Grief Support for Pet Loss

The death of a pet can cause as much grief as losing a loved one. Pet owners and lovers know what I mean. To us our pet is like a human. Pets give us so much love and it is unconditional. That's what makes it so great. This was a difficult article to write for me. Even though I still have my precious cat Sasha with me, I know that inevitably I will lose her one day. She is part Siamese and around thirteen years old. As a person who lives alone, Sasha's companionship and unconditional love are priceless to me. I can not sufficiently put into words the joy and comfort she has provided to me through the years. She has curled up next to me when I'm sick, or cold in the winter. The sound of her purr comforts me when I've had a bad day. Needless to say I dread the day when we must part.

Although it's difficult to think about, death is a part of life, for humans as well as pets. In preparation for that fact, I have thought of a few things that may help you as well as me, when that time comes to get through the grief.

Scrapbook the memories now

I realize that looking at pictures and remembering is probably not what we will want to do immediately upon losing our 'beloved' friend, but a scrapbook will almost certainly be a comfort after a little time passes. You will want pictures to look at and remember the good times you had together. Take pictures of him or her as they play, eat, or sleep. Take a picture of the both of you and other family members with the pet. This type of memorial of your pet will be something you treasure in years to come. Everyone goes through the grieving process differently, so a scrapbook may also be something someone may get immediate comfort from. Either way, I know it will be something we regret if we don't have the memories on paper and in pictures at some point. So make it a point to start a Scrapbook or photo album now.

Seek the support of family, friends, or local pet loss support groups.

Talking through your grief with someone who understands will help tremendously. You have a feel for which friends, or family members would truly be sympathetic. Those are the ones you should seek out. The last thing we need as we are grieving is to talk to someone who has never had a pet, or one who doesn't like or appreciate pets. There is no way someone in that position would understand our grief. If there is no one you feel you can talk to, then check the yellow pages in the phonebook to see if there is a pet loss support group in your area. If there are no pet support groups available, you can get grief counseling or just someone to talk to or to listen to you from an online support group. A great online resource for this is PetSupport.net - The Online Pet Loss, Grief & Illness Support Network. At this site, you can go online and chat with someone who understands the grief you are feeling. The site also has ways you can memorialize your pet with markers, stones, memorial gardens, and other resources for making your pet's memory last a lifetime. Don't feel like you're alone in your grief, look for someone to share with and talk to. Don't internalize your grief; it can make you physically sick. You must express your grief outwardly in order to get through it.

Believe in "The Rainbow Bridge."

The Rainbow Bridge Poem is a beautiful poem about where animals go when they pass. If you've never read it, please do. I personally believe that there is a special place in Heaven, for each and every animal that dies. The Bible makes many references to animals, for example the lamb and the lion laying down together, Noah's ark , David and Goliath, birds, and even ants. God created all these and he loves each one. Animals are innocent creatures. They have no knowledge of right or wrong as humans do. They are totally innocent; therefore I believe every animal that has passed has crossed the Rainbow Bridge into Heaven. They are in a better place, but they miss us just as much as we miss them. Think about this and let it give you comfort to know they are being taken care of in Heaven.

I hope these suggestions will help someone bear the pain of losing your beloved friend.

Sources:

Petsupport.net

Rainbowsbridge.com