topic Re: Surrendering Pet + guilt and shame in Anxiety

Surrendering Pet + guilt and shame

Guest_05885315 — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:49:19 GMT

After an incredibly stressful 24 hours, I had to make the awful decision to surrender my little dog Grub. She is unwell, but will continue to receive Vetirinary care with the rescue agency. It was going to add up to thousands, and I financially have let this dog down. Also, when the grubs acute illness started, my mental health plummeted and a lot of unresolved internal issues arose - and I realised I cannot care for her. I had been spending the last few weeks realising, Grub deserves stability consistency and peace that I cannot provide her. Since I first got her, I've struggled to help her find peace even with moving to new environments, training with behavioural trainers, medication for her anxieties and stress, and endless love. I am such a failure for this. I don't even know if she will get better but she is in the care of someone who is more resilient than me and can manage it. She is such a good dog. I know in my heart that there is a better home for her and people that can better help her get well. I let her down, I let her get sick and then I couldn't manage. I just wanted to post to try seek some comfort from this community, because I'm feeling awful. I'm scared of getting negative comments because of what I have let the situation becomes, but I'm so alone right now.

Re: Surrendering Pet + guilt and shame

Picture — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 05:42:50 GMT

Hello - I am sorry you are going through this difficult time. You have done the right thing rehoming Grub in circumstances where you feel you can’t manage. It can’t have been an easy decision. Be kind to yourself. If you need to, remember you can access mental health support through your gp. Thinking of you.

Re: Surrendering Pet + guilt and shame

melodica — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 07:53:08 GMT

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Do not feel guilty about surrendering your pet. I know it feels awful, and you will go through grief, but you did the right thing. Reach out to Beyond Blue if you need to chat to someone, and people here on the forums are here for you too during this difficult time.