Sep 01 2008
6 Step to Ease Grieving for a Lost Pet
Pets are our family members. Plain and simple. We nurture them, watch them grow, take pride in their accomplishments and revel in their companionship. For these reasons, and so many more, the loss of a pet can be a devastating and traumatic experience.
Step 1: One of the most difficult aspects of grieving for a pet is dealing with the lack of understanding that you might receive from others. Many non-pet owners simply don’t acknowledge the bond we experience with our pets and have a hard time accepting that we feel we’ve lost a member of the family. Be prepared for insensitive comments such as, “It was only a dog!” and even prepare a standard response to people who are hurtful in your time of loss. You might try something like, “Scooter was a beloved part of my family and I would appreciate your support while I grieve for him.”
Step 2: Accept the stages of grief as they come. Most likely you will experience regular stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance. They may not come in that order and they may overlap each other, but just be prepared to experience them.
Step 3: Find a friend to talk to who has been through the loss of a pet. Sometimes, only those who have been through it can truly offer us comfort.
Step 4: Do something with your grief. It’s not enough to talk with friends. You can create a memorial in your home with your pet’s favorite photo, his paw print, and a few special written memories. You can plant a tree in your garden and place a stone with your pet’s name in front of it. You can volunteer at an animal shelter or make a charitable donation to one. If you’re creative, create a scrapbook or decorate a picture frame.
Step 5: Continue the activity that you shared with your pet. It might be hard at first, but if you hiked a special trail with your animal, continue to do so.
Step 6: Allow yourself time to mourn. Everybody grieves differently and there is no unique timeline for your grief.
Many pet owners wonder when it is appropriate to get another pet. Again, there is no magic timeline; you will know when the time is right to open your home and heart to another pet.
About the Author: written by Jessica Taylor and provided by pet-super-store.com a pet site featuring aluminum dog crates, dog doors and dog beds.