For many of us, daily walks with our beloved four-legged friends are the highlight of our day. It’s that special time between you, your family, and your pet that millions of us cherish. That makes what this Nascar driver did with his pet doubly sad. You see, he knew that it was his family’s last walk with their well-loved dog — and he took the time to share his heartbreak with his fans.
But, in their support, you can find something beautiful.
DENNY HAMLIN- Nascar Driver
Recently, Nascar driver Denny Hamlin took to Instagram and shared some heartwrenching news with the world. His beloved family dog named Missy was going on her very last walk that day.
“Had to take Missy for one last walk yesterday,” wrote Hamlin. “Today has absolutely sucked. The end of 2018 cannot come soon enough. She lived 19 great years.”
After the driver posted the photos, though, his devoted fans refused to let him suffer alone.
“I am so very sorry. I know exactly how you are feeling,” wrote Nanabebi_3. “We had to put our 12 yr old dog down last week. I sat there and petted her until she took her last breath. They are such a big part of our families.
Many people responded to the sad post said that they understood how he felt. The majority of them said they too recently lost pets. It was a beautiful thing to see. Everyone got to have a moment to express their grief.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
There are a few important takeaways from this story. First, for many people losing a pet is quite like losing a family member. Remember, if you have a friend or loved one that recently lost their pet, is there for them. Even if you think they should be “over it already.” For many people, losing a pet is utterly devastating, and they may grieve for a long time.
You should never make people feel sorry for needing time to get over the death of a fur baby.
Image CC BY 2.0 by ♪_Lisa_♪ from Flickr
Which brings us to our last point, and the thing that no animal lover wants to talk about — what if it is your fur baby? What if you find out that you have to put your fur baby down to help alleviate their suffering?
NEVER ALONE
We know that having to decide to put your pet down will be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. There are things, though, that you can do to help make it easier on both you and your pet.
First, never leave your pet alone in the end. Sadly, many pet parents decide they can’t handle being there when their pet crosses over. Several vets recently reached out with public pleas for people to stop doing that. The vets said that in those moments, your pet searches for you one last time — you need to be there.
Also, like the dedicated dad from our story, spend your pet’s last moments with them. Of course, it will be hard, and you might be sad. Just remember all the times they were there for you. Keep your friends and family close. Let them know what’s coming up for you, so they know you need their support.
Click here for a whole article about how to cope with this from the Dog Whisperer himself.
Most, remember, everyone, deals with grief differently. Share this with your friends to raise awareness of these sensitive issues.
Featured Image from Denny Hamlin via Instagram
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