Category: How To Prepare for That Day

More and more places are popping up online for pet parents dealing with the eminent passing of their baby or for pet parents who have already lost their beloved pets.  These places offer many different options to help you deal with whatever stage of grief you may be in.  These are so welcome and can really help the process for so many.  As you prepare for your furbaby to cross the Rainbow Bridge over to the other side, you may have questions or need help in getting through each day.  Of perhaps you would like a safe place to upload pictures or videos or your writings to memorialize your beloved pet.

The good news is that there are places online where you can go to get help and support.  This is so important to your own health and ability to properly release any stress or pain you may be dealing with.  When you know you have people that really understand what you are going through, then the grieving processes will not be so difficult or last longer than it needs to.  Take a look at a tiny bit of what RainbowBridge.com has to say about what it offers.

Losing Your FurBaby – Online Support

Rainbows Bridge is a home for your departed baby. Whether furry, feathered or scaled, all are welcome. Create a Rainbow Residency which you care for as the Guardian of your baby’s memory. Meet others who are grieving the loss of a loved one and begin the journey to healing a broken heart.…

When you create a Rainbow Residency you become the Guardian, able to visit as often as you wish to leave new toys and treats, create a photo album, change the flowers, shrubbery and season of the residency and leave special memories you shared with your Baby.  (Read more)

Check out the site and let us know if it helped you in any way.  If you have questions about the grieving process or about dealing with your pet getting older, please let us know. We understand and will do whatever we can to help you in such a painful time in your life.

 

Did you know that it is estimated that over half of the world’s population has a pet in their home?  That means that it is highly likely that about half of the world’s population will also experience the death of that pet within their lifetime.  Because people are so different and their pets are also so different and each relationship is unique, it follows that each pet parent deals with the death of their pet in a different way.

While the subject of grieving over the death of a pet has been discussed more and more in recent years, there is still a bit of stigma against truly grieving for a pet, as well as a bit of a lack of understanding about how it ‘should’ go.  First, there is no one way to grieve and no way that it ‘should’ be done. Your love is unique and how you chose to honor that love is a personal decision.  Second, there may still be a misunderstanding about how much the death of a beloved pet can affect a person.  An article on Oprah.com says that some psychologists report that the relationship with an animal is easier than a relationship with another human…that a relationship with a pet is free from the kind of complications that are involved with humans and thus more pure. This pure relationship can then throw you when your pet becomes sick and when it is apparent that they are nearing the end of their lives.  What do you do? Where do you go?

Grieve Your Way

Dr. Amir Shanan, who runs the Compassionate Veterinary Care facility and is one of the country’s leading veterinarians on hospice practices, euthanasia and end-of-life conversations, urges grieving “pet parents,” as he calls them, to consider all the options. “We don’t have a lot of control over the fact that we’re losing our pet,” Dr. Shanan explains. “We still have control over a lot of things, and having that control can make a really big difference in how we experience the grief.”

Dr. Shanan feels that working with a vet to explore options is the best course of action, such as providing pets with hospice care at home, acupuncture, and exploring holistic medicines to provide comfort to a pet with an illness. (Read more)

Doing some research about what services are offered in your area just might be pretty eye opening and helpful.  When you are supported and able to follow your heart in how you express your love and care for your pet, everything gets just a little bit easier.  Think about allowing yourself to memorialize your pet in your own way.  A letter to your pet telling him/her how they affected your life could help you to get those feelings out.  Speaking with friends and family could also help, as well as speaking with other pet owners on forums or other places where pet parents meet.

However you choose to grieve – remember that your depth of feeling is perfectly natural and normal and should be dealt with in a way that feels right to you.

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doEE_y4gm9w

Warning: This video might be hard for you to watch.  We see Mark as his parents take him to the vet’s to be euthanized.  Mark had cancer of the bones and throat and was very sick.  His parents made the decision to end his suffering, and since they had documented much of the rest of his life, made the decision to document the final good-bye as well.  This video is a tribute to Mark and his memory, but also was intended to help others see that the decision to euthanize is sometimes the kindest thing to do.  It is not a scary or invasive procedure, but is often a calm and caring event that can relieve your furry friend from ultimate suffering.

 

It is perfectly normal to feel all the regular and documented stages of grief.  So if losing your dog has brought you to your knees and has you feeling angry, guilty, depressed or even if you are in a bit of denial, know that this is all okay.  When lose someone we love, it is natural and correct to go through this grief process and it is necessary to deal with our emotions in as healthy a way as possible.  Here we will discuss some ways to handle the loss of your beloved dog.

First, do not try to avoid your grief.  Recognize it and then let it out.  If you need to cry or yell – do it.  Express it through writing or poems…what ever makes you feel better is fine to do.

Second, be as rational as you can if a decision to euthanize needs to be made.  Consult with your vet and get their opinion regarding euthanizing your dog, but ultimately you will want to make your decision based on what is best for your friend.  You may feel that you want to keep your dog with you as long as possible, but is this the right decision for him or her?  If they are in serious pain, you want to make the best loving decision that you can for them.

5 Ways To Deal With Losing Your Beloved Dog

If your family or friends love pets, they’ll understand what you’re going through. Don’t hide your feelings in a misguided effort to appear strong and calm! Working through your feelings with another person is one of the best ways to put them in perspective and find ways to handle them. Find someone you can talk to about how much the pet meant to you and how much you miss it-someone you feel comfortable crying and grieving with.

If you don’t have family or friends who understand, or if you need more help, ask your veterinarian or humane association to recommend a pet loss counselor or support group. Check with your church or hospital for grief counseling. Remember, your grief is genuine and deserving of support.  (Read full article here)

Fourth, give any remaining pets lots of love and attention.  Dogs and other animals like cats can often form very strong relationships and bonds with each other and they are sure to not only notice the absence of the dog that has passed, they are likely to pick up on your and other family member’s grief and feel quite uneasy.  Giving them some extra love will help them as much as it will you.

Fifth, do not rush to get another dog under any circumstances.  Allow yourself to grieve and heal from your loss in as long a time as it takes.  When you are genuinely ready to move on, do not get a dog that looks like the friend that you lost.  Allow the new furry family member to have their own place in your hearts by being their own dog and having their own personality without any comparisons to deal with.