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This is a sensitive subject and a highly personal one. There isn't any right or wrong answer here. The reasons I am asking is because there was a man on one of the grief groups who lost his pets within a period of several years. The last pet passed about a year ago. He is still not coping well and there are a number of reasons for this. He readily admits he is a loner and doesn't have any friends because he's always had trouble making friends. He's only ever had pets and has said emphatically that animal were his life and the only source of companionship that he has ever had. I can relate sort of, only I'm not a loner and I don't have trouble meeting new people. I love animals but I like people too.
Now he has been saying he will never get another pet again, ever. That's understandable. Especially in the early days of grief. I said that too right after Garfy died. Then not three days after he died, I saw Gracie running loose in the neighborhood. It was 7 months later that I trapped her and brought her inside to stay with me. Never say never! But this man lost his last pet over or close to a year ago. He still maintains that he NEVER expected his pets to die, ever. That statement is concerning. Don't we all know, in the back of our minds, that our pets will die before us? Or we worry what if we go before them?
Here is his quote: "I never, not even for a second thought my pets were going to die. It was a non issue with me. The fact they have died is a shock."
Is that thought concerning to you? That's something a person says when grief is new, but it's not new for him. He is not coping well. I feel bad for him but how much can anyone do for him if he refuses to talk about it?
What I don't understand is why a person would cut off the only source of companionship he has ever had? He says this is a non-issue with him, except for the fact that he keeps bringing it up over and over and over again that he will NEVER EVER EVER get another pet. It almost seems like he wants someone to challenge him so he can change his mind? I'm really not sure. The one time I reached out to him he flatly rejected any help, and has done this time and time again (with others).
I'm not sure why he keeps reinitiating the conversation. Humans beings are very complex, right?
So what are your thoughts here? If you were in the same situation as this man, god forbid!, would you ever adopt again after losing your pets? Even if you aren't in the same exact situation, would you adopt again?
Now he has been saying he will never get another pet again, ever. That's understandable. Especially in the early days of grief. I said that too right after Garfy died. Then not three days after he died, I saw Gracie running loose in the neighborhood. It was 7 months later that I trapped her and brought her inside to stay with me. Never say never! But this man lost his last pet over or close to a year ago. He still maintains that he NEVER expected his pets to die, ever. That statement is concerning. Don't we all know, in the back of our minds, that our pets will die before us? Or we worry what if we go before them?
Here is his quote: "I never, not even for a second thought my pets were going to die. It was a non issue with me. The fact they have died is a shock."
Is that thought concerning to you? That's something a person says when grief is new, but it's not new for him. He is not coping well. I feel bad for him but how much can anyone do for him if he refuses to talk about it?
What I don't understand is why a person would cut off the only source of companionship he has ever had? He says this is a non-issue with him, except for the fact that he keeps bringing it up over and over and over again that he will NEVER EVER EVER get another pet. It almost seems like he wants someone to challenge him so he can change his mind? I'm really not sure. The one time I reached out to him he flatly rejected any help, and has done this time and time again (with others).
I'm not sure why he keeps reinitiating the conversation. Humans beings are very complex, right?
So what are your thoughts here? If you were in the same situation as this man, god forbid!, would you ever adopt again after losing your pets? Even if you aren't in the same exact situation, would you adopt again?
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