Dealing With Grief From the Loss of a Pet
This post is taken from a Trilogy (the makers of Life’s Abundance pet food) Online blog entry dated September 10, 2009. This particular message struck home as I grieved for three years when my favorite cat of all time, Sidney, passed away after 18 years of filling my life with joy. The grief did pass eventually (but the pleasant memories remain) and I now have two new delightful furry friends:
Losing a companion animal is devastating. And yet, many pet parents don’t receive the kind of emotional support they might expect if they had lost a human family member. Failing to show such a depth of compassion is common for those who have never shared a special bond with a companion animal. These people might say to themselves, “What’s the big deal … it was just a pet.” What they don’t understand is a very simple truth … losing a companion animal is losing a member of your family.
Anytime we suffer a dramatic loss, it is appropriate to grieve. Your first priority should be to come to grips with the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to grieve the passing of your companion animal. Accepting the magnitude of your loss can facilitate the process of grieving. The more you fight to suppress your feelings, the worse your grief can become. Hiding the heartache will do you no good.
