My dog got ran over tonight. How do you get over the loss?

Question

Well, I feel horribly guilty tonight that my dog got ran over. I had kept my lab/blue heeler mix male dog on the chain for months now. I live in the country and have always kept pets outdoors. My dog was a little over six months old. He was just beautiful! He had a white tipped tail, head was shaped like a lab, little white/gray on top of his neck, black on top and gray legs that looked like gray leggings. Beautiful big paws. Very unique looking dog as I have never seen one with a coat like his before.

I had been walking him in the evenings, as lab/blue heeler mixes can be very energetic. I would use to walk him on leash but then I stopped realizing that he was not getting enough exercise. So I started to let him run loose in the evenings while I walked with him for thirty minutes. Tonight he was rearing to go so I let him loose and walked by him. Lately, he has been roaming more even to the point of going on to the two lane highway in the front here. Every time he did I would either tie him back up and/or call him back to me in hopes of getting him off the highway and to stop chasing cars. That being said just a month ago he would never go all the way on the highway and chase cars. Only lately has he been trying to chase cars.

As I was walking him back tonight and heading to tie him back up. He runs out on to the highway and is hit by a big white dully truck. The truck never stopped and kept going. I knew my dog was dead right away and really did not want to look at him. I did look at him of course to see if he was still living and unfortunately he was not.

Anyways, it was a complete shock that he got ran over tonight and I feel horrible that it could have been prevented if I would have had him on a leash again. Even knowing that he was a VERY energetic and hyper dog I would much rather had given him less exercise by being on leash then letting him run free to his death.

I wonder if other people have ever felt guilty about their dogs dying? I know I shouldn't feel guilty it's not I didn't try to do anything when he would run out onto the highway but still. How do you get over those guilty feelings? I wrote up a nice tribute for my dog tonight remembering all the wonderful times I had with him and how happy he was all the times I played with him. I said a prayer for him and told him that I was sorry. Granted I was not the person who ran over my dog, but why do I feel so much guilt? I also hope that there is some sort of pet heaven. I hope is running around now up there and having a big ol time jumping on people and what not. Thanks for any input! :-)

Answer 1

Things happen for a reason. I lost my dog within hrs.I had no way of knowing he had stomach cancer.  I went on an errand came home 2 hrs later and within 3 hrs he was gone. I had gotten him to the vet in time to be put down. Its a shock to your heart and so unexpected.

You never lose those guilty feelings..they just kinda hang in the back of your heart. Then there will be those times you will see a pup like yours and those feelings come back out and hurt even more. And then go back and wait to surface again. BUT You never stop remembereing the love you had for your pup. They say time heals...I just wish it would hurry up and go away.

RIP my lab Bob..1/27/08

For you and your Mom from your Pup..

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.

I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.

I woofed  to you softly as you brushed away a tear,

"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the milk

You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care.

I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for your school books as they tumbled

I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said, "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a couch

I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you every day

To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled; I think you knew...

In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning

And say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

Answer 2

First off, sorry for your loss... remembering the good times you've shared with him do help out a lot.  Also, understand that grieving may last a while, but especially you have to get over the guilt as it won't change anything.  Just it will help you be more cautious/know better next time.  He may have been roaming due to not being fixed-was he?  

Answer 3

That's very hard to watch. I lived on a farm years ago and had a kitten about the same age. All the cats were indoor/outdoor and we rarely had a problem with it. I was outside plaiyng with them, talking on my cell when I seen something get hit on the road (it's so far away from the house, my poor kitty looked like a bag). It was tossed into the air on impact. I couldn't tell what it was from where I was siting but in my heart I just knew it was one of the kittens. So I got off the phone and ran up to the road and sure enough, it was little PeeWee. He was dead on the spot as well. I don't think I'll ever get that image out of my head.

You feel guilt because you know ti could have been prevented. Try not to beat yourself up though. YOu've learned and can and will do better by your other pets.

*hugs* I'm very sorry

RIP to your puppy

Answer 4

sorry about your dog.one day me and my brother kept throwing our daschund into our kiddie pool we had. i was 12 and my brother was 6. the dog was 6 and i guess that messed up his back because we had to put him to sleep later that year. i feel guilty about it but ive manage to go on and you will too.

Answer 5

im so sorry for your loss, i really am.

i love all animals and i, having lost a few before, found it very difficult.

i will share something with you, take it or leave it.

my uncle had a brain tumor when he was 23 and he had to get it operated on. during the operation his heart stopped but they managed to revive him.

after the operation he told me that he had seen a big blue tunnel and at the end there were 7 windows.

through one of them he saw animals.

thats all he told me, and some say that dying and coming back makes you crazy.

but i believed him and always will.