Grieving the loss of your Pet
There is no pain like losing our beloved pets. For many of us, our pets are our soulmates, our fur-babies, our best friends. They are irreplaceable. Only you, your pet’s human(s), suffer the terrible loss of this unconditionally loving relationship; your family and friends may not understand how much your pet meant to you or expect you to quickly “get over it,” while you remain shocked, heartbroken, and sick with grief. Pet Heaven is a place to honor your pet’s life among a community of fellow animal lovers who know what you’re going through. Posting a remembrance page on Pet Heaven creates a digital space that you can visit over and over again to stay in touch with your pet’s immortal spirit. Their body may be gone, but your pet’s spirit is alive in your heart, mind and soul forever.
Get involved with a local shelter or rescue group. As a pet parent, you’ve likely developed highly specific caretaking skills after so much time tending to the needs of your pet. Working with pets in need is a great way to keep yourself engaged with meaningful work as you grieve. If you’re thinking about adopting another pet some time in the future, working with animals in some capacity will help you decide if a new pet is the right choice for you. It can also be helpful to connect with others who work with animals, as they are more likely to appreciate the depth of your loss than your loved ones who have not lived with pets.
Seek therapeutic treatment. If you find your grief is interfering with your ability to function, don’t hesitate to seek out treatment from a therapeutic professional. Many mourners experience depressive episodes when a pet dies. Working with a psychologist, psychiatrist, acupuncturist, massage therapist, or other therapeutic professional can help pull you out of a depressive state. There are also pet loss support groups available for those who want to join a community of mourners and express their feelings in an understanding place.
Coping Strategies
We all cope with loss in different ways. It may take some time to determine which coping strategies are most helpful to you as you grieve. Writing your pet an obituary on Pet Heaven is one way to celebrate their life and reflect on the many aspects of your shared relationship. Thinking about how your pet impacted your life can ultimately help you move forward in the grieving process.
Here are some other coping strategies we recommend:
Take care of yourself. You are processing a tremendous loss. It is easy in times of acute stress to lose track of your daily needs. Make sure you’re drinking enough water, eating well, and getting enough sleep. If exercising is part of your daily routine, continue to make time for it. If you have other pets, they are surely grieving the loss of your late pet, too. Increasing play time and/or walks with your pet will improve everybody’s mood for at least an hour or two.
Write a letter to your pet. Throughout history, human beings have written letters with no intention of sending them to their addressee. We do this to make sense of the strange and complicated ideas and emotions that tangle up inside us. As we write about ourselves, we begin to understand ourselves, which makes our seemingly-unbearable feelings just a little more bearable. You may find it cathartic to write to your pet about what you loved about them, things you’ve wondered about their time on Earth, or how your life has changed since they passed. Maybe you just want to tell them about your day or draw them a sketch of their favorite treat. These little offerings in your pet’s memory are a sweet and thoughtful way to honor their presence in your life and immortalize the special relationship you shared.
