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SONDERKONDITIONEN: Satzpreis! Zac and Purdy were the best of friends (Collect/PA Real Life). *** Grieving woman who was signed off work for a
fortnight after her dog died says it was "like losing a
child" and people need to be more thoughtful
By Harriet Bullough, PA Real Life
A woman who was signed off work for two weeks due to her crippling grief after her
beloved Labrador passed away has likened losing her dog to losing a child - and is asking
people to be more thoughtful to bereaved pet owners.
Wendy OGrady, 47, a retail store supervisor from Egham in Surrey, instantly fell in love
with puppy Zac when her husband Mike, 51, a council worker, brought home the nine
month old chocolate Labrador for her in 2009, after she had suffered 10 miscarriages.
A surrogate child to the couple who were unable to have children and a source of comfort
to both, the pair were grief stricken when their precious pooch was diagnosed with cancer
at nearly 12 years old in July 2021, forcing them to make the heart -breaking decision of
putting their beloved pet down.
Wendy, said: "Losing Zac was just like losing a child.
I cant even explain the grief. We were inconsolable. After 12 years, to not see him come
to the door when I came home was heart-breaking.
The couple have suffered their fair share of heartache and, after Wendy suffered 10
miscarriages during 15 years of trying to conceive, Mike bought Zac home in December
2009 from a farm in Wales.
Realising they needed someone to love, Mike's aim was to lighten up their lives, which
they the precious pooch did in abundance.
It was a really hard time, said Wendy. I just couldnt conceive a nd we were having a
rough time.
"So, when Mike bought Zac home, he completely lit up our lives. It was instant
connection.
"The first moment I saw him, as we sat in the back seat of the car, I fell in love with his
sweet nature."
Soon Zac was the centre of the couple's lives and Wendy said: He just became our baby.
"Mike supports Egham Town Football Club and Zac went to every match and was a
known regular at the games.
"I loved picking Zac up from football as he was so excited. I loved walking him hom e - he
would be prancing around as he was so happy.
He was full of love and made us into a family.
In 2012, the couple adopted their second fur baby, Purdy, now 10, who is a black
Labrador and pointer cross.
"Zac and Purdy got along so well, they became instant friends," she said.
But tragedy stuck in July 2021, when Zac became unable to walk properly and the vet
discovered he was seriously ill.
He had cancer in the spine, Wendy remembered.
"We took him to the vets as soon as he became poorly and he was put on medication for
seven days.
"But his spine was literally crumbling away, there was nothing anyone could do.
"The medication didn't work, and we slept downstairs with him for five nights as he was in
a bad way. He was so unwell and in a lot of pain.
On the last night, nine days after he became unwell, he wasnt himself. He was sick and
wetting himself and we just looked at each other and said we cant let him continue.
Making the tough decision to put Zac down on July 12, the couple say th ey were faced
with indescribable grief.
It was such a hard decision. We were with him at the vet's surgery as he passed and it
was just awful. I just couldnt cope with losing him, Wendy said.
I cant describe what it felt like. Purdy was devastated. She even came to the vets with
us to say goodbye and gave Zac a kiss.
The grief was so bad that I was signed off work for two weeks.
Zac was like my child, he was the glue that held our family together.
But when Wendy tried to open up to people about how she was feeling, they often
seemed uncomfortable or didn't want to discuss it.
"I think it would have been helpful if they had addressed what Mike and I were going
through," she said.
Alongside processing her grief, Wendy was devastated when a relative also became ill
and was hospitalised in that same week.
The strain caused Wendy's autoimmune condition, Sjogren's syndrome - a long-term
condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, like tears and saliva, and can
lead to dry eyes and a dry mouth - to flare up.
Wendy said: The stress of everything caused my autoimmune condition to worsen.
If we had a bad day or I was feeling unwell before, Zac would be there. It was
devastating going through it without him.
Now the couple have created a memorial for Zac in their garden, planting a rose bush
surrounded by a love heart fence, and keep his ashes inside an oak box engraved with
his name in the living room.
Weve done a lot in Zacs memory, said Wendy.
We keep his ashes in the living room so hes always with us. Friends had cushions and
plates made with his face on so he really is all around us.
But despite such sadness the couple found a moment of happiness when on August 21
this year they received a surprise gift from a family member, a puppy, Zebedee.
We have a new addition, Zebedee, said Wendy.
Hes only nin

Hund tot: Frau lässt sich freistellen

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Hündin Pauline liegt geschwächt auf dem Boden.

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hund,wolfsspitz *** dog,keeshond km5-j79

SO hießen Hunde vor 60 Jahren

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iStock 000064660121 Large.jpg

Durch Corona: Tierärzte am Limit!

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Gerade von einem Nickerchen erwacht, kurz mal ans Handy gehen. Auf einmal schießt ein SUV durch die Schlafzimmerwand!

Auto kracht durch Schlafzimmerwand

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Die beiden süßen Vierbeiner wurden von Autos angefahren und dabei lebensgefährlich verletzt. Jetzt bekommen sie durch spezielle Rollstühle ein neues Leben.

Hunde bekommen ihr Leben zurück

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Hund mit verbundener Vorderpfote beim Tierarzt

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Bild zu: "In der Rolle eines Haustieres"

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Hunde: Alle News & Infos - Seite 112