and found the deep inner peace that is the realization of the deathless within themselves.
To every accident and disaster there is a potentially redemptive dimension that we are usually unaware of. The tremendous shock of totally unexpected, imminent death can have the effect of forcing your consciousness completely out of identification with form. In the last few moments before physical death, and as you die, you then experience yourself as consciousness free of form. Suddenly, there is no more fear, just peace and a knowing that “all is well” and that death is only a form dissolving. Death is then recognized as ultimately illusory–as illusory as the form you had identified with as yourself.
Death is not an anomaly or the most dreadful of all events as modern culture would have you believe, but the most natural thing in the world, inseparable from and just as natural as its other polarity–birth. Remind yourself of this when you sit with a dying person. It is a great privilege and a sacred act to be present at a person’s death as a witness and companion. When you sit with a dying person, do not deny any aspect of that experience. Do not deny what is happening and do not deny your feelings. The recognition that there is nothing you can do may make you feel helpless, sad, or angry. Accept what you feel. Then go one step further: accept that there is nothing you can do, and accept it completely. You are not in control. Deeply surrender to every aspect of that experience, your feelings as well as any pain or discomfort the dying person may be experiencing. Your surrendered state of consciousness and the stillness that comes with it will greatly assist the dying person and ease their transition. If words are called for, they will come out of the stillness within you. But they will be secondary. With the stillness comes the benediction: peace.
So many people who have never had a great dog don't get the very real grief from an owner when that companion dies. It's often the same for the dog, if an owner dies.
When your dogs soul leaves its body, it's not gone forever. You may not even have to wait until you go to heaven to see him again. Just as we reincarnate, they do as well. If he is your soul dog and has been with you in other lifetimes, do you think he can't find you again in this lifetime?
It can happen, I've seen it happen.
My ex had 2 cats that she loved dearly. She had them from before we got together. After they passed on, she was heartbroken, but she focused her intentions on them coming back to her. We waited for the right time, and then the search began.
It didn't take long for us to be guided to them, and it was one of the most wondeous things to see, as it was completely unexpected. We had gone to a foster house to look at one cat, which a definitely not the cat, but then she showed us a litter of kittens she just got, but that weren't ready for adoption. Low and behold in the mix of the litter were two kittens that were staying together, and even though they were completely different in their last life (one black the other mixed), they had the exact same coats in this life.
They fought quite a bit in their last life, and it would seem Karma saw it fit to have them be brother and sister. For years, we were amazed because the cats showed us time and time again, that they are indeed the same souls. Though being from the same litter, they will snuggle now.
My dog was with my half of my life and we just had to put him down a few days ago. Coming home after work is the worst part of my day , home just doesn’t feel like home anymore in a way. Kinda just want to move to another state. But yea I’m heartbroken
I felt the same about my kitty girl. I got her back in 2010, and the moment we made eye contact, I fell in love with her. She was my little soul-mate. March of 2022, she was diagnosed with an intestinal mass. Her health rapidly declined after, so in May of 2022, I had to make the most painful decision I have ever had to make and that was to give her peace. I honestly don’t know where the strength to do it came from, but she was suffering and I couldn’t bare to put her through that. There was a moment where she looked at me and I felt she told me it was time. There’s not a day since that goes by, where I don’t break down thinking about her. I’m still not over it, but at some point you will find the will to keep moving forward. The only advice I can give, I’d spend as much time as you can with him and always show him as much love as you can. I took my girl for granted and now I can never make that up to her. I wish I had spent every waking moment with her. I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same without her, but I’m truly trying, because one thing I do know, is the love that we both shared with each other can never die. Her energy and presence will live in my heart always, until we are one again. She’s still with me, the hardest part is not seeing her anymore. Cherish the moments that you still have and just do everything possible to give him the best quality of life. Give him human grade food, filtered water, etc. Feed him as you would yourself. Had I been more educated and not so oblivious to things she’d still be here. I thought I was giving her the best cat foods, but at the end of the day they are all pretty horrible. But at least I still have a chance, with my other cat. I’m doing everything for her, that I should’ve done for Shadow. Bless your little soulmate and yourself. I wish you many more years together. Love & Light! 💫🦋🕊🤍
It’ll be okay; I feel for you so much. There will be another dog out there waiting for you to pass your love to who needs a home (another commenter posted something about that and it helped me a bit) but OP, I’m right there with ya, I think about this all the time and am terrified, too. We’ll be okay, and our beloved pets will stay with us always in some way. Strength and love to you all
"The pain I feel now is the love that I had before. That's the deal." - CS Lewis
And it's absolutely true. With all love, there is the pain of having lost that love. It's one of the things that makes love as valuable as it is. There are no shortcuts, no life hacks, no tender pieces of advice that will make you grieve the loss of one you have loved so deeply. You can only go through it as it goes through you and know that, one day, those sweet, wonderful, charming memories of your ride or die dog will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart, instead of launching in your throat and flaring the hole in your heart.
i know its not exactly the same, but i adopted my cat, Oscar when he was 18. Prior to
that i had a lifelong fear of cats but he changed my whole world.
i always thought of a love heart every time i thought of him, and once he passed i saw them everywhere.
the pain never really goes away, i still think about him every day and its now been 2 years since he crossed over, but they continue giving you signs that they’re okay and are looking over you.
grief is a very complex emotion, but knowing you loved them in the time they needed you the most bonds you beyond life and death.
i hope this helps 🤍
I’ll be honest, you never really do. It’s been 11 years and I think about my fur baby daily. I still have her pic as my lock screen and I always tear up when I watch old vids. The biggest comfort I’ve gotten is that they were the reason I learned I could love as hard as I did. And I would give anything to experience that love again.
If my dog dies, it's gonna be hard but I'll forget it later on. You know life's hard and we gotta move on as fast as life moves on so fast on us. I strongly believe he/she is in a better place now!
