How to cope with the loss of a beloved pet
Our pets are a priceless part of our lives, but the unfortunate truth is that most of us will outlive our pets. With the exception of parrots, tortoises, and other long lived species, most of the animals we choose to keep as pets have relatively short lives. We will be there for their passing.
The role of our pets has shifted through the years into the role of a family member rather than an animal companion, and that amplifies the pain at their passing. If you’ve lost a pet, here are a few ways to help with coping.
Acknowledge your feelings
Too many people say “It’s just a dog,” or try to invalidate feelings caused by the loss of a pet. It was not just a dog, it was your best friend. It’s okay to express your feelings when you are grieving, and to acknowledge the fact that the loss of your pet hurt.
Finding a supportive person to talk to, writing your feelings down in a journal, or even joining a pet-loss support group may be a good start in expressing how you feel.
Create a memorial
A memorial is a great way to commemorate your pet. This can be anything from a fundraiser for your local shelter in memory of your pet, a picture collage, or a scrapbook. Creating a memorial is a way of showing your pet mattered, both to you and to the other people in his life.
If your pet died of cancer, raising money to go towards cancer research in pets, or to support the medical bills of a pet in a similar situation, can help ease the pain of your loss while benefiting another. A scrapbook is much more personal, but will help you relive old memories as you weave together the story of your pet’s life.
If it’s too painful to think about your pet right away, it’s okay to wait to do your memorial until you are in a better frame of mind. Grief is a process, and no one can tell you how long it should or could take.
Take your time before getting a new pet
Trying to fill the void of your pet’s loss with a new friend is understandable, but it can be unfair to both you and the new pet. No matter how great of a pet it is, it will not have the same personality as the old pet.
It’s difficult for anyone to live being constantly compared to someone else. Instead of getting a new pet right away, give yourself time to heal, and when you get a new friend acknowledge that they can never be your old pet—but they’ll be good enough as who they are.
Pet loss is always hard, whether it is a favorite goldfish or a dog that has been in your life for over a decade, but it is part of the immense joy and love we get as owning pets. Grieving a pet is a normal thing to do, and an important process when we have lost a loved one.