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Coping With The Loss Of A Pet
by: Dave Watson
I run an online pet memorial web site and as you can imagine I come into
contact with many people who have lost a much loved pet or animal companion.
Looking through the memorial web sites that pet owners create when a beloved
pet passes away has shown my that there are a number of ways that people come to
cope with the loss of a pet.
Some people seem to be unsure or even embarrassed about the depth of grief
and loss that they feel when a close pet dies. In the back of their minds they
may think that others would think “It was just a pet”, “only an animal” and be
surprised at how the death affects them.
But the truth of the matter is that we form a very special bond with our
pets, they become part of the family and we love and take care of them for many
years.
Many people confide in their pets (if my dog could talk I’d be in big
trouble.), pets help to take us out of ourselves when things are not going so
good in other areas of your lives and they have unconditional love to give us.
All of this goes to form a special bond that when broken by the death of our
pet, goes to make a substantial loss.
Possibly those who think “it’s just a pet” have never really formed that
special human /animal bond, and this brings to mind the beautiful quote by
Anatole France.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”
It is totally okay to grieve for a lost pet and it is also necessary if you
had that special bond with your pet.
Many people find that writing down their feeling helps enormously.
A simple heartfelt verse or poem is a very good way to contact the grief that
you feel. Writing down your favourite memories, or an expression of the
relationship that you had with your pet will go to help with the grieving
process.
Others may want to mark the passing of a pet in other ways with a headstone
or other physical memorial.
More and more people are creating online memorials and a lot of the people
who do say that it actually helps them to focus on their feelings and memories
as well as giving friends and family a chance to better understand the
relationship that they had with their pet.
It is well accepted that in order to truly come through a period of loss and
grief, one must be able to face every aspect of the loss. Focusing your
attention on your pet’s life and what they meant to you will help in that
process.
We sometimes have to cry the grief out to allow the joy of our good memories
to shine through.
If you are coming to terms with the loss of a pet or animal companion and if
you are finding it difficult, try focusing your attention on your pet, try
writing a short poem, try writing down exactly what your pet meant to you. Yes
the tears will come, but if you continue to look at those memories and feelings
soon the tears will go and you will be left with the good memories. But more
importantly you will be able to enjoy those memories once the grief has gone.
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