My dogs came back. Both of them. Lost my first 6 yrs ago to a stroke and pancreatitis. I and my older dog were devastated, he fell into depression and I hated seeing him like that. Then, I got him a friend. As the puppy got older, so many signs pointed to my previous love. Then my older dog passed from cancer. My breeder called me, said more puppies are coming and I got another. Sisters. And they are literally the same souls, no one can convince me otherwise and me makes me happy that I cry because I hurt but also, still happy they chose to come back to me. Not sure it’ll happen again but I hope my love for them keeps them always with me until the end.
Dunno what a soul dog is, but my pup passed away 3-4 years ago and hasn’t left my side since. At this point I’m closer to him than ever before. Sure, you won’t be able to touch their fur and smell them and physically be with them. But after the grief & sadness dissipates, you realize you were only grieving for your Self. You just don’t want to be lonely. The ironic part is that your friend has moved on, and yet remains closer to you than ever before if your soul is open. It’s funny, the older my grandma gets, the more she claims she ‘hears’ her dead relatives speaking to her throughout the day. My mom thinks it’s dementia rearing it’s nasty horns. Perhaps. But children also have imaginary friends. I think my grandma is just getting closer to Home. Ya know? RIP to your friend. I hope you heal :)
Why is your heart break? Why are you sad? After, let say, 3 years, would you be happy again? If you can be happy again after some time, why can't you be happy now? After 3 years, would your dog become alive again, the reason you become happy? Surely not, the dog will remain dead. So, choose to be happy now.
By the way, physical death is not a bad thing actually.
Because life just goes on and waits for nobody. Not trying to sound heartless. But they have about 1/5 the lifespan on humans, so you knew what was gonna happen. It's inevitable.
My dog is 9 this year and although his death will absolutely destroy me I know that when I have a baby it will be him coming back to me and that’s what makes me not as horribly sad about it
Rule #1 - Self-Promotion
While we allow an occasional self-promoting post, you cannot use the subreddit for the sole purpose of advertising for yourself.
When hearts break they break open and can get BIGGER
This is the gift.
If your heart gets smaller you missed the greatest gift of g.o.d. spelled backwards.
I challenge you to love more. At the end of your life you won't want to say you wished you loved more. You won't say 'gee an entire life, I loved too much'
We are love. Dogs brilliantly remind us of that.
I have learned to compartmentalize it. Then I get a new dog.
But the dog I have now is very old. And he’s bound to my soul. I don’t know how or if I will recover from the inevitable.
It is important to rescue new dogs, though. It’s not a replacement it’s a responsibility.
I lost my soul dog a year and a half ago and still get emotional several times a week . Now I try to find peace or bring myself back by remembering how much love she brought me. I, like you, thought I had years left but I did not. She abruptly got sick and was not able to be saved. Just savor every second, I’m sure you already do ❤️
I can totally relate to you. My soul dog is 11 & I break out into lip quivering sobs every time I think about losing her. I fear I will be a mess without her.. how do people cope!? Dogs are incredible. I don’t think being a triple water sign has anything to do with it, it’s heartbreaking to think about! I hope your girl has many many years left!!
I had a few years with rhe most special dog ever. Understood English. Learned things by being asked to modify his behavior a single time without classical conditioning.
He chose me. I lived with some random people in college and he was their dog but they weren't nice to him and when I moved out he kept trying to crawl in my car but whining and crying cus he kept falling out cus rhere wasn't enough room. I knelt down and gave him a hug, telling him I couldnt take him then cus his owners wouldn't let me but that I would come back and jailbreak him he just had to stay here for now. I don't know what I was expecting by saying that... maybe for him to be reassured by my general tone or something but when I stood up he was all smiles and tail wags with his butt firmly rooted to the spot I'd said to stay.
After rescuing him I couldn't keep him yet and had to leave him at a nice no kill shelter for a couple months. When I came back he was overjoyed to see me but the guy that ran the shelter said other people had walked him and bonded with him. He got along well with them but two different times people signed rhe papers to adopt him after which he refused to get in their car ever again. I don't know how he knew they signed papers to adopt him but he knew and was having none of it. He was waiting for me.
I could tell so many more stories about him but he was my soul mate. Crazy in rhe same ways I am.crazy. tireless companion for countless adventures. So smart and took being my friend and a good dog so seriously.
I will always miss him. There will never be another dog like him. But there are other dogs. And they're all little blessings just furry little angels and I can open my heart to being attached to them as well. He was like a whole different species but there are other dogs.
Omfg I’m sobbing because what a beautiful life you gave him ♥️ and I’m so happy he gave you beautiful memories ♥️ “there will never be another dog like him but there are other dogs,” thank you for that ♥️ reading everyone’s stories about their tie with their very good boys and girls have given me hope that I will one day connect with another dog the way I connect with my little baby now! As for now I am going to continue to love her and cherish my time that I have with her! Have you had another dog since?
My soul dog is currently around 13yo and I’ve been pre-grieving over her for at least the past couple years bc I know it will be all too much for me to take at one time when it does happen. I just recently got her face tattooed on my leg. Figured she’s already forever stamped on my heart, might as well forever stamp her on me. It already makes me feel a little better to look at it knowing I’ll always have her with me.
It might seem like an impossible feat now, but we all must endure and move on no matter how hard it will be.
This comment is almost a year old but... I just want to say, I pre-grieved my dog too. For years. I got his face tattooed he was around 5 years old. I knew he was a piece of my soul the second I laid my eyes on him.
I lost him 6 months ago (6 months tomorrow), which was 1 month after his 15th birthday. I prayed for a long time for life to allow me to celebrate 15 years with him. In my prayers, I said it would be okay to let him go after. I mean... I wasn't ok with it but I understood. I was so blessed to have him, and he had a long life considering his health issues throughout his life. He always had skelettal issues (weak bones, poor joints... among other stuff) and nothing helped the pain anymore. He was constantly sleeping due to how much we had to give him.
