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Losing your beloved pet can devastate you emotionally. Anyone who has ever had a pet and lost him or she knows exactly what I’m talking about. You can spend days, weeks, and even months in utter total despair.

Undoubtedly, some pet parents may not experience the same degree of grief depending on the relationship and role of the pet in an owner’s life. Still, most would agree that losing a pet is tremendous and leaves what feels like an emptiness that will never again be filled.

Pet Loss 

Unfortunately, society underestimates the emotional and physical repercussions of such a loss. When a family member dies, support mechanisms are not generally extended to furry or feathered family members. How many people do you know that request time off from work because their dog or cat died? 

Funerals, when symbolically held, are limited to owners and are not shared rites of closure as with human goodbyes. Yet, the loss of a parakeet, gerbil, turtle or another type of pet is no less painful for a child who returns from school each day and makes a beeline to their companion animal. 

“We’ll get you a new one” doesn’t cut it. Friendships with animals are unique and built on an animal’s personality, experiences together, and only interactions with their “person.”

And often, the loss of a pet can be infinitely more painful if the pet parent has organized a good portion of their life around that particular friendship. Usually, the elderly look to a pet for companionship. Whether furry, scaled, or feathered, the bond between a person and their pet cannot be measured or substituted with ease.

The Voids

The passing of a cherished animal companion will inevitably bring voids in daily routines that will need to be filled in some measure. Our caring for our pets means that significant amounts of time are dedicated to a pet’s needs, from shopping for pet food to veterinary visits to playtime or a daily walk. So, when our pet departs from this life, we will not only be dealing with the loss of our beloved animal but with the loss of all the other aspects of our lives that are programmed or organized with the presence of our pet BFF in mind.

The loss of a pet will disrupt a series of daily, weekly, and monthly activities and routines. Our animal family members provide companionship, friendship, unconditional affection, and loyalty. 

Pets also contrast anxiety, depression, loneliness and offer emotional support 24/7. These are numerous benefits that come to an abrupt halt. This explains the emotional pain that we experience for prolonged periods after the loss of our pet. Every day brings other missed moments and activities that would have been shared.

The Road to Recovery from Pet Loss

To begin recovery, it’s necessary to recognize the grief we are experiencing from the loss and all the disruptions that our loss causes. Our Fit Pets note, 

“An important step is to seek support from other pet parents or people that understand how deeply grief is felt after the loss of a pet. When grieving, you do not need your grief minimized, nor do you need to be judged as you think so profoundly about an animal.”

If your pet was ill or had to be euthanized to limit suffering, many veterinary and animal clinics have pet bereavement support groups. Daily routines such as dog walking will need to be reorganized so that you do not lose any added benefits like a bit of daily exercise, thanks to your pet. Perhaps, pet sitting or volunteering to walk dogs for a local dog refuge would be a means of honoring your pet’s memory by maintaining activities you shared for the benefit of other animals.

Photo by João Victor Xavier on Unsplash

Recognition of Pet Loss Grief

Pet parents need support and merit consideration when grieving the loss of a pet. A pet owner left alone to battle the throes of grief requires recognition and the validation of their loss.

When dealing with the loss of your pet 

• Don’t ignore your pain or grief and externalize your emotions. It’s okay to grieve.

• Talk openly about your pet and your feelings for that companionship.

• Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed.

• Take care of yourself during bereavement.

• Change your daily routine if necessary and consider volunteering to help other pets.

• Don’t close the door on a new pet in the future.

Every pet parent dealing with loss needs the time, emotional support, and serenity to find a way to deal with their grief, and for those who know a person suffering from pet loss, support your friend or family member in their time of loss.