How to Cope With the Loss of a Pet

Being a pet parent enriches our lives in so many ways. Pets provide us with unconditional love and companionship, and they truly become cherished members of our families. Given this intense bond most of us share with our pets, it’s natural to feel intense sorrow and sadness when our pets die.

I’ve had many pets in my life, and they all broke my heart when they left. But just like when we lose a person in our lives, there are things to keep in mind when coping with the grief of losing a pet.

We all handle sorrow differently, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. The key to coping is to accept your feelings and embrace the emotions you feel. You need not face your loss alone, as there are many forms of support available, including bereavement counseling and groups, pet-loss support hotlines, books, videos and magazine articles.

The San Diego Humane Society offers pet-loss support on the evenings and weekends. Visit its website for more information. The Delta Society also offers a list of pet-loss hotlines for those grieving over the death of a pet.

Here are more suggestions from the Humane Society of the United States to help you cope:

• Acknowledge your grief and give yourself permission to express it.
• Don’t hesitate to reach out to others who can lend a sympathetic ear.
• Write about your feelings, either in a journal or a poem.
• Prepare a memorial for your pet.

People aren’t the only ones who grieve over losing a friend. If you have another pet in the home, he or she may experience the same feeling of loss. Surviving pets may whimper, refuse to eat or drink and suffer lethargy. Be sure to give surviving pets lots of love, and do your best to maintain a normal routine. They will appreciate the comfort, and it’s good for you as well.

Take your time in deciding when it’s the right time to get a new pet. We all react differently to loss, and some people need more time than others. For me personally, I need that void filled quickly. I adopted my dog Blue six days after my previous dog died. I wasn’t trying to replace my lost pet, because that’s not possible, but I need that companionship in my life. Plus, it’s nice to have something positive to focus on after such a loss.

But here at the Escondido Humane Society, I’ve met some people who had lost pets more than 10 years ago and were so devastated that they still weren’t sure if they were ready to let a new pet into their lives. Rushing into this decision isn’t fair to you or your new pet. When you are ready, remember that there are thousands of animals looking for good homes at our local shelters.

While feelings are raw at first, there will come a day when memories bring smiles instead of tears.