Dealing With The Loss Of a Pet

For most people, a pet is not merely a pet, but a companion or simply a part of the family. And when a pet dies, they experience the same amount of grief and pain as they would experience if a human family member should pass on. This is normal as a pet can fill a void in your life, become a companion, and be a friend. Because of this intense human-animal bond, pet bereavement is deep and painful.

Grief is one of the most inevitable consequences of death and is a natural and healthy process. Grief over the death of a pet should be allowed to happen openly and freely, but should not be all-consuming.

It is normal to grieve over the loss of a special relationship, especially one that was filled with joy, fun, comfort, unconditional love and companionship. And while grieve over the death of a pet is normal, many people will not understand the intensity of your pain. Just remember that you are not alone, and that millions of people around the world deal with pet bereavement on a daily basis.

If you are experiencing the death of a beloved pet, here are a few tips to help you cope with the grief and move on:

Feelings you can expect:

Different people experience grief in different ways, so unless you have experienced grief before, there is no way of really knowing how you will deal with it. Sorrow, loss and pain are three obvious feelings associated with grief, but you may experience some of the following emotions as well:

Guilt - Guilt is usually associated with the death of a pet, especially if the death was accidental. There are immediate thoughts of 'if only'. It is often said that guilt is the most useless emotion you can have, and it only makes it more difficult to resolve your grief.

Denial - Denial is another painful emotion which does not help the grieving process. Some owners may feel intense feelings of denial, not accepting that their pet is really gone.

Anger - Another natural emotion, anger may be directed at the illness that killed your pet, the accident, the veterinarian, the owner himself or even God. Sometimes anger can be justified, but when taken to the extreme it distracts and damages your period of grief.

Depression - Another natural consequence of grief, depression leaves you feeling powerless, tired, and emotionally exhausted. Extreme depression leads to demotivation and loss of energy, hope, and even interest in life.

What to do about your feelings

Firstly, you need to be honest about your feelings. Do not bottle up your feelings and deny yourself the opportunity to grieve. This will only lead to long term feelings of guilt, denial, anger and even depression. The only way you can move on is to grieve and come to terms with what has happened.

Do what you need to do to get through the grief. Cry, shout, and talk it out - whatever helps you deal with the pain. Some people find it easier to write down their feelings than to talk about it. If this sounds like you, start writing - poems, stories, a journal, or create a memorable photo collage.

Talking it out

Speak to your family members as they are probably going through the same pain as you. Friends with pets will also understand your pain and offer a consoling shoulder to cry on. Human support is often underestimated, but it is an incredible help in times of need. Speak to someone who knew your pet well and someone you feel comfortable crying and grieving with.

If you do not have family or friends who understand, your vet or humane association may be able to recommend a pet loss or grief counsellor to help you deal with your loss. Your church may also offer free grief counselling. Remember your grief deserves proper support and guidance.

Buying a new pet

If possible, do not buy a new pet immediately after your previous one has passed on. You need time to work through your grief, and buying a new pet will not help. Do not think that a new pet will take the place of the old one. If you are still emotionally scarred, you may even end up resenting your new pet, or may feel 'disloyal' to the previous pet.

When you are finally ready to get a new pet there are a few do's and don'ts you should remember. Do not expect the new pet to be the same or even similar to the old one - preferably, try to get a different breed this time around. Never give your new pet the same name or nickname as the old one, and don't use the same pet accessories on your new pet. And do not, under any circumstances, compare your new pet to the previous one.

Buying a new pet should be symbolic of starting afresh and moving forward, so it should be only be done once you and your family are one hundred percent ready.

This article was written by Pet tags and offers information on dealing with the loss of a pet. For more information on pet tags visit us online at http://www.pet-tags.com


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