Grieving the Death of a Pet
I have a friend who is so afraid that she'll grow attached to an animal, that she never wants to own one. Even a goldfish. Because they all die before her and she says she can't handle that. She'll grieve too much and even thinking about the death of a pet is almost too much for her.
Because she is so focused on losing the animal, she completely forgets about the 10 or 15 years of loving it! As an animal lover,I really think by having this gloomy train of thought, she is missing out on a lot. And we humans think about dying, but animals never do. They seem to enjoy every day as it comes, and depending on the species, doing what they're supposed to do. I've learned a lot from my animals over the years, like enjoying the moment. Being at peace when you hear the birds singing; they don't think about dying when they flap their wings and tend to their young. Being happy when, on a cold day, the sun shines through the windows: the cats are purring in their sunny spots, not thinking of dying at all!
So, when we lose a pet we've loved and cared for, we grieve. Which is understandable because we'll miss the little characteristics that was that particular animal. Of course animals grieve too, when the owner dies, there are cases when the animal stops eating and definitely shows all the signs we have when we grieve.
I think it's normal when an animal-family- member dies, and I always give myself time to grieve. But at a certain point I tell myself to stop. Because life goes on and I have to take care of my other animals, who need my attention as well. And after a couple of days I pick myself up again and get on with business.
All the animals that have passed away in my life (and there's quite a lot of them now) live on in my heart. They are fine now and I'm at peace with their passing. I have given them my love and the best care I could give them while they were alive, and that, I feel, should be enough.
So grieving for a pet is okay, but don't draw it out. Remember: there are other animals waiting for your love, and who will love you back!
Published by MJ
I never knew I could write until I joined AC. I paint, I write, love animals and ironing. (no not the last one but it looked better). View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentYou're so right, Mary-Jane. My oldest cat died suddenly yesterday and my husband and I are grief-stricken. We have a younger cat left to care for, so we'll try to focus our attention on him now. But it does really hurt when a pet dies.
Sophie
Right on! Pets are family members and so it is entirely natural to go through a grieving process. When the time is right, though, like you said, there are plenty of other animals out there who desperately need a loving home and good, responsible companion. another gem from a multi-talented babe!
Wonderful article. I have known people that are that way. Animals are like men, they come and go but a few stay and get to totally endure your love you have to give, just the cat doesn't talk back, well.......as much anyways! Finally got my first week's homework done and it's 4 am hopefully when i awake sometime preferably in the afternoon i will go down the street and start working tonight if i can catch the owner of the bar to tell me when to start, really no big deal, i'm so tired from interviewing at jobs day and night, and college homework til 4 am just to get up between six and seven and do it again. maybe i will just take the day off and write, something i miss the most lately......have a wonderful article and thanks for an always inspiring touching read
Very touching!...........thanks for sharing.......................................