Our beloved 2 year Chowchow was killed early this morning when she escaped from the dogs sitters residence. We were assured and we verified during a visit that the garden was completely secure. We left her at 8.30 pm last night and got a call this morning at 4 am, advising us that she was missing. When we reached there around 4.25 am, we were told that the police found her and she was already dead.

Whilst we are trying to come to terms with this, we have so many unanswered questions. The dog was not able to jump and if there was no gaps in the fence how did she get out. The only answer that we got from the dog sitter, found through this forum, was that they did not know how it happened, and that she was let out with their dog for a pee at 3am.

She was part of our family for only 19 months but in that short time provided us with so much love and happiness. We would be grateful if anyone out there can help us to cope with this.

I don't have any words of advice, but I wanted to express my sympathies on the loss of your dog.

Was this a professional sitter?

Thanks for the message...I am feeling miserable...don't know what to do ...am struggling .
This lady was a breeder overseas and has been dog sitting for quite sometime here .

You have a lot to cope with. The loss of your beloved dog and anger at how it happened. Grief can manifest it's self in many ways and the only advice I can offer is be kind to yourself and let time do the healing.

So sorry for your loss.

I'm really sorry for what has happened to you. I can pnly imagine what you are going through. I second other posters by saying that you should try to give youself some time to cope with your loss, I understand you are (understandably) upset but I would suggest to first let yourself process the news, take care of what needs to be done and then decide on what to do with the sitter if that is what you decide to do. Informing yourself is a good idea.
Again my deepest sympathies.

No advice really. I assume you are not after some financial recompense just very sad and upset - and understandably so.

Apart from feeling very very sad for you - pets are such a special part of our lives - I think it may be one of those things that you just have to take time and then move on from.
Grieve, cry, shout, look at photos.

When you are able maybe ask the sitter if she has any more answers.

caz

ABM, I had tears in my eyes while reading you post. It is so sad.

Unfortunately I can not help you with advises how to cope with that case, I just wanted to say I feel very sorry about your lost.

I am so sorry for your loss, as a dog owner i can't begin to imagine how you must be feeling

I am not sure what to say and advise regards the dog sitter, I am sure they must be feeling devastated and guilty too - maybe in a few days when you have dealt with your grief then go and talk with them and try and figure out what went wrong

This is a horrible situation for you, and having lost a pet while in the care others myself, I can understand how you are feeling. The only advice I can offer is what Nicky has already said.

You have my utmost sympathies, and I wish you the best in coming to terms with this tragic event.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. As someone who's dog is a big part of our family, I truly feel your pain.

*HUGS*

I dont know what to say. I am very sorry...we feel your pain.

*HUGS*

What happened to your dog? Was she hit by a car?

We have no idea what happened. All we know is that the ambulance took her to the clinic and that she already dead. We were in completely shock.

Terrible news. Yet if the police and ambulance were there it must have been quite a scene, yet there were no witnesses and nobody can explain how the dog died Were you at work or out for the night? I can't imagine. It was a shame you were so close to the sitter's home yet... yet...

We were due to go away on a short break for 4 days and left her at the dog sitters yesterday night. We will get the police report etc on Monday but it wont bring her back.

I'm really sorry for your loss. This is really terrible.

I hope you find out what exactly happened because it will give you some closure. This all may be a really unfortunate accident, eventhough at the moment it doesnt make sense how it happened and the sitter seems responsible. I know it won't bring the dog back but understanding the situation does help.

I don't know if you had left your dog previously with a sitter but it could be that your dog was missing you and took a chance to escape and find you.

My cousin had a dog whom he gave away to a family living 10km from his house and the dog came back to him all by himself.

ing hell, thats such a horrible situation.

I am so so sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is devastating enough and so much worse if it happened unexpectedly. I cant imagine what you must be going through.

I really hope you'll be able to find out more about what happened soon. Understanding the chain of events will help you cope better and heal in time to come.

My condolences.

I'm really sorry to hear about that and sorry for your loss. I just lost my old dog a couple of weeks ago, but I have no idea how bad it might feel to lose the beloved one so suddenly in an accident

*hugs*

Oh my! What a terrible thing to happen. I feel for you. It doesn't matter how long a dog lives with you, they are still family members and everything that happens to them - both good and bad - affects us directly and deeply. You and yours are in my thoughts.

My sincerest condolences.

I'm so very, very sorry.

It is never easy to come to terms with the loss of a beloved pet - but when such a tragedy occurs out of the blue you will of course be in shock.

Grief hits us all differently, the ways we need to work our way through the pain differs as well. Once when I found myself unable to cope with the loss of a very special dog (I was in Switzerland, with no one to talk to in my own language) I turned to the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Helpline in the UK:

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site.../PBSSIntro.asp

The counselors at the Blue Cross were a great help to me - perhaps you might find them helpful, too.

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I hesitate to say this, as now is probably not the time - but when you feel able to cope perhaps there should be a follow-up discussion with the sitter. (Is the sitter a professional, registered with the BVet? Is she insured for her commercial activity? How did your contract deal with safety and responsibility issues?)
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For now, please concentrate on yourself and your family - and cherish the memories of the time you had with your dog.

I'm truly sorry, and wish you and your family strength to see you through this difficult time.