Goodbyes are hard, especially when you are saying it to the one you love. The hardest time is when it is your last one. Sometimes you know it right when you say it, and other times it is unexpected. It is very difficult when it is the family animal friend you have deep attachment to.

My first hardest goodbye was with my first guinea pig. I did not know it was my final goodbye, and it happened when I least expected it. I grew up with him living in my apartment to moving into my home. I used to take him out, give him pets, and play with him for most of the day. He was everything to me as he was there for me through most of the events of my life. It felt good to know I had someone I could trust. He always seemed to sense when I was sad, so he would give me lots of kisses and cuddle with me. He passed almost ten years ago, and I could remember being with him like it was yesterday.

This was not the only difficult goodbye with an animal friend, as I have experienced two others that broke my heart as well. These goodbyes will not be the only ones I have with animal companions in my life. Although I know what it feels like, it’s never going to hurt any less. All of them had unique personalities and relationships with me. I cannot compare any of them the same, but they all seem to hurt just as bad as the next.

There is one thing I learned from each goodbye though. You cannot dwell on their passing as they will always be with me in one form or another. Some left me due to illnesses, and I know taking their pain away was the best thing I could do for them. Letting go of them does not mean you cannot think about them or love them any longer. It does not make you a bad person if you were not there for it or had to decide on it. They will always know you love them, as you gave them a wonderful life full of memories they did not forget. I believe that is what matters the most.