Teddy, my 13-week-old Yorkie pup, died on October 30th.

I was in class when my mom sent me a video of Teddy having a seizure. The following text was “I’m not getting my hopes up that he’ll be okay. I’ll keep you updated.” I was immediately deterred from work and completely lost focus for the entire day. Prayers that my dog would be okay clouded my mind. 

Once I got home my mom told me she had left the dog at the vet and they were going to do all they could to save him. Later my mom left the house in a sad mood, she was about to surrender Teddy to the clinic. When my mother came home she was extremely distressed. She told me that he had died from an unknown illness on her way to the vets office.

The sudden loss of a pet can make you realize just how often people take them for granted, but with this loss you realize how dependent you were on them. If you have had the pet since you were a child or only had it for a couple days, there’s an immediate connection. 

The excitement, the idea of being able to grow with them, seeing the joy on your family’s faces. Only for it to be cut short in a matter of days. Seeing the joy being replaced with grief. And knowing you couldn’t have done anything to save them. 

Seeing the grief on my moms face is what made me the saddest. Teddy was going to be her emotional support animal and they had a connection. 

Growing up with a childhood pet and realizing you’re there for their entire life but they’re only in yours for a short part. The devastating loss of your best and most loyal friend can set you behind and make you wish you had just a little more time with them. 

For a lot of people, the death of a pet is the first time they experience grief.

Pet loss isn’t just death. Many people have no other option but to give their pet away, whether it’s because of health problems, lacking the funds to take care of it, or marital issues. 

I’ve lost many pets before. Every pet I’ve lost has been because of different circumstances. 

Last year I had a cat named Kiwi. She was the best pet i’ve ever had. I sadly had to give her away because I was allergic to her. 

Many people my age have recently been going through the loss of their childhood pet. Seeing their posts in tribute to their pet