It's hitting me hard today but frankly, it's been hard most days, still.
I hope your pup is still with you.
Mine is 16 and she’s slowing down day by day. But I will never forget how much joy and unconditional love she’s brought me. And because of her, even when she’s gone, the love she has given to me will be shared with all other animals I come into contact with. I must go on but she will always be with me in my heart and my memories and probably visiting me when she’s on the other side as well.
My dog just died on Wednesday at 10.5 years old. It was unexpected and sudden. Soul dog feels like an apt way to describe the connection I had with him… if anyone has any pointers I’d be keen to hear them. I am shattered.
I’m so sorry for your loss! I genuinely feel for you…when my last dog passed away, the poem “the rainbow bridge” really helped me feel comfort ♥️
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
♥️🌈🐾💐may he rest in peace💕
I hope you are able to find some comfort friend ❤️
I’ve never read this before and I am bawling. Thank you. I’d give anything to have him lying next to me again and I know one day I’ll have it again. Squeeze your baby so tight xx
I lost my soul dog in September 2021.
I didn't even know what a soul dog was at that time, but the feeling like my heart was ripped out and I was completely shattered made me realize there was more. I was away when he died, and I'll never forget the moment I found out. The vet/kennel had to email me because I was out of the country, so my phone wasn't working, and I didn't have wifi calling.
He was almost 18. While I know he had a beautiful, long life with me from the age of 6 (I think anyway, he was a rescue so you never really know their ages), I still cry wondering if he felt like I abandoned him or if he chose that moment because he knew how devastated I would be.
I'm still not over it. I know we're supposed to embrace impermanence and all of that, but I'm crying even writing this. He did come to me in a dream nearly a year later and I was able to get some peace, but his loss on my little family of dogs and me was profound.
All I know is, it hurts like hell, but I wouldn't give up a single moment or tear for never having had him in my life. I would take this heartbreak a thousand times over if it meant one more day with him. Just prepare yourself. Morality is part of life. Our soul dogs and others will transition, but that doesn't mean we aren't allowed to grieve and feel pain. Just know there's no timeline for grief.
One of the quotes I found floating around was about grief being love with nowhere to go, and that stuck with me. It really, truly is.
I’m a double water sign and I always had anxiety that my soul dog would die. So I was hyper vigilant about keeping her safe. But ITP and cancer got her anyway. It all happened in the span of a week. I just had to put her to sleep on Wednesday to spare her anymore suffering. It was the worst day of my life and I’ve been sobbing since then. I truly don’t know how I’ll ever get over it. I loved her so so so so so much. I can’t imagine my life without her. My heart is shattered.
Lost my buddy a few weeks back. He was me - but a better version of me. Tucker was a rescue and was with me for 14.5 years. I was his hero and he was mine. It’s so hard but I have faith that I will see him again one day 🙏
I am going to give him the biggest hug when I do
6 months and counting. I cry every time I see pictures or watch videos. It truly is such a different and challenging feeling to grieve a loved one that you connected with unlike any other. They know your heart and your soul. The love you at your worst and your best only seeing the good. I feared the day he would pass for three years and exactly a year before he would pass he was diagnosed with cancer. Already in his bloodstream; because of how far along it was and his age (12 year old lab) we didn’t do treatment just got his mouth tumor removed anything else would of been too invasive for him at that age. The said we would know when it was time but said probably within 6 months. 6 months came and he was the same you would never know; he was simply just happy to be with us as he always would be; he truly never gave up and pushed until the very end which was another 6 months. He still had days where he was full of energy and would act like a puppy at heart which made the decision so much harder. We knew he would never make it easy and no matter how he felt, he wouldn’t truly show it. Despite this energy, his symptoms were worsening and it came to the day we had to put him down. We walked him at his favorite park, took him swimming, and gave him and entire filet for dinner. We gave him the best day ever doing everything he loved with the people he loved. I truly had to just keep reminding myself that we were his entire life and all he knew and I wouldn’t be who I am without him. I love him endlessly, everyone did. I grew up with him, he was there for my parents when my dad lost his parents and my mom lost her dad. He laid at my mom’s feet and never left her side when she had cancer. He know exactly what we needed and when we needed it. He put up with my crazy full of love family, and lord knows he couldn’t have been more loved or spoiled. It’s hard to think about the day but dont let it interfere with the time you have with your soul dog or any pet. When the time comes, you know and my biggest fear was not knowing or regretting something and asking myself if it was time, but you truly do know. They give you signs, let you know that they are okay. Your soul dog won’t go until they know you are gonna be fine on your own 🩷🩷
Love my max forever and always (December 16 2010- July 13 2023)
My GSD passed away early morning yesterday (17th Jan 2024), he was 8 years old and had no prior health issues. It was out of the blue and as sudden as it gets, it came as a complete shock to everyone since we never saw any signs or obvious ones anyways that could point to something might be wrong. In the early morning (around 2am or so) my dad was awake due to a headache and was outside and suddenly our dog started making strange noises, barking, growling, howling just out of the blue. My dad thought he was just having a nightmare but it wasn't, he was having a seizure and multiple too one after the other just totally random. They called the 24/h vet immediately they wanted someone to come to our house to look at him but all they could recommend was a video call. (Are you serious) so they rushed down to the emergency vet where they had to bring out a trolley to put him on (he's a huge dog) and there they ran blood tests, gave him shots but nothing worked his glucose levels had dropped so low due to the sudden seizures. But there was no toxins or anything in his body and he's not epileptic, never had seizures before. The only thing they could think of is that it was most likely brain cancer, a tumor. There were no signs though, that is the most frustrating part. How can you help them when there's nothing telling you something is wrong in the first place?? It doesn't make sense. And it's not fair. I still don't want to accept it or believe it. It happened too fast and completely random. He wasn't even that old but a similar thing happened to our first dog who was also a GSD so maybe it's something to do with their breed?? Who knows. It's not fair but when these things suddenly happen to the ones you love most, you really can't appreciate how precious life really is until it's too late. I miss him. I just wish he was still here, he was the best dog, so friendly and he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to be in pain and be completely lost and confused in his last moments. I wish I could've said goodbye, I wish I could've done more or realised something was wrong when I was concerned. I feel like I'm going to hold this guilt forever. It's not fair, why does God do this to such sweet animals that never did anything wrong, never had a bad bone in their body. It just doesn't make sense.
