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Loss and grief resulting from death of a pet
Something that doesn't get talked about often is loss and grief resulting from the death of a beloved pet. I've been through this, it's almost as devastating as the loss and grief of a loved person in your life. I had to have to have my beloved cat, Pepe, put to sleep because he was too ill to carry on a meaningful existence. This cat was MORE than JUST a cat to me. He was my best buddy, always there to greet me when I would come home. He never left my side, except to eat or use his litter box. He sat and slept right next to me on our couch, and would often come into my bedroom at night and sleep right up by my face in the crook of my arm. So, when he passed I was devastated. I went in with him when he was put to sleep, to comfort him, and to give ME closure. Knowing that, yes, he was no longer with us. It took me a couple weeks to REALLY get over his death. I went through periods of anger and denial. I checked out a couple books from my local library on how to deal with the loss of a beloved pet. These books, although I don't recall their titles,(this was over 11 years ago) were very helpful in dealing with my loss. I've read about, and have actually READ parts of Fred Rogers' (Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) book on dealing with the loss off a pet, and the parts I've read are fantastic. Wonderfully gentle, kind, and caring. Does anyone else want to share their experience(s) in losing a beloved pet? Thank you for your time.
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I lost my 12 year old Labrador two days ago….and I am heartbroken. I unfortunately have suffered some overwhelming losses in the past couple years; my son, and my husband. My dog was my constant, loving companion.
🐾💗🐾
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2 ReactionsI'm sorry that you have had such a rough time.
You are to be commended for your courage in the face of such trials.
Grief has to be one of life's greatest trials.
I don't have any advice, because I know it's a personal journey.
But I encourage you to do whatever you need to do to care care for yourself. Be kind, compassionate, and patient.
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4 ReactionsThank you, I appreciate that.
@opheli I empathize with your grief at the loss of your beloved Labrador. I have lost my parents, good friends, and my university boyfriend (we were together for 7 years) over the past few years and yet those losses feel different to me than the loss of our husky mix dog. I'm not a crier but I can tell you that I sobbed when our dog died and still feel that loss. The human-animal bond that we experience is very special to us.
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3 ReactionsLoss of animals is the worst. The unconditional love & support you get from them is the best feeling in the world. I walked dogs at the animal shelter to spend time with dogs until I got my next one. Which I found there & was the only thing that made it better for me. Sad to hear about your loss.
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3 ReactionsThank you, I agree with you… I have cried a great deal in the last few days. Their unconditional love and loyalty makes that bond so unique
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3 ReactionsThank you… I am scheduled to watch a friend's dog in a couple weeks, and I can’t wait. The shelter visits sound like a good idea, too.
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3 ReactionsI can nearly unequivocally say that if I am anticipating family members, (partner, mother, father, sibling, extended family) death vs. what I am currently going through with grieving my first and only pet's death, that my dog's death will rank to be the most devastating experience by far. The uncomplicated nature of the relationship and pure unadulterated love that I have for this being is absent of the reluctant compromises, little betrayals, and sacrifices that is a commonstay of human family relationships. If anything, I fail to understand the deep sadness that people experience with human relationships unless they were largely free of blemishes, power struggles, and fights. I can perhaps imagine that my best friends' death will bring about the same level of grief as my dog, if not more, but among my family, my dog's death has changed me irrevocably. I have accepted that I may be broken for awhile and if not forever. There is a real demarcating line drawn in the sand of my life before my dog passed and after she left us. A part of me has truly died.
I said largely, not entirely. I think most close familal and intimate human relationships are fraught with moments of what I call slight betrayals, frustrations, misunderstandings and fights. Albeit repairs are made, the scars are there. Those for me tend to get in the way to the pure unadulterated love that I have for my pet, which is free of that. I for example have not felt moments of "unloved" by my pet, I have not felt not considered by my pet. I have not felt even the slightly bit betrayed by my pet. Those complexities with human relationships make it much harder for me to completely grieve a loss to the extent that I have with my dog. I have not lost a family member that has played a significant role in my life, so only time will tell, but to me because I know that the relationship with my dog is so uncomplicated and so pure, I do think that this is likely the most devastating loss I will experience of my family members. I either don't know them well enough to grieve them deeply, or I have complicated relationships with them, that I think it eclipses the full extent of grief that I will endure with them. Again this is me, I am not saying this as a generality for anyone.
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2 ReactionsI have loved and lost so many pets that i call our back yard the pet cemetary. They have all given unconditional love, never expecting anything in return. I adored them all!! I also have 2 urns, one for my cat and one for my dog. I still grieve for them!!!
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