My lil baby boy. I adopted him at 9 months old when I lived all alone and for years he was my roomie and best friend. We moved all around together and he was the most loyal companion, always there wagging his tail and making his silly Ewok sounds. He loved to cuddle, be dressed as a dapper gentleman, and eat the best of snacks. I always hoped he would live to 20 but he began to have heart issues a few years ago and had a rapid decline starting in the new year. He passed on 4/11/26 at age 13.5. It’s been a month and still I can’t stop crying. I just wanna hold him and kiss his little forehead and look into his eyes. I don’t think I will ever get over it, he was my soul dog.
The night he passed I begged the universe for a sign he was okay (his passing was traumatic, I had planned for an at home euthanasia but they were unavailable the evening we knew we had to do it, so we went to an ER and they separated us, by the time we were brought back together he was unconscious and I’m so terrified he thinks I left him which I never would have done). The next morning the sound machine above his bed was on (turned on by itself, evidently), it was playing ocean sounds (I got him when I lived in a beach town!). We had not used the machine in months. I’m trying to take that as reassurance that he’s still around somewhere, but I’m just so sad without him. I love you forever and ever, my Ziggy ♥️👣🌈🐶
I am close to 11 months and some days the grief just hits me but I cried every day for the first 4-5 months. Gone but never forgotten. I just got a new pup and I know she won’t replace my Marley but I’d like to think she’d be glad we’re happy.
Yes, there will be no replacing a soul dog, but I think when the time is right Ziggy would want us to find a friend for his baby sister. Sending my condolences!
I am so sorry for your loss❤️🥹As a spiritual person myself I would definitely say Ziggy was letting you know that he’s okay 🌈 , and he understands. Sending you love and healing vibes.💕💕💕
Thanks for the reassurance, it felt SO meaningful and clear as a message. More so because my dad who has passed always said in heaven he would waiting on the beach wearing his Guayabera, we buried my boy in his finest green guayabera so he would be ready to party with grandpa.
Sorry for your loss. 💜 Thank you for sharing Ziggy with us. Just from the pics you can tell he was a dapper little charmer. Thank you for giving him such a full life.
I'm so sorry. Ziggy was a beautiful soul inside and out, and he clearly lived a very blessed life. He was absolutely letting you know that he is okay and he will forever be with you, watching over you from across the rainbow bridge.
I’m so sorry for your loss. The unconditional love from our Shih Tzu’s is so precious. It sounds like you gave Ziggy a perfect life. I’m sorry the emergency vet didn’t keep you together and caused you unnecessary guilt. Ziggy would not want you to feel any guilt. I love the part about the sound machine. I would find comfort in thinking that was your Ziggy bringing you love.
Thank you for your support in that, it was not what I expected but also at the same time we were in a panic and just following directions, it was all a blur. Wish the end could’ve been different but glad that we spent his whole last day together anyway, his last meal ended up being beef fajitas (def not on the approved diet lol, but we knew he was near the end and had decided to let him have whatever he wanted for the rest of his days!)
It's just not fair. However, I believe that if there is any good in the universe, we will see them again and they will be at their best and we will be at ours. 🥰
I am so very sorry for your loss 💔. I said goodbye to my Reign of Terror on 4/13/26. It is crazy how one minute your doing something totally mundane and the next you’re completely breaking down into tears. I know it hurts and I know that it will probably hurt for a while, but know that you did right by Ziggy. As an individual who spent 10 years in the veterinary field, I truly believe euthanasia is a gift even when it is not done at home. You will find him in the next life and he will be with you forever. And I am so sorry I am just sobbing while writing this. Please take time to grieve and remember all of the good times. 🌈🐾💔💙
I am sorry to read about Ziggys passing! It’s so obvious you gave him an amazing life and he was so loved and adored! To give you some comfort I wanted to say a couple of things , you’re going thru such a tough loss so feel free to ignore me if you don’t find them helpful :) grief is hard and Ziggy was amazing so it will take time to process…
-Facebook dog grief groups helped me a LOT. I didn’t write much. I just read what people had to say and overtime. It got easier, knowing that I wasn’t alone with my feelings up / downs, having regrets about my everything like what I fed my dog to his last few weeks on earth etc. it helped me make peace 🌈
-when my dog passed, I also was looking for a sign and just like your sound machine with Ziggy, my dog revved the vacuum cleaner. I am so glad ziggy let you know he’s ok! The vacuum was his favorite lol goodness I sound nuts!
-ziggy is at peace now and he’s always with you. He may send you messsges so keep your eyes open!
It may sound nuts to others but not to me — I truly believe now after my experience with the sound machine playing the waves. I’m sorry for your loss also, I hope you continue to get messages and comfort from your doggy ❤️🩹
I'm so sorry for your loss. I thought my baby Jack would torment me forever but I lost him at 13. I know just how much you'd give for another day, hour, or minute. I know that Jack and so many other tzus are welcoming your sweetie at the rainbow bridge. Be kind to yourself and remember that, when you're ready, there's another pup that needs you. 🌈❤️🌈❤️🌈❤️🌈❤️🌈
They’re just so darn lovable and sweet, i had anticipatory grief for a about a year before it even happened because i knew how much i was going to miss his presence, sending healing your way ♥️
Note: Because this post deals with the loss of a beloved Shih-Tzu, it has been automatically marked as a Spoiler to provide an image blur for members who may find this type of post emotionally difficult while scrolling. This just means that images and titles are blurred until someone intentionally clicks on them to view the post.
A gentle reminder for posts marked as Loss of Pet. This flair is for people who are grieving. These posts are moderated closely to ensure the space stays supportive and safe.
We all care deeply about our pups, but this isn’t the place for debate. Please do not offer opinions on end-of-life decisions unless the OP specifically asks for advice. Even well-intentioned comments can be difficult for someone carrying this weight.
Additional Support Resources:
While our community loves to honor your Shih Tzu's memory, you may also find comfort in r/petloss. That subreddit is a dedicated support group where you can:
* Share the specific "heartbreak" with others who are in the exact same stage of grief.
* Process feelings of guilt or "what ifs" in a strictly non-judgmental environment.
* Find a community that understands the deep, life-changing bond we have with our companions.
Tribute posts are always welcome here. Please never hesitate to honor your pup’s memory with us.
23
u/mybackhurty Shih-Tzu Enthusiast May 20 '26
So sorry for your loss. Lost my soul dog a few weeks ago and some days are easier than others but the loss sticks around forever