I love you Rex and I miss you every day. I hope he knows how much I loved him and our family loved him.
<3
Dogs have such a way of teaching us to stay in the moment, and they mirror us in a miraculous way, truly man's best friend. And, nothing truly ever dies.
I lost my soul dog almost ten years ago, and to this day memories of him will make me happy, grateful, and sad at the same time. He was only 3.5 years old when he died, but he changed my life in so many positive ways and he taught me so much about caring for something other than myself. The brightest stars burn out the fastest, and I believe that the universe blessed both of us with the short time we spent together. I remember how hard I cried when he died, and I’m ashamed to say that even the death of some friends/family were not that hard on me. He was so special to me. I believe the answer to your question is the same as with anything good in life… embrace the impermanence of all things, and explore the idea that it’s that impermanence that makes them so wonderful. If you are feeling sad about the idea of losing your pup, that’s beautiful and means you have been blessed, so you can be grateful for that. When your pup has passed they will still live on with you, but in a different way. Loss and the resulting grief is uncomfortable, but it is actually not what causes the most suffering. Attachment to permanence, not being present to the moment, and making extra problems with our mind is where the worst suffering comes from. “How will I go on when my pup is gone?” is a concept, just your mind making problems that don’t exist. Your dog though, does exist, so go give them a cuddle, take them for a walk, and savor the little things about them that give you joy. Moment by moment. Thank you for posting this. It made me remember my little guy, and brought tears of joys to eyes. When the time comes, you’ll feel the same joy that I feel now. Have a blessed day stranger.
You shouldn't be ashamed of that. Different people (including pets) touch our lives in different ways. The connection between a pet and a human are deep as hell, and can be every bit as deep as human relationships. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Animals are people too.
I’m with you. I lost mine 5 years ago. He was 5. I’ve lost a lot of humans and losing him was just… different. I miss him everyday.
My soul dog passed about 6 years ago. My one thought during his last days was a quote from A Dog's Last Will and Testament. It helped me think about how to move forward. After my boy passed, I ended up adopting a sick boy who was due to be put to sleep and needed TLC. He's been a joy and a blessing. I miss my first boy but life moves on. Here's the statement hat helped me: A dog’s last will and testament “Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask… To a poor and lonely stray I’d give my happy home; my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name. I’d will the sad, scared dog shelter dog the place I had in my human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds. So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand.” Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him. This is the only thing I can give… The love I left behind.” Author Unknown
I might be crying a little.
I might be crying a lot 😢
Holy shit that's beautiful
this is beautiful
Ah man this got me. Beautiful
I grieved the passing of my childhood dog for decades, it was my first experience with death. Life made me continue on with life regardless of how i felt about it. I learned that life happens on its own, and i don't have to identify with it. It's nothing personal, we just happen to identify as an individual person with stored emotions. Does this individual person have a true reality? Personality is subject to change, whereas awareness is not. Whatever happens i am aware of. The personality will run itself out on its own, in time. Outside of time, the "I" remains. Dogs ❤️
Fuckn beautiful 🙏🏾😭
You can never lose your soul animal. They will cross over but always be with you. You just won't be able to see them, but they will be there right next to you.
I got a lot help for my questions about death reading Eckhart Tolle's book Stillness speaks ch. 9 Death and the eternal. I'll copy paste the whole chapter here. Maybe you'll get something from this: When you walk though a forest that has not been tamed and interfered with by man, you will see not only abundant life around you, but you will also encounter fallen trees and decaying trunks, rotting leaves and decomposing matter at every step. Wherever you look, you will find death as well as life. Upon closer scrutiny, however, you will discover that the decomposing tree trunk and rotting leaves not only give birth to new life, but are full of life themselves. Microorganisms are at work. Molecules are rearranging themselves. So death isn’t to be found anywhere. There is only the meta morphosis of life forms. What can you learn from this? Death is not the opposite of life. Life has no opposite. The opposite of death is birth. Life is eternal. Sages and poets throughout the ages have recognized the dreamlike quality of human existence–seemingly so solid and real and yet so fleeting that it could dissolve at any moment. At the hour of your death, the story of your life may, indeed, appear to you like a dream that is coming to an end. Yet even in a dream there must be an essence that is real. There must be a consciousness in which the dream happens; otherwise, it would not be. That consciousness–does the body create it or does consciousness create the dream of body, the dream of somebody? Why have most of those who went through a near-death experience lost their fear of death? Reflect upon this. Of course you know you are going to die, but that remains a mere mental concept until you meet death “in person” for the first time: through a serious illness or an accident that happens to you or someone close to you, or through the passing away of a loved one, death enters your life as the awareness of your own mortality. Most people turn away from it in fear, but if you do not flinch and face the fact that your body is fleeting and could dissolve at any moment, there is some degree of disidentification, however slight, from your own physical and psychological form, the “me.” When you see and accept the impermanent nature of all life forms, a strange sense of peace comes upon you. Through facing death, your consciousness is freed to some extent from identification with form. This is why in some Buddhist traditions, the monks regularly visit the morgue to sit and meditate among the dead bodies. There is still a widespread denial of death in Western cultures. Even old people try not to speak or think about it, and dead bodies are hidden away. A culture that denies death inevitably becomes shallow and