Is it normal to cry all the time and feel so empty?
Yes, it is normal. Many people cry a lot and feel empty after their dog dies. The RSPCA says feeling this bad is normal.
A real example
The RSPCA in the UK has surveyed over 4,000 people about pet grief. 66.9% were surprised by how strong it was, 72.6% lost their daily routine, and 65.9% had trouble sleeping.
What others said
「Our dog of about eight years passed this morning. The whole family is heartbroken.」
Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026「My old dog in the hospital died this morning, and I'm heartbroken as I get ready for the cremation.」
Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026「Since my chihuahua died I've felt so lonely, and I still call out the name when I get home.」
Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026「My 18-year-old Sheltie died, and on the seventh day I wrote about slowly getting back to daily life.」
Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026「My sister's 19-year-old miniature pinscher died tonight, and remembering its life with our dogs makes me so sad.」
Shared online (reworded) Japan, Oct 2026「My husky passed away last night, and I want to say a proper goodbye.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026Show 25 more
「I'm saying goodbye to my dog who just passed. He was my best child.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「My dog passed away this morning. Here's a photo from the day before.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「Yesterday I had my Pit Bull put to sleep.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog passed away today, and I am so heartbroken.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog of 16 years passed away today, and my heart is broken.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog just passed. I said goodbye, and I'll love it forever.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「Last night I suddenly had to put my dog down, and today is really hard.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog died five weeks ago and I haven't walked since, and now I see the routine and company my dog gave me.」
Shared online (reworded) forum, Europe, Oct 2026「My dog died two weeks ago, and I cry at any moment, feel empty, and don't know how to go on.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「We put my dog down last night, and I'm so low that I took it all out on the game.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「I put my dog down on Tuesday, and seeing a dog storyline in a show hit me hard.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「I put my dog down last month, and I feel like I've aged years in this one month.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog just died, and every time I go to the corner shop, the owner and I cry for my dog together.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「My Boston terrier died today, and I'm posting this in memory.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「Today I said goodbye to my dog of almost 13 years.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「This morning I said goodbye to my dog, who was almost 17, and here is my favorite old photo.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog died last Wednesday, and back at work nothing feels real; it's harder than I expected.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My daughter and I cared for our old dog until we couldn't anymore, and today we said goodbye, heartbroken.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My 13-year-old schnauzer died this afternoon, and I wrote eight posts in a row in memory.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「My dog died at the vet's, and the car ride home was so quiet it hurt.」
Shared online (reworded) Europe, Oct 2026「Yesterday I was with my dog for the euthanasia on my lunch break, and today I'm at work, angry and numb.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026「Our little dog just died, and less than a week later I lost my job, and I can't handle it.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「My little dog didn't make it and is gone.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「I couldn't cry when a relative died, but I broke down sobbing when my dog died.」
Shared online (reworded) Latin America, Oct 2026「I just had my dog put to sleep, and it hurts so much.」
Shared online (reworded) English-speaking, Oct 2026What people do in different places
Sources
Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.