When bathing in the adoration and cuteness of a much-loved pet, we rarely think about what it’s going to be like when we part ways. It’s something that doesn’t cross our minds, and when it does, it’s hard to think of how we can cope. There are no right or wrong ways to grieve, and you may find that there’s no one right way to deal with the death of your pet.
When a person dies, we’re always busy looking for the answers. How to care for sad family members and friends, how to console those who can’t accept the reality. Some may think grieving over the loss of a pet is an insignificant thing, but it is completely normal and natural. For many pet owners, pets are like family. In this article, we’ll share some actionable ways to deal with the death of your pet.
Allow Your Family to Grieve
The death of a pet can be devastating, especially if you are a child. However, it’s important to understand that kids are much more resilient than we often assume. The key to helping kids through the process of dealing with the death of a pet is to talk to them about their feelings and provide them with lots of support and love. Console your family members, give them time as long as they require to grieve. Provide extra care or help if they need it.
Express Your Emotions
When you lose a beloved pet, it’s natural to feel a range of emotions. It’s perfectly natural to have a strong emotional reaction to the death of a pet. Guilt, regret, hopelessness, and other heart-breaking emotions can also sneak up in your new life without your closest friend. Allow yourself to reveal the emotions; talk about them, rather than suppressing them deep down inside.
Expressing emotion can lessen the power of those negative feelings and ease depression.
Create an Honorary Ceremony
A ceremony – funeral, farewell, or any other ceremony – can honor the memory of your pet. It can consolidate your family member while giving them a sense of cessation. Consider involving all family members, including children, and say something about the pet in the pet’s honor or memory.
Maintain Other Pets’ Schedule
If you have any other pets, chances are they’ll be grieving over losing their close friend too. You’ll notice reduced appetite, loss of interest in fun activities, sluggishness. It’s essential that you maintain a healthy feeding schedule and give them more love and attention to help them through this troubled time.
Reach Out for Support
Simply put, reaching out to your relatives, close friends, or a therapist if needed. This can significantly influence your emotional grief over the loss of your loving pet. Don’t panic about reaching out – having close ones by your side in the worst times can heal you faster. Share your feelings, and let them share their experiences with you too.
Get a New Pet
No, we don’t recommend you to go for a new pet right after the tragic loss. It can be a solid idea to eliminate grief and all other contradictory emotions by finding a new pet for you to replace the old one you just lost. Give yourself and your family enough time to recover fully and cherish the memory of a lost family member. Getting a new pet and taking proper care of it can be a good way to keep yourself busy, and keep your mind off your lost loved one.
