Comfort for Your Family when a Beloved Pet Dies

When my beloved Sir Pooch died, I had no idea the impact it would have on us. He had been part of our lives for 14 years and we were devastated. We longed for comfort, closure, and a way to honor his memory. In expressing grief to friends and family, time and again I heard people say that losing a pet had been one of the most difficult times in their lives. Maybe that's why a Yahoo! search on "comfort when a pet dies" yields almost seven million results.

Ways to Celebrate Your Pet's Life

Here are some creative, meaningful suggestions to celebrate our pets' lives, express love, give tribute, find closure and comfort.

Comfort for Children When A Beloved Pet Dies

1. Tell the story of the Rainbow Bridge: "Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge." At this bridge, the old, sick and hurt animals become young and strong again. They play and run over the hills and meadows, always keeping an eye out for "their people. "
2. Have the children help make an online Rainbow Bridge memorial for the pet by writing stories, selecting the available icons and art of toys, treats and flowers to place at the headstone in this virtual cemetery.
3. Send a balloon bouquet into the sky. The children can go outside, release balloons and watch them soar heavenward. Who is to say that their beloved pet can't see the balloons from Rainbow Bridge?

1. Make a Memory Box together. Adults and children alike will find meaning and comfort in gathering up the pet's favorite things and making a memorial showcase. Include the collar, dog or cat tags, a favorite toy or two, a biscuit or other treat that will hold up over time (or a drawing of it), photos of your pet as a pup or kitten, as an older pet, and with family members. You may want to print out the pet's name on textured paper, along with a brief story or anecdote about its life. You can also have a small brass plaque engraved to include on the box. Then line a wooden box with velvet or other fabric, and artfully display the items in it. They can be glued down, or even sewn to the fabric. Use a glass top for the box, or stand it up as an open shadow box.
2. Create a special photo album or scrapbook that tells the story of your pet's life.
3. Plant a tree or a flowering bush in your yard in honor of your pet.
4. Have a candlelight ceremony, with each family member telling a special story about your pet.
5. Sprinkle the pet's ashes in its favorite places to run and play.
6. Gather comforting quotes and poems about death and loss. This one, "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal" comes from a headstone in Ireland.
7. Scripture-reading families can look up verses indicating that all God's creatures live on, such as Revelation 5:13 NIV. " Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
8. Review Patti Walden's article showing websites and listings of other resources that help in grieving the loss of your pet, including hot lines, online forums and discussions.

Your family needs time for bereavement when a beloved pet dies. Working through grief with ceremonies, reflection and pictures is not only very healing, it's a way to keep the memories of your pet alive, so you will always have them. Remember, someday the grief will subside, but the love will remain.

Special thanks to:

Patti Walden, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2737549/resources_for_those_grieving_the_loss.html?cat=53
My niece, Lisa Sutherlin, for the kind words and the Irish quote.
All those whose eloquence and sympathy means so much.

Other sources:

www.rainbowbridge.org/
Personal experience