Traveling With Your Dog

All stages of grief (guilt, denial, anger, and depression) can be exasperating, and leave you in quite an emotional state. Just as with the loss of a close friend or family member, the same process is needed with pets to deal with the emotional loss.

Remember that it is natural to grieve any loss. Confide with family or other people you are close to who will be able to support you through this natural and necessary process.

Even if it’s difficult to confide in someone, you still need to be able to explain the situation and comfort your children through this ordeal. Sharing in this loss with your children while being as honest and comforting as you can may be just what you need to get through this yourself. Be open to sharing thoughts and memories with those who are living the same grief you are.

You may not feel ready to put away the water dish, or hang your pet’s leash away from its normal place. There is always tomorrow, or another day for you to confront another step in the process of acceptance. Confront the reminders a little at a time.

If it helps, have a family memorial for your pet. Decide as a family if you would like to have your pet cremated or buried. Many people feel a burial in the yard will help with some of the need for closure.

Your family may decide to keep an urn somewhere in the home. Making this decision as a family will help with yet another step of the grieving process.

Don’t forget your other pets in the home. They too have lost something they are used to having around. While providing extra love and affection to the remaining pets, this is yet another time where you can work on the grieving process. If you can’t do this just yet, please ensure someone else can help care for those pets.

Grieving takes time. It is not the greatest opportunity to go and get another pet. All this will do is serve as a reminder much too soon that your cherished pet is no longer with you. It may also cause more undesirable issues with surviving pets.

When you are ready to move forward, then and only then should you consider another pet.

Loss of a pet sometimes causes unexplained feelings. “If only” or “what if” questions will not make this any easier. Know that you did everything you could during your pet’s illness. Remember that accidents are just that.

If your pet died of age related causes, remember the good times. Create some scrapbook pages or photo collages with fond memories of days past. Look at these items as a family and discuss memories together.

There will come that morning you wake up and realize that you won’t forget your pet, and no other will be able to take over that place. You will realize that you are missing the companionship and unconditional love, but know that another can’t replace him. You are ready now to move to the point of considering another pet. You have conquered another step. You can begin thinking of a new pet to share your love with. There is always enough to give, as long as the timing is right.

Fran Gratton RubMyBellyToo.com POB 107 116 Gay Street Phoenixville, PA 19460 610-933-5810 888-558-3837

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13