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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

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Help Brandon!

March 4, 2017

MY DOG IS GETTING OLD, AND I’M REALLY WORRIED!!!

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Hi Brandon. I really need your help. I have the sweetest, most amazing dog. His name is Pickle. He’s always there when I’m sad or sick, and he’s always happy to see me. He’s been around almost my whole life. But that means he’s really old. I’m starting to get scared that he’s going to die!! What should I do??

I Love Pickle

Hey I Love Pickle,

Oh wow, I’m so sorry to hear this.

But first of all, let’s focus on the positive. Pickle sounds like a very special dog! And you’re so lucky to have had him around for almost your entire life. Dogs can be such amazing companions – there’s a reason they’re called man’s best friend! (And woman’s and girl’s and boy’s, too.)

They can become so important in our lives that they are a part of the family. I almost wrote ‘they’re like a part of the family’ but they really ARE a part of the family. So when a dog dies, it can be huge deal.

But, Pickle is still alive! So instead of getting sad before you have to, make sure you really enjoy all the time you have left with him. And make sure HE enjoys his time left. He’s done a lot for your family. He’s been there when you’ve been sad. He’s protected you from squirrels, mail carriers, plastic bags floating by, and those pesky monsters in your closet. He’s probably cleaned up after you when you’ve left food in your room or even eaten food you slipped him from the dinner table so you didn’t have to eat it.

So, fill whatever time he has left with all the things he loves best. If he’s well enough to go on walks or play fetch, make time for lots of that. Make sure he’s getting the best food and treats. You can even find recipes for wholesome dog treats online. Give him lots of snuggles and attention. Basically, give him a taste of all the love and affection he’s been giving you for all these years.

And who knows—Pickle might have longer to live than you think! Dog life expectancy ranges a whole lot, depending on the breed and other factors.

But, eventually Pickle WILL die. And when the end comes, your family will do what needs to be done. I’ve had dogs that had to get put down. It sounds awful—and it is—but when they get to the end, you can see that they’re in pain, and that keeping them alive any longer is for you, not them. And at that point, you owe it to Pickle to make sure he doesn’t feel any more pain than he has to.

When a dog gets put down, you can be there or not, depending what you and your parents decide. But here’s what you should know: getting put down doesn’t hurt the animal at all. The vet gives them a quick shot, which puts them to sleep first, and then it’s over. It only takes a couple minutes, and you can be there, giving Pickle lots of love along the way.

It’s so hard, but it means your sweet doggy will be at peace.

Once Pickle is gone, be prepared to grieve for a while. You won’t get over it in a couple weeks or even a couple months. You might miss Pickle for years. He was a part of your family for a very long time, and it will be completely normal to miss him when he’s gone.

It might help to have some sort of special ceremony after he’s gone. I’m not talking about a big funeral service, but just your family, or whoever loved Pickle most, gathering today to remember Pickle. You could bury him (or his ashes) with a favorite toy, or his dog bed, or a letter telling him how much he meant to you and thanking him for all he did. You could even plant a tree where he’s buried.

And then, when your family is ready, you’ll consider getting a new dog. It won’t replace Pickle. Nothing could. And you might not be ready for a while. But Pickle would want you to share your love with another dog, and eventually, you will.

How have other readers handled it when a beloved pet died? Did you do something special to say good-bye? And, did you get a new pet?

Category: Ask Brandon Tags: Petsnikki

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Comments

  1. PrincessPinkie says

    March 19, 2017 at 3:11 am

    OMGoodness! That’s SO sad !! Sorry, I had to let it out. But anyway, Brandon’s right. Dogs are WAY older than most people think they are. Whoever came up with the idea “dog years” is a nimkapoop. Dogs should live as long as humans in the same amount of YEARS that humans live. Once you get a dog, he/she feels like a part of the family after a while, sometimes like how friends who’ve been around forever feel like a part of the family. If pickle dies, then, yeah, if you wanna, have a little get-together and bury him with some of his fave things. Not that you WANT him to go, but do all you can with him with the time he has left. I just wish I had a PET!! Well, we had like probably 15 different fish and two frogs. All of the fish died except for 3. We gave them all away before we moved. But they still died. May they Rest In Peace.

  2. I Want my pets 4EVER ;-; says

    March 18, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    I understand ;-; Best of luck to Pickle. I have a cat named Sasha who is 18. Without her I don’t even know what I would do. She’s so sick and I can’t bare to see her gone. My dog jelly is also 9. She’s doing great and I hope she can keep it up for as long as possible. By the way pets and animals are the high light of my LIFE! And if they pass away I probably get no more pets. Making me sad thinking about it

  3. LOVE DORKYNESS says

    March 18, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    When my cats die, i just hug my family and cry really hard

  4. snichnel cat says

    March 18, 2017 at 7:28 am

    i feel sorry for pickle IF HE DIES

  5. Anonymous says

    March 17, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    I had a cat that died.

  6. lilDorkyDiamond says

    March 17, 2017 at 1:06 pm

    poor pickle T-T

  7. Cat lover says

    March 17, 2017 at 9:06 am

    I have a cat named pickles XD I may dont really like dogs but I hope pickle will be okay :T

  8. SweetWolfXD says

    March 17, 2017 at 6:42 am

    Hi! I just wanted to say that you are the most amazing dog owner I’ve ever seen! Pickles is lucky to have such an awesome owner! But everybody has to go sometime, but if you carry them in your heart, then they’re never really gone. Even if he does pass away anytime soon, then he wouldn’t want you to be sad. When you cry, he would still run up to you and lick your face, and want you to be happy! You should just enjoy your time with him instead of being sad!

  9. I Feel So Bad For You! says

    March 17, 2017 at 6:24 am

    I had a dog that I loved so much as a little kid but she lived a very long life and died when I was five. To this day I miss her very much but I know she is having a better life now instead of suffering.

  10. Derpy says

    March 17, 2017 at 4:19 am

    Sorry I literally cried reading it!!

    • It's muffin time says

      March 18, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      Me too T-T

  11. I'm sorry. says

    March 17, 2017 at 12:13 am

    I kinds cried when I read this. I’m sorry.

  12. Olivia says

    March 16, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    Oh i love dogs

  13. Dork diaries lover says

    March 16, 2017 at 9:54 pm

    I hope Pickle will be okay.

  14. Kawaii Dork says

    March 16, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Don’t worry! Both of my hermit crabs died, and the rest lived. Pickle sounds like a lucky dog. My dog died two years ago. He was a yorkie, and was so much fun! But now I know he’s safe and happy in heaven. One day, he’ll meet Pickle maybe!

  15. Dog lover says

    March 16, 2017 at 8:55 am

    Your dog is lucky to have a owner that care’s about him/her! Wish you the best of luck!

  16. Dork Diaries fan says

    March 16, 2017 at 2:06 am

    Thank you for advice

  17. Dog missed says

    March 15, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    I use to have a dog named”Goldie” and he died. I was really hard to get over! Sometimes I cry to sleep thinking about him! At first my grandfather said that Goldie ran away, but I found out that he said that so I wouldn’t get too emotional and start crying!!!!!!!

  18. Undertale Lover 1372 says

    March 15, 2017 at 5:56 pm

    Im really sorry about Pickle. I’ve had 2 dogs put down beacause of illness. But, while it is sad, just keep in mind that he (or she) is in a better place!

  19. sasha says

    March 15, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    I feel bad for you Brandon!

  20. cute puppy says

    March 15, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    sooooooooooooooooooo soorry i really mean it

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