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.