Readers Share Grief of Their Pet's Death. ABC News 7/11/25

[Deeds]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-07/readers-share-grief-pet-death-euthanasia/105950642

[Little Gifts]

I lost Jonah and Stussy close together in early 2023. It has been decades since I had no dogs in my house/life but I wasn't even capable of touching my friends dogs for many months I was just so sad. But of course there was a doggo in need and we started 'casually' fostering again late that year. Albert was our 3rd foster with the group who arrived in early 2024. He decided pretty early on that he was staying but it took us 6 months to agree. We really didn't think we could offer him everything he needed, but he thought otherwise! It was a big decision but he was officially foster failed at the beginning of Aug 2024.

 

In Sept this year, 2025 I had a hard month. Burnt out from work I took a month off to do some reno around the house. But instead my sister had a work accident and I got sick and it ended up being a month of medical appointments and just trying to keep up with every day things that needed to be done for both of us and the house. I took a lot of naps that month just to get through a full day. Albert took the opportunity to claim snuggles. I liked it. I took him out in the car most days and enjoyed seeing how much fun he got from it. We spent a lot of time in each other's company doing nothing. I just wanted to be around him all of a sudden and really know what made him tick. I realised at the end of my 'holiday' that I'd actually finally let him in and allowed myself to love him. It's all he has ever wanted from me but my heart was still not ready. But he never gave up   trying! Our relationship has changed significantly as a result and he is a much calmer and connected dog. But that is grief for you. Some losses are much harder than others and you can only do your best. I am sorry I couldn't give him more for so long, but I hope he has forgiven me for my surface love now he feels the difference.