Grieving the Loss of a Pet

Posted on Sep 30, 2011 in All Blogs, Loss of Pet, Moving Forward | 0 comments

Saying Good-bye

A friend of mine had to say good-bye to a loved one this week. Her dog, a.k.a. “best friend”, lost his battle to illness after providing over a decade of loyalty, amusement, and devotion. My young friend’s heart broke as she held her faithful companion while he took his last breath. What greater love is there than to put your own feelings aside for the love and comfort of another? He passed this life peacefully in the arms of love.

 

Significant Loss

Grieving the loss or death of a pet can be extremely painful. In many cases, a pet has become friend, a confidant, a buddy, and even a comforter. Pets selflessly give us companionship, faithfulness, acceptance and unconditional love; pets enrich our lives. Many times, pets are treated as family members and participate in regular household activities. They work their way into our daily lives, the family unit, and ultimately into our hearts. Their innocence and carefree attitudes bring a lighter side to life and is a welcome attribute to most homes. Pets offer so much with their presence, therefore when they are gone, there’s a void. This kind of loss is significant and should be recognized as such.

 

“Good Grief”

My friend’s pain and sense of loss is overwhelming to her at this time. She said, “It was the worst day of my life. I can’t stop crying.” Even though her grief is powerful now, my friend is experiencing “good grief”; it is active grief. She is acknowledging her feelings openly and not pressing them down only to rise up later. Grief of any kind cannot be ignored; it must be addressed head on so it can eventually fade. She can talk about her feelings, the situation and let out any emotions to someone trusted. It may help to talk about the memories and reflect on good times. This can be a painful process, but necessary for progression. Eventually the intense pain and grief will ease; however, the affection and memories of a wonderful relationship will remain forever.

 

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