Grieving for a Pet

For many pet owners, the loss of their pet may be felt as deeply as the loss of a family member or friend.  When a beloved animal companion is part of your daily life, its passing can bring feelings of sadness and grief that are difficult to deal with.  Instead of trying to ignore these feelings, it’s important to pay acknowledge and work through your grief.

Holding a funeral to honor a deceased pet helps many people with the mourning process.  A pet funeral can follow any format you choose.  It can be held at a pet cemetery, in your home or in an outdoor location that held meaning for you and your pet.  During the funeral you can share memories about your pet with friends and family.  You can also honor your pet by creating a memorial.  A memorial can be a special place in your home where you display pictures of your pet or in your yard with a small garden and marker. It may take the form of a donation to a local animal shelter.

Friends and family do not always understand the depth of feeling that the loss of a pet can engender.  They may suggest that you get another pet, as if the void left by one pet’s death could be filled with a new pet.  Most vets and pet experts advise against getting a new pet right away.  Taking time to mourn the loss of the old pet will allow you to fully appreciate a new pet when the time is right.  Many pet owners decide to get a different breed or a different type of pet altogether in order to preserve the memory of the deceased pet.

Read more about dealing with the emotions associated with pet loss at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Website. 

Catie W.
March 30, 2011