Many of us share with our animal friends an intense affection and connection. A pet is not, for us, "just a dog" or "just a cat," but rather a cherished member of our family, adding to our lives companionship, fun, and joy. A pet will bring structure to your day, keep you busy and social, help you resolve life's setbacks and difficulties, and even provide a sense of intent or significance. So, it's natural to feel racked with sorrow and loss when a loved pet dies.
The discomfort of loss may also feel unbearable and trigger all kinds of unpleasant and challenging feelings. While certain individuals do not understand the extent of feeling you have for your pet, you should never feel guilty or ashamed of an animal friend's grief.
Although we all react to loss differently, variables such as your age and personality, the age of your pet, and the circumstances of their death will also depend on the level of grief you feel. Generally speaking, the more important your dog was to you, the more intense you would feel the emotional pain.
It may also have an effect on the role that animals play in your life. If your pet was a working dog, service animal, or therapy animal, for example, you would not only grieve the loss of a friend, but also the loss of a coworker, the loss of your freedom, or the loss of emotional support. If you were living alone and the pet was your only friend, it would be much harder to come to terms with their absence. And if you were unable to afford costly medical care to extend your pet's life, you could also feel a deep sense of remorse.
While death is an inevitable part of owning a pet, there are healthy ways to deal with the pain, come to terms with your grief, and maybe even open your heart to another animal companion when the time is right.
Many of us share with our animal friends an intense affection and connection. A pet is not, for us, "just a dog" or "just a cat," but rather a cherished member of our family, adding to our lives companionship, fun, and joy. A pet will bring structure to your day, keep you busy and social, help you resolve life's setbacks and difficulties, and even provide a sense of intent or significance. So, it's natural to feel racked with sorrow and loss when a loved pet dies.
The discomfort of loss may also feel unbearable and trigger all kinds of unpleasant and challenging feelings. While certain individuals do not understand the extent of feeling you have for your pet, you should never feel guilty or ashamed of an animal friend's grief.
Although we all react to loss differently, variables such as your age and personality, the age of your pet, and the circumstances of their death will also depend on the level of grief you feel. Generally speaking, the more important your dog was to you, the more intense you would feel the emotional pain.
It may also have an effect on the role that animals play in your life. If your pet was a working dog, service animal, or therapy animal, for example, you would not only grieve the loss of a friend, but also the loss of a coworker, the loss of your freedom, or the loss of emotional support. If you were living alone and the pet was your only friend, it would be much harder to come to terms with their absence. And if you were unable to afford costly medical care to extend your pet's life, you could also feel a deep sense of remorse.
While death is an inevitable part of owning a pet, there are healthy ways to deal with the pain, come to terms with your grief, and maybe even open your heart to another animal companion when the time is right.