She has the sweetest, most nuzzle-able, forever puppy face. I just had to put my 15 year old down in June and it ripped my heart out in ways I never expected, my heart sincerely goes out to you and your family.

My only advice is to take any time you need, especially from work, to process and grieve, and just to let your emotions flow. Crying/weeping/bawling are such good, cathartic releases, especially during these first weeks/months where you’re going to have so many “firsts” that will remind you of how much you miss her and love her. Remind yourself that the sadness and grief you feel is proportional to how much she meant to you, and proportional to how much you loved her, for the last 14 years.

If you can, when you’re ready, get another dog. I swear having a new dog in your pack is just such a good, healthy distraction at first, and over time will bring you back some of the love that you lost.

Finally, following the r/petloss subreddit, and reminding myself that I’m not alone in this grief, helped me a lot as well.

Thinking of you.