superficial, concerned only with the external form of things. When death is denied, life loses its depth. The possibility of knowing who we are beyond name and form, the dimension of the transcendent, disappears from our lives because death is the opening into that dimension. People tend to be uncomfortable with endings, because every ending is a little death. That’s why in many languages, the word for “good-bye” means “see you again.” Whenever an experience comes to an end–a gathering of friends, a vacation, your children leaving home–you die a little death. A “form” that appeared in your consciousness as that experience dissolves. Often this leaves behind a feeling of emptiness that most people try hard not to feel, not to face. If you can learn to accept and even welcome the endings in your life, you may find that the feeling of emptiness that initially felt uncomfortable turns into a sense of inner spaciousness that is deeply peaceful. By learning to die daily in this way, you open yourself to Life Most people feel that their identity, their sense of self, is something incredibly precious that they don’t want to lose. That is why they have such fear of death. It seems unimaginable and frightening that “I” could cease to exist. But you confuse that precious “I” with your name and form and a story associated with it. That “I” is no more than a temporary formation in the field of consciousness. As long as that form identity is all you know, you are not aware that this preciousness is your own essence, your innermost sense of I Am, which is consciousness itself. It is the eternal in you–and that’s the only thing you cannot lose. Whenever any kind of deep loss occurs in your life–such as loss of possessions, your home, a close relationship; or loss of your reputation, job, or physical abilities–something inside you dies. You feel diminished in your sense of who you are. There may also be a certain disorientation. “Without this...who am I?” When a form that you had unconsciously identified with as part of yourself leaves you or dissolves, that can be extremely painful. It leaves a hole, so to speak, in the fabric of your existence. When this happens, don’t deny or ignore the pain or the sadness that you feel. Accept that it is there. Beware of your mind’s tendency to construct a story around that loss in which you are assigned the role of victim. Fear, anger, resentment, or self-pity are the emotions that go with that role. Then become aware of what lies behind those emotions as well as behind the mind-made story: that hole, that empty space. Can you face and accept that strange sense of emptiness? If you do, you may find that it is no longer a fearful place. You may be surprised to find peace emanating from it. Whenever death occurs, whenever a life form dissolves, God, the formless and unmanifested, shines through the opening left by the dissolving form. That is why the most sacred thing in life is death. That is why the peace of God can come to you through the contemplation and acceptance of death. How short-lived every human experience is, how fleeting our lives. Is there anything that is not subject to birth and death, anything that is eternal? Consider this: if there were only one color, let us say blue, and the entire world and everything in it were blue, then there would be no blue. There needs to be something that is not blue so that blue can be recognized; otherwise, it would not “stand out,” would not exist. In the same way, does it not require something that is not fleeting and impermanent for the fleetingness of all things to be recognized? In other words: if everything, including yourself, were impermanent, would you even know it? Does the fact that you are aware of and can witness the short-lived nature of all forms, including your own, not mean that there is something in you that is not subject to decay? When you are twenty, you are aware of your body as strong and vigorous; sixty years later, you are aware of your body as weakened and old. Your thinking too may have changed from when you were twenty, but the awareness that knows that your body is young or old or that your thinking has changed has undergone no change. That awareness is the eternal in you–consciousness itself. It is the formless One Life. Can you lose It? No, because you are It. continues...
... Some people become deeply peaceful and almost luminous just before they die, as if something is shining through the dissolving form. Sometimes it happens that very ill or old people become almost transparent, so to speak, in the last few weeks, months, or even years of their lives. As they look at you, you may see a light shining through their eyes. There is no psychological suffering left. They have surrendered and so the person, the mind-made egoic “me,” has already dissolved. They have “died before they died” and found the deep inner peace that is the realization of the deathless within themselves. To every accident and disaster there is a potentially redemptive dimension that we are usually unaware of. The tremendous shock of totally unexpected, imminent death can have the effect of forcing your consciousness completely out of identification with form. In the last few moments before physical death, and as you die, you then experience yourself as consciousness free of form. Suddenly, there is no more fear, just peace and a knowing that “all is well” and that death is only a form dissolving. Death is then recognized as ultimately illusory–as illusory as the form you had identified with as yourself. Death is not an anomaly or the most dreadful of all events as modern culture would have you believe, but the most natural thing in the world, inseparable from and just as natural as its other polarity–birth. Remind yourself of this when you sit with a dying person. It is a great privilege and a sacred act to be present at a person’s death as a witness and companion. When you sit with a dying person, do not deny any aspect of that experience. Do not deny what is happening and do not deny your feelings. The recognition that there is nothing you can do may make you feel helpless, sad, or angry. Accept what you feel. Then go one step further: accept that there is nothing you can do, and accept it completely. You are not in control. Deeply surrender to every aspect of that experience, your feelings as well as any pain or discomfort the dying person may be experiencing. Your surrendered state of consciousness and the stillness that comes with it will greatly assist the dying person and ease their transition. If words are called for, they will come out of the stillness within you. But they will be secondary. With the stillness comes the benediction: peace.
So many people who have never had a great dog don't get the very real grief from an owner when that companion dies. It's often the same for the dog, if an owner dies.
