[measuringcups]

My mini dachshund was hit by a car today and killed. I was walking him and he was tugging on his lease and it slipped out of my hand. He took off and I kept yelling and chasing him but he wouldnt listen. He ran into traffic and got hit in the head by a car. There was blood everywhere and I was screaming and crying and trying to hold him. He was alive for a couple minutes after. He was only seven months old
An employee at the pizza place across the street saw the entire thing. He offered me a box and drove me up the mountain into a nice foresty area, and dug a hole for me.
This whole experience has been really traumatic for me
I have grown very attached to my puppy because I moved out of state a few months ago and got him when I was still living on a couch, we've been partners in crime since then
I live alone in a small studio apartment, and was always comforted to come home to my little baby. We went everywhere together- out to get cigarettes, food, even to the grocery store.
I am completely heartbroken and cannot stop crying
I know this sounds melodramatic but I really cannot picture my life without my dog
He was the only friend I had out here
I work full time and am always tired and he was my little sunshine
I really have no idea how to move on from this. I would really like some advice on how to cope with pet loss or to hear anyone elses experience with this kind of thing
To add to it all, my phone is broken and I have no way to contact anyone. I feel very alone

 

[danakscully64]

I'm so sorry this happened.

I lost one of my best friends (Chow/German Shepherd mix) in 2004. I had never been in so much pain in my life. Your life will go on and while you'll always remember him, the pain will lessen. Allow yourself to grieve, you need to. If you need to cry, cry. We're here for you.

I wish I was there to give you a real hug. Your story has me crying too, I know you're in a lot of pain right now and I wish I could physically be there. Do you have any friend nearby you can stay with?

 

[Wolfie]

I am so sorry to hear about your puppy. I have lost many furry friends including a young dog (2 yrs old) who was hit by a car. It always sucks but when it's totally unexpected it's even worse. I really have no advice for how to get over it, except let time pass. Just know that you will never forget him but after enough time passes it does get easier. Don't blame yourself. It was an accident.

 

[measuringcups]

Thank you guys. Even people on the internet helps, at least people who understand the relationship you have with your pets...they are family. I just cant stop visualizing what happened and thinking what ifs. What if I had run faster and stepped on the leash? Waved the cars down? Hadnt taken him out that day?
In the moments he was alive his tongue was out and his mouth and ears were all bloody and he was looking at me very blankly,he was probably so scared, I really hope he knew how much I loved him. I would have let the car hit me and break my arm to save him
I feel so sick I went for a drive because I cant stand to be in my apartment with all his little dog stuff around. I have lost pets before and have been sad and cried, but never in my life have i felt this crushed.
And I just moved here to oregon from california, I have a few friends but my phone broke a few days ago and I have no way to get a hold of anyone.
I keep trying to find a lesson here to make this all make sense but I cant find one. everything about today is wrong
Sorry for just typing whatever here. It may all just sound dumb but I just need to write this somewhere and for someone to hear it

 

[Amy SF]

I am so sorry this happened.

 

[karenlovessnow]

Losing a beloved animal companion is always sad, but when it happens in such a traumatic way, it is all the more difficult to deal with. I hope the passing of time will help to ease some of your pain.

 

[veggiholic]

It's always hard when you lose someone you love and rely on, particularly if you don't have many other people in your life, and especially if it was completely out of the blue. The only thing you can do really is wait for the pain to subside and try to distract yourself a bit in the meantime.

From your description, it seems like your dog was very happy with you. These things just happen sometimes and there's nothing you can do. At least at the end it wasn't long and drawn out. My cat died nearly a year ago and what I tried to focus on was the fact that even though his life was shorter than it should have been, it was a really happy one - your dog was better off for knowing you, and even though his life was cut short it's quality more than quantity that really important. It still really, really sucks, but it's comforting to remember that - and as danakscully64 said, it's really important to cry if you need to.

If you want to PM me to talk about it, feel free to. I know how important it can be just to talk about it.

 

[Pixie]

I'm so sorry.

xxx My little dog was hit by a car and I still get upset when I think about it and this was about 25 years ago.

 

[Teresa]

I'm so so sorry. What a tragic accident. And it was an accident. Give yourself time to mourn. I will take time.

 

[Ira]

I am very sorry about that! I cried just from reading it. But like was said before, think about the good times this dog had, the bad part of his life was only a few minutes. Mourn and let time heal it. I would also go adopt another animal. not to replace the one you had before, but to have a new companion who will make you happy and whose life you will make happy now. I wish you all the best!

 

[measuringcups]

Thank you all for your kind words. I found a pet loss support group that I'm going to attend when I get back out here. Im flying down to see my family which I think will be very good for me. I'm also trying to volunteer at the animal shelter, because even though I am no where near being ready for a new pet, I would like to be around animals. Its been up and down for me- sometimes I cant stop crying and other times I feel a little better. I'm trying not to look at pictures or think too much. Just going on auto pilot until my head clears.

Something that has helped me feel a little better is thinking how much my dog taught me about myself. It has further cemented my veganism and opened up my heart a lot. So much. Its a weird how pets can and always do that for people. Ive also decided to get a tattoo in honor of my baby.

You all are wonderful people and it makes me feel good to know there are still kind and caring people out there who are so understanding!

 

[sallyomally]

Oh sweetie, I'm so very sorry. I've had similar experiences and understand how you feel. Like the others have said, give yourself time to grieve. Be good to yourself;you've just been through a very traumatic experience. You're going to feel lousy for some time. I'm happy to hear you'll be able to spend some time with your family which will help the healing process. When you feel ready, I agree that adopting a new pet is a good thing-only when you feel ready, and of course,nothing will take the place of your little dog, but it will fill your heart.
I love the tattoo idea. That's a wonderful way of keeping your little one close always. I remember once a long time ago when I had my precious cat, Paula ,laid to rest in a pet memorial park, I received a card with a beautiful poem which said something about how one of the risks we take when we allow our furry loves into our lives is that eventually they break out hearts, but we wouldn't have it any other way because they make our hearts grow as well.
*Big hug* and much love. We're here for you!

 

[Capstan]

So sorry to hear about your loss, measuringcups. Some years ago I lost one of my zebra finches. He had hatched out in my apartment. I named him Saltytail. I was with him and watched him as he learned how to fly. I let my birds fly around the apartment while I was at work. I thought I was very careful about removing anything that might be harmful to them. I came home from work one day and couldn't find him. Turns out, I had left a quart jar with about an inch of water in it on a bookshelf. I used the jar to fill their water cups. I guess he got curious about it, went into the jar, couldn't get out, panicked, and drowned. I found him floating there. I think I lost part of my heart that day. I'm so glad there was someone there, from the pizza place, to help you at that moment. I know you'll never forget your friend, as I'll never forget mine. Peace to you at this sad, sad time.

 

[disney.jessica]

I'm so sorry :hugs: I have the same relationship with my dogs, they're the best friends I could ever ask for and we're like partners in crime; I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if anything happened to one of them. Just remember that you gave your dog a great life, even if it was short. It sounds like he was happy even when he died, too, because he was out on a walk with you. I've lost pets before and I know how awful and helpless it can feel, but you just have to focus on the great life you gave them. It's easy to just think about how much a pet has helped us and forget how we've helped them. They are our best friends, but we're also theirs, and no matter what happened nothing can change your relationship with your puppy.