How to deal with the loss of a pet?

“What helps is accepting the reality of loss. Giving yourself time to heal from it is important. One thing to keep in mind is that grieving does not mean that you forget or “get over” your pet. It allows you to accept and cope with the reality of them departing this life. Gradually you learn to smile at their memory.”

When you lose a beloved pet it’s natural to feel intense grief and expect friends and family to provide comfort—But it is possible that it goes unacknowledged. It’s not only painful to mourn the loss of a pet but it can feel deeper due to the potential loneliness while grieving for a pet. But it is very important to grieve and understand that this is normal.

It is possible that you meander in and out of the feeling of sorrow. You might start to feel better, and then feel like a wave of grief has washed over you again. Some may even feel anger, which could be directed towards anyone who was involved with the pet- family, friends, and maybe even veterinarians. You could also feel guilt about what you did or did not do right.  

Having a pet is much like being a parent. And as a pet parent, we are responsible for another life, we ensure their physical and emotional well-being. So many of our daily activities revolve around our pets’ needs- going for walks, their feeding times, their social activity, grooming them, giving them company, playing with them and so much more.  Our pets also provide us with unconditional love. They are all accepting and become our loving companions. So the loss can feel really big and unbearable at times. We may become withdrawn or depressed. You keep getting reminded of them around the house. It’s difficult. 

What helps is accepting the reality of loss. Giving yourself time to heal from it is important. One thing to keep in mind is that grieving does not mean that you forget or “get over” your pet. It allows you to accept and cope with the reality of them departing this life. Gradually you learn to smile at their memory. 

What can you do to cope :

Experiencing grief over the loss of a pet is personal. But there are things you can do to cope better

• Acknowledging your grief is important, and letting yourself express your sorrow is vital. Allowing yourself to cry or talk about it can help ease the pain. If your pet is your only company in the house, if you live alone, it can be a little more difficult. The sudden silence in the house can be overwhelming. But acknowledging it will prepare you for the strong emotions you might feel. Suppressing your feelings of sadness can prolong your grief.

• Try not to think of the last moments with your pet. It is common to dwell on their last days and more so if they were hard on them. Instead, try to not think or talk about the day of them going away. Think and talk about your favorite happy memories with them, of the life you have shared with your pet. Remind yourself that your pet is not in pain anymore. 

• Put away the possessions gradually. Remove them to a different location first to help the transition. When you think you are ready, donate them to an animal organisation. 

• Reaching out to someone who can lend a sympathetic ear eases the pain of grieving. Reach out to friends, family, neighbors or support groups. There are animal communicators for telepathic communication with your pet if you believe in their practice 

• You could create a memorial for them in the form of a painting, a writing, or a portrait. Reach out to a pet portrait artist. 

• Write about your feelings, or write a letter to your pet about all the things you’d like to say to them or how you’d have liked to spend your last day with them.

The key to dealing with your grief effectively is being patient and kind with yourself. The loss comes with a variety of feelings that are real and painful. We may feel compelled to find ways to move past this sorrowful time but there will be times when there would be no answers to painful questions or activities to soothe our longings.

And in the end, they’ll be in our hearts and memories forever. Just send out a thank you to them for having them by your side as the greatest friend. Gone but never forgotten…