This post is not about books. I simply had some thoughts and wanted to share them.
Yesterday afternoon, Ben’s parents put down Carmine, the family dog of 13 years. She’s been in that family even longer than I have and will be missed every day. She was a fiercely loyal and extremely intelligent German Shepard. When I was a teenager, I used to be terrified of her. I would run to just outside of her electric fence area every time she came near me. But as I became more involved in Ben’s family and eventually ended up living next door to Carmine for three years, I grew to love her and appreciate her for the wonderful dog that she was. You could tell how much she loved her family, especially Ben’s dad. She had no question about who her master was. When he was out of town, she wouldn’t eat unless you sat with her and she just moped around until he returned. She was a dog you had to get to know to love, but what a dog.
This got me thinking about how sad it is to lose a pet. I remember reading once about how the death of a pet can sometimes be harder than the death of a person because a pet loves you unconditionally and you don’t have such complicated emotions about pets. I’ve lost many pets over the years, some that have hurt more than others. And as I get older, I only grow more attached. When I was a kid, it was a part of life. But now it’s really like losing a family member. I can’t imagine my life without the antics of my cats, Gatsby and Daisy, or not coming home to Mikaila’s enthusiastic tail wagging (my family’s dog who has spent some time with me in Florida but is now back home with my mom in Michigan).
Has anyone else had similar experiences? Does you want to share a story of a wonderful pet?
Lady Carmine
my books. my life. 
My cat, Madeline, is my first pet ever so I haven’t had to lose a pet yet. My husband’s two childhood dogs both died in the last year. I think it can be harder since they do love you unconditionally (although I think my cat missed the class where they taught that). Also, many times, the family ends up putting the animal down, and that has to be a painful choice to live with, even when it is the right one for the animal.
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I think cat’s missed the unconditional love class in pet school (although I’m convinced mine love me even when they snootily walk right by me). Ben’s parents had to make that decision twice in the last few years and while it’s for the best for them, it does make it harder.
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I´m so sorry, sounds like a wonderful dog! I´ve never had a dog, but we have cats. Our first one died this year, of old age, but we were really sad. She protected us from visitors, and when we took a walk she followed us (if we went by car she would wait outside for us to return).
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Cats can be just as good as dogs. My old cat died last year after 15 years or something crazy like that. She didn’t really like people and you rarely saw her unless the Christmas tree was up (and then she was under it at all times) and I think I was allergic to her but I still miss her.
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I am so sorry to know that. Carmine looks quite beautiful. From the picture she also looks like a kind and quiet dog.
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Sorry to hear about the loss of your husband’s dog. I agree with you about the hardship of losing a pet-they love you unconditionally and they are our responsibility. You are right how some hit your harder-as a child I do not think you realize the finality of the occurrence. I lost a cat this year and it was difficult.
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