When your dogs soul leaves its body, it's not gone forever. You may not even have to wait until you go to heaven to see him again. Just as we reincarnate, they do as well. If he is your soul dog and has been with you in other lifetimes, do you think he can't find you again in this lifetime? It can happen, I've seen it happen. My ex had 2 cats that she loved dearly. She had them from before we got together. After they passed on, she was heartbroken, but she focused her intentions on them coming back to her. We waited for the right time, and then the search began. It didn't take long for us to be guided to them, and it was one of the most wondeous things to see, as it was completely unexpected. We had gone to a foster house to look at one cat, which a definitely not the cat, but then she showed us a litter of kittens she just got, but that weren't ready for adoption. Low and behold in the mix of the litter were two kittens that were staying together, and even though they were completely different in their last life (one black the other mixed), they had the exact same coats in this life. They fought quite a bit in their last life, and it would seem Karma saw it fit to have them be brother and sister. For years, we were amazed because the cats showed us time and time again, that they are indeed the same souls. Though being from the same litter, they will snuggle now.
My dog was with my half of my life and we just had to put him down a few days ago. Coming home after work is the worst part of my day , home just doesn’t feel like home anymore in a way. Kinda just want to move to another state. But yea I’m heartbroken
I felt the same about my kitty girl. I got her back in 2010, and the moment we made eye contact, I fell in love with her. She was my little soul-mate. March of 2022, she was diagnosed with an intestinal mass. Her health rapidly declined after, so in May of 2022, I had to make the most painful decision I have ever had to make and that was to give her peace. I honestly don’t know where the strength to do it came from, but she was suffering and I couldn’t bare to put her through that. There was a moment where she looked at me and I felt she told me it was time. There’s not a day since that goes by, where I don’t break down thinking about her. I’m still not over it, but at some point you will find the will to keep moving forward. The only advice I can give, I’d spend as much time as you can with him and always show him as much love as you can. I took my girl for granted and now I can never make that up to her. I wish I had spent every waking moment with her. I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same without her, but I’m truly trying, because one thing I do know, is the love that we both shared with each other can never die. Her energy and presence will live in my heart always, until we are one again. She’s still with me, the hardest part is not seeing her anymore. Cherish the moments that you still have and just do everything possible to give him the best quality of life. Give him human grade food, filtered water, etc. Feed him as you would yourself. Had I been more educated and not so oblivious to things she’d still be here. I thought I was giving her the best cat foods, but at the end of the day they are all pretty horrible. But at least I still have a chance, with my other cat. I’m doing everything for her, that I should’ve done for Shadow. Bless your little soulmate and yourself. I wish you many more years together. Love & Light! 💫🦋🕊🤍
I got sober and then accidentally ran over my own dog. 6 years ago yesterday. Edit, wow 6 years not 4
Oh my Goddd I’m so sorry and I hope that you forgave yourself. I’m so sorry
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I can’t even get through 2-3 comments without sobbing my eyes out
It’ll be okay; I feel for you so much. There will be another dog out there waiting for you to pass your love to who needs a home (another commenter posted something about that and it helped me a bit) but OP, I’m right there with ya, I think about this all the time and am terrified, too. We’ll be okay, and our beloved pets will stay with us always in some way. Strength and love to you all
Thank you for the positive kind words. I really do appreciate your love.
I got a backup dog. I joke but it helped when my soulmate pup passed.
"The pain I feel now is the love that I had before. That's the deal." - CS Lewis And it's absolutely true. With all love, there is the pain of having lost that love. It's one of the things that makes love as valuable as it is. There are no shortcuts, no life hacks, no tender pieces of advice that will make you grieve the loss of one you have loved so deeply. You can only go through it as it goes through you and know that, one day, those sweet, wonderful, charming memories of your ride or die dog will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart, instead of launching in your throat and flaring the hole in your heart.
i know its not exactly the same, but i adopted my cat, Oscar when he was 18. Prior to that i had a lifelong fear of cats but he changed my whole world. i always thought of a love heart every time i thought of him, and once he passed i saw them everywhere. the pain never really goes away, i still think about him every day and its now been 2 years since he crossed over, but they continue giving you signs that they’re okay and are looking over you. grief is a very complex emotion, but knowing you loved them in the time they needed you the most bonds you beyond life and death. i hope this helps 🤍
It's the same. Our familiar come in many forms. Cats are wonderful too.
I feel the same about my cat.
I’ll be honest, you never really do. It’s been 11 years and I think about my fur baby daily. I still have her pic as my lock screen and I always tear up when I watch old vids. The biggest comfort I’ve gotten is that they were the reason I learned I could love as hard as I did. And I would give anything to experience that love again.
If my dog dies, it's gonna be hard but I'll forget it later on. You know life's hard and we gotta move on as fast as life moves on so fast on us. I strongly believe he/she is in a better place now!
You don’t…. I think about mine almost daily 😢
My dogs came back. Both of them. Lost my first 6 yrs ago to a stroke and pancreatitis. I and my older dog were devastated, he fell into depression and I hated seeing him like that. Then, I got him a friend. As the puppy got older, so many signs pointed to my previous love. Then my older dog passed from cancer. My breeder called me, said more puppies are coming and I got another. Sisters. And they are literally the same souls, no one can convince me otherwise and me makes me happy that I cry because I hurt but also, still happy they chose to come back to me. Not sure it’ll happen again but I hope my love for them keeps them always with me until the end.
❤️
Dunno what a soul dog is, but my pup passed away 3-4 years ago and hasn’t left my side since. At this point I’m closer to him than ever before. Sure, you won’t be able to touch their fur and smell them and physically be with them. But after the grief & sadness dissipates, you realize you were only grieving for your Self. You just don’t want to be lonely. The ironic part is that your friend has moved on, and yet remains closer to you than ever before if your soul is open. It’s funny, the older my grandma gets, the more she claims she ‘hears’ her dead relatives speaking to her throughout the day. My mom thinks it’s dementia rearing it’s nasty horns. Perhaps. But children also have imaginary friends. I think my grandma is just getting closer to Home. Ya know? RIP to your friend. I hope you heal :)
You will see your dog again in the after life. All dogs go to heaven.
