How to Get Over the Death of a Pet

Summary

How to Get Over the Death of a Pet

Much research and literature over the centuries has examined the ways human beings grieve over the loss of a loved one. Grieving is an integral part of the human experience and profoundly impacts the way we see the world, whether it be a parent, spouse, sibling, child or friend who is suddenly absent from our lives.

The past few decades, however, have seen substantial effort put into exploring how humans grapple with the death of a beloved pet. This is to be expected, given that declining first-world birth rates have led more people to pour those energies that would have been devoted to raising a family into maintaining the well-being of a favorite dog, cat, bird, etc. Here are some factors to consider if you are facing the emotional challenge of having lost a pet.

Good Grief: Just as it is imperative to accept the reality of death, you also must acknowledge the fact that grief is normal. Indeed, be aware that it’s OK (and even important) to mourn the relationship you had with your pet. Keep in mind, too, that the grief process is not linear — you may meander in and out of the stages of grief, going back and forth, rather than experiencing each stage in sequential order. Embrace your emotions as they come to you.

Look at the Big Picture: Relationships with pets (as with people) are developed over years of close, mutually beneficial contact. Upon losing a pet, it is vital that you take the time to reflect on the entire span of the relationship, the joy and experiences you shared and even the lessons you learned from the animal. Remember as you are working through your grief to focus not on how you lost your pet but on the many good years you shared.

Support Groups: The desire to share grief is deeply embedded in the human experience and that certainly applies to the loss of a beloved pet. Do not feel you have to close yourself up in a house and grieve silently. Instead, reach out to friends and let them know your pet has passed and the pain that loss has left you in. Do a little research online, and you'll find hundreds of resources and support groups that may be helpful to you. And bear in mind that there is nothing wrong with grieving as loud and as long as you need.

Forget Me Not: You also should consider memorializing your pet through a bereavement ritual. This could encompass spreading your pet’s ashes somewhere special, planting a native tree or flowering shrub in its memory, creating a memory box with your pet’s collar or favorite toys or purchasing a product that incorporates your pet’s ashes into a memorial necklace, bracelet or ring.
_____________________________________________

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.