I’m a therapist, and one of my clients is putting her dog to sleep this week. Her first time. She cried through the whole session. And this was the first time I ever cried in session myself in 5 years. And I’ve heard some shit… but this got to me.
Thank you for being there for them. I had to put down my soul pet, my cat of 20 years, in October. First time losing my pet as opposed to the family’s. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. Thankfully I was seeing a counselor who helped me through the worst of it and I’m so grateful to her. She cried too, and it touched me that she could empathize so deeply with what I was feeling.
When I talked about losing my kitty on here, someone said the sweetest thing that will always stay with me, “May her sunspot never move and may she rest in play.”
Being a cat person, I don’t know how relevant the sunspot part would be to a dog, but I feel like “rest in play” is such a lovely way to think about any pet’s passing.
I would second this. I heard many stories from clients where I couldn’t relate personally, but the whole point of empathy is to put yourself in that person’s shoes and say “Ok, if I were you in this situation, I’d feel the same way you do.”
This is so true. My husband and I adopted 3 seniors dogs a few years ago because they don’t get adopted often, and we wanted to make their last few years good. One was abandoned by her owners at 11 years old because she was “too old.”
You should have seen her shaking like a leaf in the shelter cage. She HATED it there. As soon as we took her home, she transformed. One of the most loving dogs I’ve ever owned.
Anyway, my point is, those grey muzzles were only with us for a few years, but I wouldn’t exchange that experience for anything else. Totally worth the heartbreak.
My two are currently sleeping at the foot of the bed, I don’t even want to think about that inevitable day.
I’m a therapist, and one of my clients is putting her dog to sleep this week. Her first time. She cried through the whole session. And this was the first time I ever cried in session myself in 5 years. And I’ve heard some shit… but this got to me.
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Thank you for being there for them. I had to put down my soul pet, my cat of 20 years, in October. First time losing my pet as opposed to the family’s. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. Thankfully I was seeing a counselor who helped me through the worst of it and I’m so grateful to her. She cried too, and it touched me that she could empathize so deeply with what I was feeling.
When I talked about losing my kitty on here, someone said the sweetest thing that will always stay with me, “May her sunspot never move and may she rest in play.”
Being a cat person, I don’t know how relevant the sunspot part would be to a dog, but I feel like “rest in play” is such a lovely way to think about any pet’s passing.
My dog loved her sunspot. She passed a couple months ago
I’m sorry for your loss <3
Not while me and Kitty are in the dusty room of the house, please.
Man, my therapist said “damn that sucks” and changed the subject…they’re not an “animal person”
Sounds like you need a new therapist as that doesn’t seem like empathy to me.
I would second this. I heard many stories from clients where I couldn’t relate personally, but the whole point of empathy is to put yourself in that person’s shoes and say “Ok, if I were you in this situation, I’d feel the same way you do.”
Thats true I’ve had too many therapist pity me instead of empathize with me. I’ve gotten enough pity through out my life.
Oh I definitely changed after that
Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
This is so true. My husband and I adopted 3 seniors dogs a few years ago because they don’t get adopted often, and we wanted to make their last few years good. One was abandoned by her owners at 11 years old because she was “too old.”
You should have seen her shaking like a leaf in the shelter cage. She HATED it there. As soon as we took her home, she transformed. One of the most loving dogs I’ve ever owned.
Anyway, my point is, those grey muzzles were only with us for a few years, but I wouldn’t exchange that experience for anything else. Totally worth the heartbreak.