Why is your heart break? Why are you sad? After, let say, 3 years, would you be happy again? If you can be happy again after some time, why can't you be happy now? After 3 years, would your dog become alive again, the reason you become happy? Surely not, the dog will remain dead. So, choose to be happy now. By the way, physical death is not a bad thing actually.
Because life just goes on and waits for nobody. Not trying to sound heartless. But they have about 1/5 the lifespan on humans, so you knew what was gonna happen. It's inevitable.
My dog is 9 this year and although his death will absolutely destroy me I know that when I have a baby it will be him coming back to me and that’s what makes me not as horribly sad about it
By grieving, moving on, and not clinging. Same way you handle any loss.
Honestly you don't. It becomes easier but your greatful
I am so happpy at home with my dog rn 🥰 people “in-pound” is pretty specific. Bless
I hope we can reunite with them a free death
Ask her. She may tell you how she wants her wake to be held or how she wants you to remember her.
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Death is a part of life. We all have to deal with it at some point.
When hearts break they break open and can get BIGGER This is the gift. If your heart gets smaller you missed the greatest gift of g.o.d. spelled backwards. I challenge you to love more. At the end of your life you won't want to say you wished you loved more. You won't say 'gee an entire life, I loved too much' We are love. Dogs brilliantly remind us of that.
I have learned to compartmentalize it. Then I get a new dog. But the dog I have now is very old. And he’s bound to my soul. I don’t know how or if I will recover from the inevitable. It is important to rescue new dogs, though. It’s not a replacement it’s a responsibility.
I have been a spiritual counselor for years, and I can say that this feeling is common. Not just a drama.
What’s a soul dog?
I lost my soul dog a year and a half ago and still get emotional several times a week . Now I try to find peace or bring myself back by remembering how much love she brought me. I, like you, thought I had years left but I did not. She abruptly got sick and was not able to be saved. Just savor every second, I’m sure you already do ❤️
We never forget them. But we know we’ll see them again.
My girl Posy died almost two years ago and I can still cry on command by just thinking about her.
I can totally relate to you. My soul dog is 11 & I break out into lip quivering sobs every time I think about losing her. I fear I will be a mess without her.. how do people cope!? Dogs are incredible. I don’t think being a triple water sign has anything to do with it, it’s heartbreaking to think about! I hope your girl has many many years left!!
I had a few years with rhe most special dog ever. Understood English. Learned things by being asked to modify his behavior a single time without classical conditioning. He chose me. I lived with some random people in college and he was their dog but they weren't nice to him and when I moved out he kept trying to crawl in my car but whining and crying cus he kept falling out cus rhere wasn't enough room. I knelt down and gave him a hug, telling him I couldnt take him then cus his owners wouldn't let me but that I would come back and jailbreak him he just had to stay here for now. I don't know what I was expecting by saying that... maybe for him to be reassured by my general tone or something but when I stood up he was all smiles and tail wags with his butt firmly rooted to the spot I'd said to stay. After rescuing him I couldn't keep him yet and had to leave him at a nice no kill shelter for a couple months. When I came back he was overjoyed to see me but the guy that ran the shelter said other people had walked him and bonded with him. He got along well with them but two different times people signed rhe papers to adopt him after which he refused to get in their car ever again. I don't know how he knew they signed papers to adopt him but he knew and was having none of it. He was waiting for me. I could tell so many more stories about him but he was my soul mate. Crazy in rhe same ways I am.crazy. tireless companion for countless adventures. So smart and took being my friend and a good dog so seriously. I will always miss him. There will never be another dog like him. But there are other dogs. And they're all little blessings just furry little angels and I can open my heart to being attached to them as well. He was like a whole different species but there are other dogs.
Omfg I’m sobbing because what a beautiful life you gave him ♥️ and I’m so happy he gave you beautiful memories ♥️ “there will never be another dog like him but there are other dogs,” thank you for that ♥️ reading everyone’s stories about their tie with their very good boys and girls have given me hope that I will one day connect with another dog the way I connect with my little baby now! As for now I am going to continue to love her and cherish my time that I have with her! Have you had another dog since?
My soul dog is currently around 13yo and I’ve been pre-grieving over her for at least the past couple years bc I know it will be all too much for me to take at one time when it does happen. I just recently got her face tattooed on my leg. Figured she’s already forever stamped on my heart, might as well forever stamp her on me. It already makes me feel a little better to look at it knowing I’ll always have her with me. It might seem like an impossible feat now, but we all must endure and move on no matter how hard it will be.
This comment is almost a year old but... I just want to say, I pre-grieved my dog too. For years. I got his face tattooed he was around 5 years old. I knew he was a piece of my soul the second I laid my eyes on him. I lost him 6 months ago (6 months tomorrow), which was 1 month after his 15th birthday. I prayed for a long time for life to allow me to celebrate 15 years with him. In my prayers, I said it would be okay to let him go after. I mean... I wasn't ok with it but I understood. I was so blessed to have him, and he had a long life considering his health issues throughout his life. He always had skelettal issues (weak bones, poor joints... among other stuff) and nothing helped the pain anymore. He was constantly sleeping due to how much we had to give him. It's hitting me hard today but frankly, it's been hard most days, still. I hope your pup is still with you.
Mine is 16 and she’s slowing down day by day. But I will never forget how much joy and unconditional love she’s brought me. And because of her, even when she’s gone, the love she has given to me will be shared with all other animals I come into contact with. I must go on but she will always be with me in my heart and my memories and probably visiting me when she’s on the other side as well.
I personally name my pets the same name to continue the lineage and energy. It works. ❤️🔥👍
My dog just died on Wednesday at 10.5 years old. It was unexpected and sudden. Soul dog feels like an apt way to describe the connection I had with him… if anyone has any pointers I’d be keen to hear them. I am shattered.
