'I loved him more than I've loved anything else in this world': Dog owner shares grief over losing soul dog, prompting pupper pawrents to share what helped them heal

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Aug 22, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

There is no easy way to deal with the grief of losing a dog. It's one of the most painful things we've ever experienced. It's like losing a part of your soul. The doorbell rings and instead of barking and craziness, there is silence. Actually, silence is a great way to describe the feeling of grief after a pet passes. Silence in your home and silence in your heart. But it's a part of life. We knew it from the beginning. We knew when we held them in our arms for the first time that we would outlive them, and that it was our job to make their lives great every second we could. That's our job as their pawrent. 

We're very grateful to our parents, who involved us in the process when we were still children. Our first dog passed over the rainbow bridge when we were around 8 years old. Our parents explained everything we just said above, and that, as much as it is sad, it is a blessing. A blessing to have made so many happy memories. A blessing to have had so much noise in our lives and happiness in our hearts. 

Yes, you need your time to grieve, and no, no other dog will ever replace them. But when they leave us, they leave a piece missing in our hearts that is pawfectly designed for the next dog to fill. You will get another dog, find your happiness again, and the number of memories will only grow. There are many dogs in the world that could use your love. Remember your job, as a pawrent? Don't let them down.

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    Still my good boy.
    via EnvironmentalYou3254
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    I've been reading a lot here and it brought back memories of the dogs I loved. When mine passed, I was so heartbroken I decided I'd never get another-and I still haven't. If you felt the same, what
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    actually helped you cope-time, volunteering/fostering, a memorial, therapy, or something else? If you'd like, drop their name below so we can remember them together.
    via EnvironmentalYou3254
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    zombiereign • 13h ago Knowing that another dog needed and deserved a loving home made it easy to welcome another in. Being able to care for, play with, and make another dog comfortable and in a stable situation helped me cope.
    via zombiereign

  • We're not going to lie, we definitely cried while writing this article. Our doggo is only two years old, so hopefully this is something we won't have to deal with for a long time, but it is always in the back of our brains somewhere. We know it will happen, and even though we have years to prepare for it, it still won't ever be enough.

  • 05
    Ad... 13h ago Edited 12h ago Dogs only have a short time or earth compared to us, no matter what, our time is limited. I've had a lot of dogs and I never felt like I was replacing any of mine. They all had different personalities and
    via AdventurousPlace6180
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    quirks and brought different experiences to my life. Unless dog life genuinely wasn't for you, I don't see why you'd never get another dog. Loving them and missing them never stops after they are gone, but you can still build new bonds and give a dog a good home where they may have not had it.
    via AdventurousPlace6180
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    This was my previous lab, Precious. She was everything to me and was the absolute sweetest baby that would do anything you ask. Now I have a Siberian husky and while she isn't as willing to please, she makes me laugh almost everyday with her shenanigans. The different bonds make it worth it
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    Cheezburger Image 10544721664
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    macemillianwinduarte . Another dog needed us
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  • That's the real truth - there are so many dogs that need our love out there that it would be a crime not to share it with them. We have love to give, and they need it, so at a certain point, it's about choosing to be happy and make new memories instead of living in the old ones.

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    Bust_McNutty • 13h ago My home got quiet. Very quiet. I would hear doorbell go and instead of it being chaos with barking and running and excitement, there was nothing. I missed eating my dinner while my dog ate his and I missed all the walks we took together.
    via Bust_McNutty
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    That quietness and loneliness | felt was horrible, I have never felt anything like it before so within a few months I got a cute little golden retriever puppy and all of a sudden all that fun and excitement came back to me.
    via Bust_McNutty
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    I'll never forget my first dog Brennan. I loved him more than I've loved anything else in this world. But leaving my home empty, quiet and sad just isn't for me. (Plus golden puppies are just too cute to say no too lol)
    via Bust_McNutty
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    Tamalethighs 13h ago • Oh boy. Im in the thick of this right now. I lost my soul pup three years ago and thought I'd never get a dog and then transitioned into "one day some day". Lo and behold I found myself at a shelter almost two
    via Tamalethighs
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    months ago and walked out with the doofiest lover boy. And goodness it has been hard to transition back to dog life. I forgot that even my soul dog took a lot of work to get stabilized and routined and FOR
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    ME to get stabilized and routined. I love that ding dong but it sure is hard some days. Luckily I have friends and a BF who are jumping in to walk him or bring him over to their house so I can catch a breath.
    via Tamalethighs
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    You will find your routine again and you will know when it's time. My story reads as more stressful than it actually is-but we're all adjusting ya know.
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    T STRENGTH 40 lb -CAT STRENGTH MULTI-CAT STRENGTH 0lb O MULTI-CAT STRENGTH MULTI-CAT STRENGTH 406 MULTI-CAT STRENGTH ULTI-CAT STRENOT
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    kris_bryant 13h ago . Every one of my dogs has been a rescue and has, at least at first, needed me as much as I needed them. I have loved every one I've lost (and been truly heartbroken a couple of times), but knowing that I can provide a home for another dog who needs me as much as they did helps.
    via kris_bryant
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    And I have a photo of each one - one that truly captures who they were - framed and hanging in the sun room. They're all still with me.
    via kris_bryant
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    Dense-Boysenberry872 13h ago • Honestly time... nothing will prepare you for that day and the aftermath of emotions/ loss. But time makes each day easier for me personally. But I do think about my dog everyday
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    Dazzling-Account-187 12h ago . We will have as many as 4, 5, 6 dogs in our lifetime. The next one is not a replacement to the previous one. We love them all.
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    nomuskever • 13h ago He is healing me and we rescued him- a win for both of us.
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    Altruistic_Mud_2280 13h ago Time helped but I found a senior dog who I just connected with. The chances were low of her finding a home so I made the plunge again.
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    HALF_PAST_HOLE 13h ago I loved my dogs, I gave them great happy fulfilling lives. Dogs are amazing and they deserve great happy fulfilling lives. I don't want to stop another dog out there from having a great happy fulfilling life because I have already done it before. Besides my old dogs would have loved my new dogs and so the cycle continues.
    via HALF_PAST_HOLE
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    Dogs deserve a good life I can give them a good life. Once that life has gone its coarse, I eventually want to give another dog a great life.
    via HALF_PAST_HOLE
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    PepperAnn95 • 13h ago Taking the time to process your grief and miss your friend is very important. Fostering is another beautiful and kind way to honor the things you learned from being a pet parent and to give love to another creature who needs it immediately.
    via PepperAnn95
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    Kesse84 13h ago Time. It took me 15 years.
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    Bleuthepitbull • 13h ago When my boy turned 12 we had the conversation that when he passed I'd my getting a shelter dog. After getting my first 3 dogs from breeders I vowed to only rescue! I flew to San Francisco a week after he
    via Bleuthepitbull
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    passed from Montana, got a very cute AMSTAFF from a county shelter for $20, had a mental health vaca with him, then we drove 23 hours home. There are so many beautiful, amazing dogs in k shelters. Saving a life was the best thing I could ever do!! I still honor my boy all the time!
    via Bleuthepitbull
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    A
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    karensmiles • 13h ago Another dog helped me realize I could actually love another dog! It's like kids...you love them all, but each one has an individual and special place in your heart!
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    Tattooed Tinkerbell13 13h ago For my dog it was quite unexpectedand I didn't think I'd ever be ready, but then a little street dog found me. It was so soon after but this dog imprinted on me. I'm not spiritual or anything but I say that my former dog sent her because she knew I needed her.
    via TattooedTinkerbell13

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Tags

healing dogs pupper pawrents grief love dog owners animals soul dog
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