How do you do it?

[Gazmo]

Over the last 4 days, ive lost both my gerbils and two of my fish. And honestly its making my brain hurt becuase things keep happening

Ive already decided im not getting anymore fish, just the ones i have left because its was to stressful to not have as much control over their health, just water treatments, and its so unpredicable how long they live.

But honestly im considering sticking to my pets now and not getting any more after them, i seriously dont know how im gonna keep buying them when i know the heartache that follows.

So how do you keep going with more pets without finding it impossible? How do you deal with it? x

[racinghamster]

Hi Gazmo. I get the same feelings because although it`s lovely to take in rescue hamsters and other small pets, it can be a strain when they take ill or pass away and we have to have the mental strength to cope. Keeping many pets can`t be easy as I imagine some will pass on close together which makes that burden harder to bare. I`ve never kept fish since I was a child and had the odd gold fish in a bowl! But having recently looked into Betta fish and the work that goes into caring for fish that require correct water parameters, I decided not to bother.

These days I`m lucky to have more than one dwarf hamster because I don`t have the physical energy that I used to have when I kept gerbils, mice and hamsters all at the same time. I miss my gerbils energy and fun playtimes though, they are such cheeky characters, so I know how it feels to lose them. x

[Gazmo]

thankyou RC, i love keeping animals but i struggle when anything goes wrong to be honest x

[souffle]

I think that in time you come to accept that is they way of life - life and death they have to happen and we never know when or where. Sharing the life of a pet and the joy it brings both you and them far outweighs the pain you suffer yourself when you lose them. If you know you have made their life the best it can be then accepting that you must part at some point and enjoying the life shared while you can and no matter how long it is is my focus.
Don't look to the future and worry about that in the present because it is a waste of emotional energy that drains you. Enjoy life now. You never know what the future holds and you likely don't want to or need to know. What is meant for you or your animal family will happen.

[Gazmo]

thankyou, that is very true x that is all very true, thankyou x

[Munchalot]

I agree. After the loss of so many, you do sort of learn to accept that death is just a part of life. It's not so much getting used to it, it's still always such a heartbreaking blow, but you do accept what has happened and draw yourself up, and remember them for what you loved them for, not for the loss of them.
I think that's one thing about having pets from a young age, you learn as a child that death does inevitably come to your animals, no matter how well you look after them. I myself had so many bunnies, fish, guineas and hammies as a young child, that I have grown to accept it, although it does still break my heart. I remember the first time I faced the death of a pet, our gorgeous Giant English Lop, Poppy. She was an amazing rabbit, I was only about 10 and it was so hard, but in time I accepted it.
Doesn't stop me from crying my eyes out every time I find a little one passed on, but I can look forward. x

I hope you're okay Gazmo, losing loved pets is never easy no matter how accustomed you are to it. xxx *hugs*

[Gazmo]

Thanks munch, im alright, i normally can accept it but after 4 in 4 days, its just blow after blow and everytime i dry my eyes and start thinking about their good lives, theres another one gone xxxx *hugs back* x

[BrainGirl]

((hugs)) to you! I've been struggling with acceptance all my life. I used to have real difficulty dealing with death but it's getting to be less of a blow as time goes on. I still grieve but it's not as crushing as it used to be. Maybe it's to do with getting older myself, maybe it's just experience. I've also said "no more!" though and look at me now

[Puddle]

When we bury ours I always just think 'he/she had a far better life with us than the majority of owners would give her'

I don't mean that in a big headed way either and not talking about members on here etc.

But they get everything they need and plenty of time out the cage every day and plenty of human contact.

I feel awful when they die but would be a hell of a lot worse if you didn't give them a great quality of life while they are with you.

[Gazmo]

i know what you mean brain girl, ill see how i feel when the time comes to get more but i dont think i can do fish anymore as much as i do love my litle finned friends :P

THankyou Puddle, I know what you mean, and yes, we do give them a better life than most would. But i guess with the amount of effort we put in it makes losing them worse x