13 Loss of a Dog Quotes: Comforting Words After Losing a Dog

The experience of losing a pet isn’t easy – it’s one of the cruelest facts of life that we continually outlive our beloved dogs and cats.

Losing a dog is tough, but hopefully pet mourners can find comfort in these quotes about dog loss. While pets lives’ are temporary, our love for them is not.

Also check out our guide on how to deal with the loss of a pet.

More Quotes About Losing a Pet

“People leave imprints on our lives, shaping who we become in much the same way that a symbol is pressed into the page of a book to tell you who it comes from. Dogs, however, leave paw prints on our lives and our souls, which are as unique as fingerprints in every way.”
― Ashly Lorenzana

“If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. ”
― James Thurber

Dog Loss Poems

A Dog for Jesus

(Where dogs go when they die)

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master’s Heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it’s delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they’re in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, “Wait, I’m coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

– Rudyard Kipling

Missing You

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “It’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew…
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
and say “Good-night, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out… then come home to be with me.

– Colleen Fitzsimmons

Knowing

If I had known that on that day our time was near the end
I would have done things differently, my forever friend.
I would have stayed right next to you deep into the night
but I thought I’d see you in the early morning light.

And so I said “Good night” to you as I walked in through the door
never thinking of the time when I’d see you no more.
But if I had known that on that day our time was at the end
I would have done things so differently, my forever friend.

– Sally Evans (written for Shoo-Fly)

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies
that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm
and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health
and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your
special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head,
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your
life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together

– Unknown

A Man and his Dog

A man and his dog were walking along a road.

The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him
that he was dead.
He remembered dying and that his dog had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of
the road.  It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken
by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch
that looked like mother of pearl and the street that led to the gate
looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate and as they got closer, they
saw a man at a desk to one side. When they were close enough,
he called out, “Excuse me,  where are we?”

“This is heaven, sir,” the man answered.
“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the traveler asked.
“Of course, sir. Come right in, I’ll have some ice water sent right up.”
The man gestured and the gate began to open.

“Can my friend,” gesturing toward the dog, “come in too?” the traveler asked.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought for a moment, and then, turning back towards the road,
continued the way they had been going.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, they came to
a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

There was no fence. As they approached the gate, he saw a man inside,
leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water?”
“Yeah,  sure,  there’s a pump over there”. The man pointed to a place that
couldn’t be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in.”

“How about my friend here?”. The traveler said, gesturing to the dog.
“There should be a bowl by the pump” said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an
old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink, then gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man
who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.
“This is heaven,” was the answer.”

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the
road said that was heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and the pearly gates?
Nope, that’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”
“Nope, I can see how you might think so, but we’re just happy
that they screen out the folks who’ll leave their best friends behind.”

– Unknown         

Want more quotes about furry four-legged friends? See our list of 25 best dog quotes, or read our guide on:

• How to Deal With the Loss of a Pet: We talk about the pet grieving process and what comes next.
• Touching Pet Memorial Stones: A compilation of pet memorial stones that can serve as touching tributes to pets that have passed.
• Custom Pet Portraits: Custom pet portraits are another way to create a loving tribute of your pet that you can hold on to forever.
• Dog Urns: A review of pet urns that can be used to house the remains of pets, serving as a lasting tribute.
• Crossing the Rainbow Bridge: Create a beautiful FREE online pet memorial page where you can share photos and memories of your pet who has passed.