I disagree with her on one point. When my dog, Tippy, died, I was stunned. I could not talk about it then and even now, about 15 years later, I really can’t talk about it. Sometimes, accepting sympathy is not helpful.
I, too, miss my Little White Dog Chaos acutely yet and she has been dead since 2013. I still tear up and have no expectation of another little white dog. I have no regrets except I should have appreciated her even more than I did. Sighs.
I lost my cat five months ago. When someone, even an animal, is a bright part of your daily life for nearly two decades and then is gone...yes, stunned is an apt description.
I can’t talk about it either, so I agree with you there too. Sometimes sympathy, however well-intentioned, is salt in the wound.
Jimmy Stewart Reads a Poem About His Dog Beau on Johnny Carson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGnCIdHQH0