Navigating the loss of a pet.

Losing a pet is a deeply emotional experience that touches the core of our hearts. Pets are not merely animals; they are family members who bring a huge amount joy, companionship, and unconditional love into our lives. When the moment comes to say goodbye, it can feel like a piece of you has been lost. This post explores the journey of pet loss, the emotions it evokes, and coping strategies for this profound experience.

Understanding Pet Loss

Grieving the loss of a pet can unleash a wave of emotions. You might feel sadness, anger, guilt, and sometimes even relief. It is not surprising that for many of us, this loss feels on par with losing our human family - as in many circumstances we may interact with our pets even more regularly than others around us.

It's essential to understand that grief is a process and everyone's journey will be different. For some people, the sadness will be instantaneous and overwhelming, while for others they may take longer to process their feelings or their grief may be more internalized and silent. It is important to allow yourself to fully experience these emotions without judgment and remember those around you processing the same grief are entitled to feel it differently too.

Preparing for Your Goodbye

In the instances where we know the goodbye is coming, preparing for the farewell can be one of the hardest parts of losing a pet. Remember, it is okay to start an open dialogue with your vet if this has been on your mind. Your vet is there to help you assess your pets quality of life, and help to determine when may be an appropriate time to say farewell.

The Day of Farewell

The day you say goodbye may feel overwhelming and you need to find a process that feels right for you and your family. Consider where you may like the goodbye to happen - is it appropriate to go to your vet clinic, or does it feel right for you to say goodbye at home? You may also want to consider what may be right for your pet afterwards - do you have a special place or bury your pet or would you like to consider cremation? Thinking about these things in advance can help create more ease when the day actually comes.

Other things that people often do to cope on the day may include:

• Writing a letter to your pet about your life and cherished moments together.

• Burning a candle or playing a special song.

• Feeding those extra little treaties.

• Kids may like to draw a special moment with their pet.

• Talking about cherished moments out loud.

It may help to keep visiting places you went with your pet, even after your goodbye.

Coping with the loss and finding a space for healing.

As the initial shock fades, new feelings may emerge. It is important to remember that is okay to feel a wide rang of emotions, and that some days are going to feel alot harder than others. It is also important to realise it is okay to feel moments of joy and happiness too throughout your grief experience.

Support is also crucial during this period. Seek comfort from friends, family, or even pet loss support groups, counsellor or reach out to your vet for recommendations on support throughout this time.

As time passes, the sharp pain you once felt may soften, but this doesn’t mean you have lost the love you feel for your pet. Remember it is okay to keep them in your conversations and find a way to honour the relationship you had - e.g. you may like to still visit a special place you used to go together.

Remember, it is okay to think about allowing a new pet into your life when you are ready. This does not mean replacing your lost friend, but rather making space for new memories and love. It's essential to take your time and ensure that you are emotionally prepared for this next step. This time frame is going to be different for everyone and it is important to not place judgement or expectations on anyone around this.

Finally, healing from pet loss takes time and patience. It's essential to show love to yourself throughout this journey and reach out to your support network as needed. Ultimately, your experience with pet loss reflects the deep bond you shared, a bond that persists on even after they have gone.

Written by: Dr Tegan Hadley

BSC (hons), DVM