Our Dog Will Be Our Son’s First Heartbreak

And It’s My Fault

Kenobi Wrapped in a Burrito Blanket | Photo by Author

Before my husband and I had kids, we had pets. We started with an elderly cat I brought into the relationship. Over the years, we adopted a puppy (who is now an 85-pound dog) and another cat. Four years into sharing pets, we introduced our son into the mix.

Our older cat is 13, the younger cat is probably 4, and the dog is 3 years old this year. The average lifespan of a Great Pyrenees, the dominant breed of our dog, is approximately 10 to 12 years. So when our dog is 10, our son will be 8 years old. Our son won’t be old enough to remember the passing of our older cat. He may understand in the moment when she is no longer around, but he probably won’t remember the event, which will erase the emotions and heartbreak.

As we currently navigate handling the onset of health issues our elderly cat is starting to face, I think about what it will be like when our younger pets start to age. Our older cat has pre-existing health conditions that already set her at a disadvantage, so I am already on the mindset of being on borrowed time with her. We have started monthly arthritis shots, daily medications for unknown weight loss, and a possible soft tissue injury. Annual vet visits have turned into a minimum of monthly vet visits for her. Every change in behavior is now something to be worried about with…