Hi everyone, I’m really struggling right now and could use some honest opinions.
My dog passed away this afternoon, and I’m honestly still in shock. It was sudden, traumatic, and I was there when it happened. I’ve had her for years—she wasn’t “just a dog” to me. She was my constant companion, followed me everywhere, slept next to me every night… she was family. Losing her like this has completely broken me.
The situation feels even worse because my family is currently visiting and staying at my house. Less than an hour after everything happened, while I was still crying and trying to process what I’d just gone through, they started casually talking about dinner plans like it was any other normal day.
When I told them I didn’t think I could go, they brushed it off. I got comments like, “it’s just a dog” and “we’re leaving tomorrow, we should go out.” It felt incredibly dismissive. I wasn’t trying to ruin anything or make a scene—I just physically and emotionally couldn’t handle sitting in a restaurant pretending I was okay.
I tried to explain that I needed time, that I wasn’t being dramatic, I was grieving. But they doubled down and said I was overreacting and being too emotional.
At that point, I felt completely unheard and honestly really hurt. So I grabbed some things, got in my car, and booked a hotel room. I told them they’re welcome to stay at my place, but I won’t be seeing them tonight or tomorrow. I just need space.
Now I’m sitting here wondering if I overreacted by leaving like that instead of just staying home and ignoring the dinner plans. AITA?
Edit:
For some added context, we recently realized my dog may have ingested an Adderall pill. My nephew dropped one while playing yesterday, and we couldn’t find it afterward. Based on what the vet said, that’s the most likely cause.
Edit 2:
My nephew is 9, and my brother has him manage his own medication to teach responsibility. Apparently, the pill fell out of his pocket while he was outside playing. I wasn’t told about it until later that night, and by then it was too dark to properly search. I tried again the next morning before work but couldn’t find it.
A few hours after I left for work, my brother called saying my dog was acting strange. By the time I got home, she was already seizing. We rushed her to the vet, but she didn’t make it.
What really hurts is that instead of taking her to the vet immediately when something seemed wrong, they had gone out to the mall first. I can’t stop thinking that maybe things could have been different if they had acted sooner.
I’m devastated, angry, and heartbroken all at once.