Our pet animals-they’re truly our best friends. They make you laugh, offer emotional support, or are just fun to be around. Our great God Jehovah created them for our enjoyment, but he didn’t create them to live forever. Earlier this week, I lost my elderly cat, Mimi, to death, and I have been feeling some emptiness in her absence. Many former pet owners go through a similar ordeal, and some don’t cope too well. If that is you, here are four ways to deal with grief after losing a pet.
Why Losing a Pet Does Hurt
On paper, some people may think that losing a pet animal in death isn’t a big deal. They may think, “It’s just an animal. It could be replaced.” Yes, those things are true. But losing a pet that you’ve had for many years is similar to losing a close family member. You feel that close bond with a pet just as you would with your best friend. A lot of people lean on their pet animals for emotional support, as I mentioned in a previous blog post. Yes, most people consider their pet animals as members of the family and rightfully so.
Some common reactions most people feel when losing a pet are guilt, shock, anger, and sadness. Sadness is a major one, but guilt is as well. Pet owners may feel they could’ve done more to take care of their pet. They may also feel anger towards people who were involved with their pet, particularly veterinarians. Some might feel that they were led astray by their pet’s doctor.
4 Ways You Can Cope with the Loss of a Pet
However, there are ways you can cope with losing a pet that has become dependent on you. Taking care of a pet is like taking care of a child. When a parent loses their child, that’s extreme heartache for them. While not as extreme, losing a pet could be likened to that because you’ve lost a being who heavily relies on you. If you’ve just experienced the sad feeling of losing a pet in death, as I have, here are four ways you can cope.
Give Yourself Permission to Grieve
If you need to cry, it’s okay to do so. Throughout your house, you’re going to see some things that remind you of your pet, and you may break down in tears. Sometimes, it could be okay to do that. There are some owners who might choose to minimize their loss, and that isn’t a good idea. If your pet friend meant a lot to you, it’s okay to have moments of grief.
Maintain Supportive Routines
It’s also important to keep your daily routine going, whether it’s doing some chores or cooking. Taking care of yourself is always important when coping with grief. Make sure you’re eating healthy, exercising, and going to sleep at a decent time each night. These are all things that are essential in being there for yourself while coping with a loss.
Create Space for Your Emotions
Some people may choose to create some space to express their emotions. This could be through journaling, drawing, or collecting photos of their pet. There are some former pet owners who may withdraw to the point of depression. If you’ve been experiencing this, deep breathing, stretching, or mindfulness exercises are good ways to help you manage this better.
Establish a Way to Honor Your Pet
When a person has lost a pet dog, cat, bird, etc., that they have had for years, they may feel inclined to honor them in their own way. Why not consider doing that for your animal friend? Do you have any old and recent pictures of your pet? Perhaps you might have some chew toys, a collar, or any other little things that may remind you of your furry friend. I have a few photos of my cat that I’ve been thinking about putting together in a small photobook.
Finding Joy Again After Losing Your Animal Friend
If you lost your dear pet and it’s been tough trying to get over it, you can still find joy despite not having one anymore. Try remembering your pet in healthy ways, such as creating a photobook of it, drawing or writing about your furry friend, or just incorporating your pet’s memory within your daily life. One example of doing this is buying a purse or calendar book with dogs or cats on them. Or just have a photo of your deceased pet as a wallpaper on your phone. After a while, some people may decide that they are ready to adopt a new pet. There are various ways to heal after losing a pet. Just know that healing doesn’t mean forgetting about your sweet, furry friend.
How do you cope with the loss of a pet? What are some ways that you have found to be helpful in dealing with grief? For all you animal lovers out there, feel free to share your words of advice in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next former pet owner you know.
