Nothing is more heartbreaking than the loss of a pet
Pets are an important part of our lives. Our pets are family members, friends, confidants and loved ones. It does not matter whether it is a dog, cat, bird, lizard, turtle, ferret, snake, or other kind of family member.
When something happens to our pet (they become ill, the veterinarian discovers something during an exam or through testing,...) or if they pass on due to unexpected or natural causes then we grieve because we miss them.
Sometimes we struggle with our grief. We may become anxious and grieve over a surgery, what the veterinarian says is wrong, (the diagnosis), or knowing that your pet's life span is ending.
You may be feeling grief...
When something happens to our pet (they become ill, the veterinarian discovers something during an exam or through testing,...) or if they pass on due to unexpected or natural causes then we grieve because we miss them.
Sometimes we struggle with our grief. We may become anxious and grieve over a surgery, what the veterinarian says is wrong, (the diagnosis), or knowing that your pet's life span is ending.
You may be feeling grief...
- because you may be struggling with evaluating and making a decision
- you want to feel more secure in the choices that you make and in how you reached the decision you made
- to manage feelings and emotions associated with your grief and loss
- because children may need help in understanding what happened or you might need help in talking to them about it
- Because you want help deciding how to honor and remember your pet
- because others may not understand what you are going through
- because there is no statue of limitation on grief
You may be worried about seeing someone for your grief. You may be concerned that others will see it as a weakness instead of the strength that it is. By making a choice for to get assistance for you, or your family, around the feelings of grief and loss that are being experienced, you are showing great strength! You are demonstrating your understanding of the need for self-care during a difficult time and that talking to a professional is the right thing to do. By doing this you ARE caring for yourself and your loved ones. Having a neutral person to talk to can be very helpful when having to cope with those intense feelings and during the duration of your grief.
How can I help?
While I am not a veterinarian, as a clinical therapist I have worked for many years with individuals and families to resolve conflicts, solve problems, manage grief and survive the deaths and losses of both human and pet that occur on life's complicated path. I have loved and lost many family members, who just happened not to be human so I am understanding of others who are having to make these same difficult decisions.
In sessions, I offer a:
How can I help?
While I am not a veterinarian, as a clinical therapist I have worked for many years with individuals and families to resolve conflicts, solve problems, manage grief and survive the deaths and losses of both human and pet that occur on life's complicated path. I have loved and lost many family members, who just happened not to be human so I am understanding of others who are having to make these same difficult decisions.
In sessions, I offer a:
- respectful, supportive environment that encourages talking about the concerns and struggles that you, your loved ones and your pet are facing.
- someone to listen
- willing ear to assist with the decision-making process and assessing when it is time - using discussion, time lines, pet quality of life assessments and honestly assessing the issues that your pet may be facing now or in the future.
- a place to talk about your feelings and the pain associated with caring and losing a beloved pet
- Ways to talk to your loved ones about your pet and stories that can be read to help children understand what has or is happening
- to talk about the loss and remember the joys. This may be through interactive discussion, art, journaling, writing a letter to your pet, photography, or other ways.
- creating a plan to honor and remember your pet (through journaling, poetry, art, creating a memorial, photography, memorial books, memory quilts, creating a statue, stepping stones, the possibilities are endless .....).
- with giving yourself the time to work through your grief and have the strength you need to continue on life's path. With understanding the fluidity of the grieving process and giving yourself permission to continue, to learn ways to calm yourself, to accepting the spiritual aspect of life still inside of you, and learn to accept that which you cannot change
- when deciding when it is a good time, if ever, to consider getting another pet or exploring what that new pet would be like
