Around 70% of US households own a pet. Although they provide great joy, that also means most of us will suffer immense grief when a pet eventually passes on.
Losing a pet is inevitable at some point, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Whether it’s a horse or a goldfish, the bond you can form with a pet can be stronger than that of some family members.
So, how do you deal with pet loss? We’re here with a simple guide to help you deal with your emotions and feel happy again when your animal friend leaves you.
Read on to find out more.
Table of Contents
1. Don’t Downplay Your Grief
For some, the death of a pet is a short-lived sadness. For others, it can feel heartbreaking.
If you’re significantly affected by losing your pet, let people know. They may assume that you’re okay when you’re actually struggling. It’s your responsibility to tell people how you’re feeling.
2. Take Some Down Time
Sometimes heading into work the day after losing a pet suddenly simply isn’t appropriate. Allow yourself some time to work through your emotions away from the responsibilities of day-to-day life.
If possible, spend some time alone thinking about what’s happened and how you’ll handle it.
3. Understand the Grief Process
You may have heard about the five stages of grief before. However, this doesn’t just apply to human loss of life; it’s any form of suffering through loss.
Expect to work through the following emotions:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
4. Get Closure
Getting closure is vital. A nice way to have a send-off for your pet is to create an album or presentation of all your favorite photos and videos of your pet. You can create this everlasting memory of their best moments.
You can also have a funeral, memorial, wake, or anything else that feels appropriate to help you process this death.
If you choose to get your pet cremated, you can check out memorials.com for more information about urns for your pet’s ashes.
5. Keep Talking About How You Feel
Finally, dealing with losing a pet is an ongoing process. But, don’t push your emotions aside because it’s been a while since your pet died.
If you’re still feeling emotional about it, it’s worth talking about. The healthiest approach is to address feelings as they emerge; repressing feelings only leads to declining mental health or other problems later on. If you’re still feeling emotional about it, it’s worth talking about. The healthiest approach is to address feelings as they emerge; repressing feelings only leads to declining mental health or other problems later on.
Losing a Pet Made More Manageable
Everyone dreads the day they lose their loved pet. However, it’s something every pet owner has to deal with at some point. If you’re grieving, make sure you take all this advice about managing the loss of a pet.
Remember, although losing a pet is terrible, your grief will lessen with time, and you’ll still be left with happy memories.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, check out our other posts for all things home, lifestyle, pets, and more.
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