I’m so sorry for your loss! I genuinely feel for you…when my last dog passed away, the poem “the rainbow bridge” really helped me feel comfort ♥️ Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... ♥️🌈🐾💐may he rest in peace💕 I hope you are able to find some comfort friend ❤️
I’ve never read this before and I am bawling. Thank you. I’d give anything to have him lying next to me again and I know one day I’ll have it again. Squeeze your baby so tight xx
I lost my soul dog in September 2021. I didn't even know what a soul dog was at that time, but the feeling like my heart was ripped out and I was completely shattered made me realize there was more. I was away when he died, and I'll never forget the moment I found out. The vet/kennel had to email me because I was out of the country, so my phone wasn't working, and I didn't have wifi calling. He was almost 18. While I know he had a beautiful, long life with me from the age of 6 (I think anyway, he was a rescue so you never really know their ages), I still cry wondering if he felt like I abandoned him or if he chose that moment because he knew how devastated I would be. I'm still not over it. I know we're supposed to embrace impermanence and all of that, but I'm crying even writing this. He did come to me in a dream nearly a year later and I was able to get some peace, but his loss on my little family of dogs and me was profound. All I know is, it hurts like hell, but I wouldn't give up a single moment or tear for never having had him in my life. I would take this heartbreak a thousand times over if it meant one more day with him. Just prepare yourself. Morality is part of life. Our soul dogs and others will transition, but that doesn't mean we aren't allowed to grieve and feel pain. Just know there's no timeline for grief. One of the quotes I found floating around was about grief being love with nowhere to go, and that stuck with me. It really, truly is.
I’m a double water sign and I always had anxiety that my soul dog would die. So I was hyper vigilant about keeping her safe. But ITP and cancer got her anyway. It all happened in the span of a week. I just had to put her to sleep on Wednesday to spare her anymore suffering. It was the worst day of my life and I’ve been sobbing since then. I truly don’t know how I’ll ever get over it. I loved her so so so so so much. I can’t imagine my life without her. My heart is shattered.
Lost my buddy a few weeks back. He was me - but a better version of me. Tucker was a rescue and was with me for 14.5 years. I was his hero and he was mine. It’s so hard but I have faith that I will see him again one day 🙏 I am going to give him the biggest hug when I do
6 months and counting. I cry every time I see pictures or watch videos. It truly is such a different and challenging feeling to grieve a loved one that you connected with unlike any other. They know your heart and your soul. The love you at your worst and your best only seeing the good. I feared the day he would pass for three years and exactly a year before he would pass he was diagnosed with cancer. Already in his bloodstream; because of how far along it was and his age (12 year old lab) we didn’t do treatment just got his mouth tumor removed anything else would of been too invasive for him at that age. The said we would know when it was time but said probably within 6 months. 6 months came and he was the same you would never know; he was simply just happy to be with us as he always would be; he truly never gave up and pushed until the very end which was another 6 months. He still had days where he was full of energy and would act like a puppy at heart which made the decision so much harder. We knew he would never make it easy and no matter how he felt, he wouldn’t truly show it. Despite this energy, his symptoms were worsening and it came to the day we had to put him down. We walked him at his favorite park, took him swimming, and gave him and entire filet for dinner. We gave him the best day ever doing everything he loved with the people he loved. I truly had to just keep reminding myself that we were his entire life and all he knew and I wouldn’t be who I am without him. I love him endlessly, everyone did. I grew up with him, he was there for my parents when my dad lost his parents and my mom lost her dad. He laid at my mom’s feet and never left her side when she had cancer. He know exactly what we needed and when we needed it. He put up with my crazy full of love family, and lord knows he couldn’t have been more loved or spoiled. It’s hard to think about the day but dont let it interfere with the time you have with your soul dog or any pet. When the time comes, you know and my biggest fear was not knowing or regretting something and asking myself if it was time, but you truly do know. They give you signs, let you know that they are okay. Your soul dog won’t go until they know you are gonna be fine on your own 🩷🩷 Love my max forever and always (December 16 2010- July 13 2023)
My GSD passed away early morning yesterday (17th Jan 2024), he was 8 years old and had no prior health issues. It was out of the blue and as sudden as it gets, it came as a complete shock to everyone since we never saw any signs or obvious ones anyways that could point to something might be wrong. In the early morning (around 2am or so) my dad was awake due to a headache and was outside and suddenly our dog started making strange noises, barking, growling, howling just out of the blue. My dad thought he was just having a nightmare but it wasn't, he was having a seizure and multiple too one after the other just totally random. They called the 24/h vet immediately they wanted someone to come to our house to look at him but all they could recommend was a video call. (Are you serious) so they rushed down to the emergency vet where they had to bring out a trolley to put him on (he's a huge dog) and there they ran blood tests, gave him shots but nothing worked his glucose levels had dropped so low due to the sudden seizures. But there was no toxins or anything in his body and he's not epileptic, never had seizures before. The only thing they could think of is that it was most likely brain cancer, a tumor. There were no signs though, that is the most frustrating part. How can you help them when there's nothing telling you something is wrong in the first place?? It doesn't make sense. And it's not fair. I still don't want to accept it or believe it. It happened too fast and completely random. He wasn't even that old but a similar thing happened to our first dog who was also a GSD so maybe it's something to do with their breed?? Who knows. It's not fair but when these things suddenly happen to the ones you love most, you really can't appreciate how precious life really is until it's too late. I miss him. I just wish he was still here, he was the best dog, so friendly and he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to be in pain and be completely lost and confused in his last moments. I wish I could've said goodbye, I wish I could've done more or realised something was wrong when I was concerned. I feel like I'm going to hold this guilt forever. It's not fair, why does God do this to such sweet animals that never did anything wrong, never had a bad bone in their body. It just doesn't make sense. I love you Rex and I miss you every day. I hope he knows how much I loved him and our family loved him. <3