I didn't lose my pet but I did lose an animal I cared for.

My neighbor is elderly and disabled and her Papillon was always getting out of his yard. On Saturday he got out again and I saw him standing on the corner.

I don't really remember it all but I know I walked toward him and stopped and called out to him. The next thing I remember is him running into the street and being hit.

I can't get the image of him going under the SUV out of my head. And the image of his face when I ran over to him is going to be a permanent part of my memory.

I can't help feeling like it's my fault. I keep saying "If I hadn't..." But my mom says all I did was say his name.

How do I move on from this? I haven't slept in two days because when I close my eyes I see his face and hear the sound he made after he was hit.

I'm also angry. The emergency vet doesn't even see animals without 250$ up front and they won't treat if you don't pay. And they are the only ones around. He was gone before we got him there but some poor woman was borrowing from everyone she could to treat her cat. When its an emergency billing should be an option. We drove him there because animal control was going to take an hour to get to us.

And how does someone not see a person standing in the middle of the road with their arms in the air? I don't understand.

My mom says I need to get past this because it's draining me emotionally and physically but i just keep feeling responsible and when I do start to realize it wasn't my fault, because I know it wasn't, I start to cry because all I see is his face, shocked and not understanding what happened to him.

I'd caught him at least 5 times in the past, he was lucky those times, this time he wasn't, he was always in the road and it's a main road, with a speed limit of 40mph.

I think I just needed to get this out. But any advice for moving on or how to stop seeing his shocked little face would be so appreciated.

He wasn't mine, but I knew him and I loved him almost as much as I love my dogs.

it is not your fault the little guy got hit, he would have wandered into the road if you were or werent there.

i know the words of myself and other posters here wont be enough to settle your mind, but just know that the little guy may have lived a short life, but he was lucky to have you and his owner there to care about him as much as you all do. he is in a better place now, and please be glad to know that he didnt suffer.

i know what you witnessed was terrible and awefully disheartening. but there is nothing that you could have done to to change the situation at hand.

im sorry, i know this will take alot of time to heal

i know how you feel i had left my pit with my grandparents for 5 days while i had to visit my dad, when i came back she didnt get off the couch to greet me which was weird and then my grandmother told me she wasnt eating just throwing up for 3 days and i told her she should've taken her to the vet when she threw up more then once then the next day Dec.23,2006 she died right infront of me.

i blame myself along with my mom cuz she said i shouldnt take her with me, my dad cuz hes scared of any dog thats not a small breed, and my grandmother for not watching her.

i think bout her everyday and i cant the picture of her dieing right infront of me slowly

i was going to get a new pup but im so worried cuz i want it to be just like her but with my luck itll just be the worst dog i'll ever own

It's very difficult to move on if you've lost a pet. I had to go through something similar when Katie got hit by a car and died on the way to the vet. I didn't sleep for two days after that and I blamed myself for not watching her enough. There was a huge hole the size of a grapefruit inside my stomach, which made it difficult to eat or sleep any. But then we went to the Humane society and adopted this cute little puppy named Abby..but now Abby is recooperating from having a mild case of parvo this past week and I'm still worried that she'll end up throwing up again or her diarehha will get worse. So far, she has only had a couple rounds of diarehha and hasn't thrown up since we brought her home. I hope she'll continue to get better and will be eventually fully recovered in two weeks' time.

My cat marble got torn to shreds by my neighbors boxers, and i remember wanting to shoot them and their owner, and blaming myself for not being there to protect her. it hurts when you lost a pet, and it seems like a part of you died with it.
It wasn't yr fault yr neighbors dog died, just like, as i finally realized, it wasn't my fault marble died. Don't push yourself to get over your grief, but don't grieve forever, ethier. try doing something in honor of it, like volunteering at the animal shelter, or making a small donation in it's name. Just remember, grieving is natural, and so is death. I know it hurts, but it would have died anyway, sooner or later. Don't beat yrslff up about it.

quote:

Originally posted by sullybaby27:
it is not your fault the little guy got hit, he would have wandered into the road if you were or werent there.

i know the words of myself and other posters here wont be enough to settle your mind, but just know that the little guy may have lived a short life, but he was lucky to have you and his owner there to care about him as much as you all do. he is in a better place now, and please be glad to know that he didnt suffer.

i know what you witnessed was terrible and awefully disheartening. but there is nothing that you could have done to to change the situation at hand.

im sorry, i know this will take alot of time to heal

I know how you feel.My Mini Dachshund got ran over by a bus..Before I could get to him he was Gone. I will never forget that day Nov.28th 2006. He was 9 months old.And I just lost another Mini due the the Vet Nov,2,2007 She was She was 10 Months old. We want to try again But Im so scared. 2 Babies In one year. Im blessed with My older dachshunds I want another baby.I still cry for them.Take care..And It wasnt your fault.Just as I usta blame myself for my baby.What IF I was out there to stop the bus? You can WHAT IF till your blue in the face. Then again I still WHAT IF? Thanks N Wade

I've only lost my pets but I try to remember all the good time. It wasn't your fault. It was the driver's fault for not stopping in time. None of my pets have gotten run over but I would hate if it did happen. Maybe keep a picture of you and the dog by your bed and just think about the good times.
Hope this helps.