Laps of Love, which provides grief courses and 50-minute one-on-one support sessions with a grief counselor.Īssociation for Pet Loss and Bereavement support groups, available at specific times throughout the week. The Pet Compassion Careline, which provides 24/7 grief support with trained pet grief counselors. Do a little research online, and you'll find hundreds of resources and support groups that may be helpful to you. Reach out to others who can lend a sympathetic ear.You are the one in pain now, and you must lovingly care for yourself. Instead, focus on the life you shared with your pet and some of your favorite memories with them. It can be common to ruminate on your pet’s final days or moments, especially if they were traumatic. Try not to replay your last moments with your pet.Suppressing your feelings of sadness can prolong your grief. If you live alone, the silence in your home might feel deafening, but acknowledging it will allow you to prepare for the emotions you might feel. Acknowledge your grief, and give yourself permission to express it.Here are a few suggestions to help you cope: It simply allows you to accept that they’re gone and eventually smile at their memory.Īlthough grief is a personal experience, you do not need to face your loss alone. Remember, healthy grieving does not mean that you forget or “get over” your friend. Acceptance occurs when they accept the reality of their loss and remember their animal companion with decreasing sadness. Caregivers may also feel guilt about what they did or did not do, or they may feel ashamed to be so upset.Īfter these feelings subside, caregivers may experience true sadness or grief. Some feel anger, which may be directed at anyone involved with the pet, including family, friends and veterinarians. Some caregivers may try bargaining with a higher power, themselves or even their pet to restore life. The process typically begins with denial, which offers protection until individuals can realize their loss. It’s not uncommon to start to feel better, and then feel like a wave of grief has washed over you again. You may meander in and out of the stages of grief, going back and forth, rather than experiencing each stage in sequential order. Know that your grief is normal, and it’s OK (and even important) to mourn the relationship you had with your pet. When a person you love dies, it's natural to feel sorrow, express grief and expect friends and family to provide comfort-but although people often feel the same feelings of grief when they lose a beloved pet, it might go unacknowledged by others.
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