Hey, hugs.

It's shit. Losing a pet unexpectedly is totally shit. I had it happen last summer. It is absolutely heart wrenching. You don't get any time to accept it, like you do when they're old. You're allowed to be upset, you're allowed to grieve. Why are you hiding from your family? I assume they loved the dog like you. They're probably also grieving.

Unfortunately the only thing that makes it even slightly better is time.

My family, we got another dog almost immediately because our other one doesn't cope with being alone. That helped a little, there are so many dogs out there that need homes, and we know that helping even just one is the best tribute to our old dog that we can do. But I still cry a bit when I remember the old one.

Pets carve out a place for themselves in your heart, and when they're gone what is left is a hole. That hole never fills in. It becomes smaller over time, it can be patched over, built on. But it will always be there, and that's ok. So go hug your family, and remember the good times you had with your dog.