For some people, the relationship they have with their pet is the most important one in their life. Their dog may travel everywhere with them and even sleep on the bed. Of course this is not surprising when you consider that dogs in particular offer their love and affection unconditionally. A dog loves you no matter what, so if you have had a bad day at work and it feels like the whole world is going to Hell in a hand basket, a dog will lick your hand, gaze into your eyes, and remind you that at least one creature thinks you are wonderful. Because of this, it can be incredibly hard to deal with the death of a beloved pet, so how can you cope with the loss without falling apart?
Don’t Trivialize Your Feelings
Never underestimate how hard it is to lose a pet. Dogs and cats are often a big part of the family and when the time comes to say goodbye to Fred or Fluffy, your sense of loss will be very real. To others, it may seem as if you are over reacting, but the loss of a pet is the same as losing a close friend and your emotions will feel just as strong. Embrace your loss and allow yourself time to grieve the death of your beloved pet. Depending on how close you and your pet were, it could take weeks or even months to recover, so take it easy on yourself and do not let well meaning friends and family try and tell you your feelings are not valid—they are.
Give Your Pet a Funeral
A funeral is a good opportunity to say goodbye to a beloved pet. It doesn’t matter how large or small the creature was, you can hold a remembrance service and invite others to say a few words or prayers. Some pet owners opt to have their pet cremated or buried in a pet cemetery, although this will depend on the size of the pet. You could even bury your pet in the garden if you have the space, although this may not be an option if your best friend was a 17.2HH racehorse.
Embrace the Happy Memories
Once the initial pain of your loss has passed, you can look back on all the good times you and your pet enjoyed together and embrace the happy memories. If you don’t already have lots of photographs around the house, dig some out and place them in attractive frames. You could even pick the best picture and have it printed on to canvas.
Time to Move On
Eventually the time will come when you feel ready to move on. It may take a while, so don’t rush things, but one day you will be able to think about your pet without tears welling up in the corner of your eye. You may even feel comfortable with the idea of welcoming a new pet into your home.
The loss of a pet is a bereavement in every sense of the word, so if you are struggling to deal with your emotions, seek professional help.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
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