how long should you wait after a pet dies to get another pet.?

Question

My best friend's dog died the week before christmas and her mom wants to know how long she should wait.

Answer 1

Until the person says they are ready for a new animal. Some people want a new pet right away, and some people need time to grieve. Tell the friend to say when she's ready.

Answer 2

It depends on several things. How long did he or she have the pet? How close were they to their animal? How long would you suspect that it will take him or her to grieve?

I think under nearly any circumstance, two weeks is not long enough. The new pet would feel like a replacement attempt and a replacement is not what a pet owner wants when their animal companion is gone. They want THERE pet back. Only time can heal the hurt of loss.

I am very close to my dog. He is always with me if I am not at work or somewhere where he can't go. If he were to die, I would be devastated. It would be months before I would consider wanting another pet. I think at the very least three months is a good amount of time to wait before offering a new pet to your friend.

One other issue in this situation is that of picking a pet for a friend. This can be problematic for several reasons. What you want in an animal companion could be very different from what your friend wants. Make sure your selection is appropriate for your friend. You definitely don't want to bring home an unwanted pet. There are way too many of theses already. Good luck.

Answer 3

It depends on the person and on the pet. When my cat Puddy died I was going to wait a couple months. I went to a local shelter to see what kinds of cats were available and ended up falling in love with one and bringing her home the very same day. This was after only 3 weeks. 11 years later, when that cat died, I could barely last 1 weeks without the companionship of a cat. Of course, at that time I had seen a cat who had been living in the shelter for 2 years and needed me. My vet had advised waiting longer, but once he knew that I wasn't replacing my cat, but adding her 'sister', he knew that I was ready.

Your best friend and her mom should talk about when she might be ready. She could be ready right now, or she might want a little longer to grieve for her pet.

Answer 4

I live on a farm with livestock and horses, so I need a dog around all the time. When my dog, Rascal, died, we looked in the classifieds and found a puppy that same day. We went and picked him up that same day. If you need a pet around then you need one. If this is a pet for just around the house, then it depends on the person and how close the two were.

Answer 5

She should wait until she is able to think about the dog without crying, until she is sure she would be able to love the new dog without making comparisons to the old one, and until she feels ready.

When I lost my beloved Baxter, I waited six months. It felt like forever, but that was as soon as I felt I could give the new puppy the love and attention he needed without feeling like I was being disloyal to Baxter's memory. I think it was the right time. I still miss Baxter, but Bogey is another dog entirely and I am able to love him for who he is, without making comparisons and without thinking Bogey is less of a dog than Baxter was.

It's different for everyone, but I think a week is not enough time. Let your friend grieve for the loss of her dog for awhile, let her remember all the fun they had together, and how much the dog was loved, and all the cute, quirky things the dog did. Let your friend have that memory for awhile, until she is able to look back at the memory and not feel such an enormous sense of loss.

My condolences to your friend on her loss. Losing a pet is one of the most difficult things in the world.

Answer 6

Probably she shouldn't wait that long. If her daughter was really attached to the dog, she'll be feeling pretty lonely and will want another pet to fill the other dogs place. I would advise she not get a dog that looks exactly like the other one, it will spark too much sorrow.

Answer 7

Right away TO 3 or more months.

I got one 3 months later...But, my Uncle's dog died before Christmas and the next day he got a puppy, but it worked great for his little kids, because their mind is completely taken off of the dead dog, love the new dog, and they were happy for Christmas and are now.

Answer 8

ASAP! My dog died and I mourned her every minute of the day! I was SO depressed! They are a very important memeber of the family. My husband works nights, so she was my company. Two days before my husband went back to work, he was looking for a puppy for me, he found a yorkie for me the night he had to go back. The new responsibility of taking care of a puppy took my mind of mourning. I didn't have to miss not having a dog. I still miss my old dog, but I couldn't love my yorkies more. I would get one as soon as possible! Hope my answer helps! Good luck!

Answer 9

When your friend's heart is ready, she will get another pet, or one will just show up at the right time. Tell her mom to not try and replace her lost pet. She will be ready when she is ready, and may not be ready for another one. Let your friend be the judge of her own heart, she will find another one when she's ready.

Answer 10

It all depends on you!!! If you think you need another pet to get over the first one , go ahead. My grandmother had a cat for 20 + yrs, this cat grew up around my mom & her sister and then lived to see my sister & I as well. Once she passed , well we had to end up putting her to sleep, my grandmother said she didn't want another cat , but she still ended up with one maybe 2 or 3 wks later, and it really help her getting over process!!