I’m like every loving pet owner who has suffered the loss of a beloved pet, and I ‘m writing this through tears because we just lost our old dog Petey. He died at home, the first time I have experienced that in all my years of dog ownership. He was 16 and had long standing heart issues. We had him on meds, but his symptoms came on literally overnight and he kept declining. Sunday afternoon he took his last breath, tucked in his soft bed covered with a blanket.

He belonged to my mom, who lived with us in a mother in law suite, until she died four years ago, and he became the 5th dog in our pack. He worked so hard to be in the mix, though it was hard for him to go from being an only dog to one of five. But we loved him and worked with him and he did his part. He was loving and devoted and protective … What a sweet boy he was.

We put so much of our hearts into our pets and we spend so much of our lives tending to their needs. He was a huge life force and, though he was a headstrong high energy minpin mix, and a bit high maintenance, he made me better – more patient, more energetic, and he turned me into a happy early riser. He was my shadow, and I just don’t know how long it will be until I don’t look around for him

I have four other dogs to tend to, in particular our youngest dog, Sage, who loved Petey so much. I’m not so wise I can tell what she is thinking or feeling, but I know she will miss him. I have to let her get through it, while I am also trying to get through this.

The world seems smaller and gloomier today. The price we pay for this love relationship we have with our pets is suffering when we lose them – worth every tear, but tears your heart apart. 💔

I will miss our sweet Petey always. I will try not to cling to the feelings of loss but focus on his living memories. I guess all that will come in time.

Right now all I can do is cry and say goodbye, sweet boy. Goodbye.