Dear Abby: I had to euthanize my dog and I can't begin to describe the depth of grief I'm experiencing

"I lost my beloved puppy, "Truffle," nine months ago. She was almost 15. I had to euthanize her because she was ill and suffering. I cannot begin to describe the depth of grief I'm experiencing. Her loss has been harder for me than any human loss. We had a connection that words cannot express. Truffle captured my soul. I work from home, and we spent every day together."

"My husband doesn't understand my grief and can't wrap his mind around my affection for an animal. He has tried to be understanding, but now he says he can no longer be supportive because it's senseless for me to grieve this way. He said that life should be about HIM now, and my grieving is taking away from the attention he should have."

A woman lost her nearly 15-year-old puppy, Truffle, to euthanasia nine months ago and experiences profound grief that surpasses previous human losses. The dog provided daily companionship while she worked from home and formed an intense emotional bond. Her husband minimizes the loss, calling the grief senseless and insisting life should focus on him, which has led her to hide her pain. She is receiving grief counseling privately, keeping journals, and compiling a memory book. A possible underlying dynamic is prior jealousy over the pet's role. Continued counseling, memory preservation, and direct communication about boundaries and needs are important.

Read at nj