Understanding Pet Loss Grief Coping with death of pet...

"I have held the hands of friends as they died, baptized stillborn infants, helped families decide when to disconnect life-support systems and worked with parents whose children were killed. Each of those experiences was painful. Nevertheless, at the moment my pet died, the loss was the very worst kind of grief for me in the whole world . . . Never apologize for grieving. Remind yourself as often as needed that the very worst kind of loss is always yours. Learn to acknowledge that your loss is worthy of grief . . ." Rev. Troy Wilson, Minister

Coping with death of pet... Taking it hard? It is perfectly understandable for you to be experiencing a serious grief over the death of your beloved pet! And don't let anyone belittle your loss or take away your right to a fitting bereavement. One of the best things you can do to help yourself is come to the realization that although most outsiders don't understand, you are perfectly justified in your deep feelings of grief and loss. May you find comfort and understand your distraught feelings a little better after reading our pet loss page. Below you will find the answers to these probing questions: *Why am I devastated over the loss of my pet? *I am more upset over this than the death of my (friend, relative). Is this wrong? *What are the normal signs and symptoms of pet death bereavement? What can I expect?

*Should I get another pet? *How can I help my children deal with the death of their pet? *How can I deal with people who don't understand what I am going through? *I just can't cope with this loss alone. Where can I get help?

Coping with death of pet... *Why am I devastated over the loss of my pet? You may be surprised at the intensity of your sadness when your pet dies. You may wonder if you are weird to be grieving so deeply over the loss of "just an animal". NO, you are not weird or abnormal. It is normal and healthy to mourn the loss of a deep love bond, whether that tie was to a human or an animal. Outsiders may not understand, so just console yourself with this thought: You hurt deeply because you loved deeply! It shows that you have a big heart and compassion for all of God's creatures. This is something to be proud of, not ashamed of or embarrassed over. You have lost a beloved member of your family and this deserves a proper bereavement.

Coping with death of pet... *I am more upset over this than the death of my (friend, relative). Is this wrong? It might help you to think realistically about your relationship with your lost pet. The love you received from him was different than the complicated love relationships you might have with humans. Your pet likely adored you! He was always there for you, never criticized you, never held grudges, and always forgave you, no matter what. Are there any humans in your life that have ever given to you this selflessly? For all this love, your pet expected no more from you than a good belly rub or ear-scratching, right? A pet can be the only source of pure, unconditional love that you will ever know. They winnow their way into your heart and become a trusted member of the family; a comforting presence in your intimate day-to-day life. A human acquaintance or relative that doesn't live with you just cannot impact your emotional life to that degree. You also receive tactile comfort from a pet; touching, stroking, rubbing their fur. You might even kiss or hug them and confide your deepest thoughts to them, knowing they will never betray your secrets. Your pet has probably seen you naked, in all your glory, and he never

told anyone about your big belly or sagging behind! Your pet likely expressed pure joy and excitement when you returned home after an absence. Did your grandfather ever do that? I am sure that you loved your grandparent, or Aunt Nelly, or even your co-worker who was lost in an accident. And you will grieve properly for them. But the unconditional love your pet gave to you created a different and very strong emotional attachment, a comforting presence that is sure to missed heartily. So our message is this: don't feel guilty for hurting deeply over the death of your pet. Stop comparing the pain of that loss to how you felt about the death of humans in your life. These are two very different kinds of losses, and naturally will be mourned in different but appropriate ways.

Coping with death of pet... *What are the normal signs and symptoms of pet death bereavement? What should I expect? If you had a significant love bond with your pet, your grief can be just as heavy as with human loss. "Your Pain" and "Coping Strategies" are just as severe, as ANY other loss that can be experienced. The information provided in these sections can apply to pet loss grief just as well. There is one major difference, however. You will not have near the social and emotional support that a human death would bring. In general, our society does not recognize the significance of pet loss or allow for a proper bereavement. You may even be embarrassed or uneasy about expressing your grief to others, and may end up feeling isolated and alone in your grief. When a pet dies, there are no formal and public rituals, like the funeral, where sorrow can be openly expressed and emotional support freely given. You cannot change that, but you can and should validate to yourself that your grief is normal, proper, and nothing to be ashamed of. It might help you to know that grief, whether over a human or pet death, is an individual thing. Some people take just a few weeks to sort out their grief, while others can take months or even years. The key is to not deny your grief. Let it be, experience it fully, and it will follow it's own natural course to a successful resolution. How to help the process? Seek out people who will let you express your grief. A warm, understanding and supportive listener can help tremendously. But be careful about who you choose to confide in; some people just don't take pet loss seriously.

Coping with death of pet... *Should I get another pet? Do NOT rush to get another pet anytime soon. Your beloved companion who died can never be "replaced". Each animal is different, with a unique personality and a special bond with it's owner that cannot be duplicated. Let your grief run it's course, let your bereavement resolve. You need to be ready emotionally to welcome a new animal into your life. Don't rush this. You should no more rush to the pet store to get a new pet than a bereaved husband should rush to a dating site to replace his beloved wife! But when the time is right, do get another pet. Sure, you risk getting hurt again when your new pet dies, put it's worth the price, don't you think? Would you have foregone the joys of having and loving your lost pet just because you knew he would die one day? The act of bringing a new animal into your life shows courage, strength, and hope for the future. Your heart is big enough to eventually welcome another animal to your side!

Coping with death of pet... *How can I help my children deal with the death of their pet? Children feel as sad and emotionally distraught over the loss of a pet as adults do. Never minimize your child's grief or make them feel ashamed of the sadness they SHOULD be experiencing. Often, adults may think it best to protect or shield children from loss, whether to human or pet death. This is a big mistake. Honesty is the best policy when dealing with bereaved kids. Tell them honestly how the pet (or human) died, and do not use euphemisms like "went to sleep", "passed on" or "went to heaven". Use the words, killed, died or death. Children need concrete explanations, not subtle adult concepts. Make sure they understand that the pet will never come back, but that it was not in any way their fault that the animal died. Arm children with the truth to ensure a healthy grief resolution. Their imagination or "magical thinking" leads them to more fear or guilt than the plain facts ever would. Once again, do NOT rush out to get your child a "replacement pet". You will perhaps rob him of a very valuable life-learning experience. He needs to grieve fully the death of his companion and come to a successful resolution of that grief first. Perhaps then your family will be ready to accept another animal into their hearts.

Coping with death of pet...

*How do I deal with people who don't understand what I am going through? These are two very common statements you are sure to hear: 1. "It was just an animal"; or "just get over it." 2. "You can always get another pet". Both of these statements by well-meaning friends show a profound lack of understanding and empathy for your pain. You know what? They just don't understand, and have probably never suffered the pain of losing a beloved animal themselves. The best thing you can do is simply to forgive them for their ignorance. They really do mean to help. Let insensitive comments roll off your back, and don't let them make you feel like you don't have a legitimate right to grieve. Avoid these "well meaning" folks and contact someone who does care, and will listen to your tale of grief without trying to "fix everything". Contact us, for any form of grief counseling.