Losing a pet, especially a dog is a big loss. People should not feel guilty in sharing their grief. The loss can be as painful as losing a family member and should not be shelved away or not discussed as secondary to a human life. This type of disenfranchisement can hurt individuals grieving their pet or dog. It does not permit them to grieve and discuss the loss and how it has affected their lives. It is important to recognize pet loss in a person’s life.
The article, “My Beloved Dog Just Died. I Don’t Know How To Grieve Without Feeling Guilty.” by Ann Gorewitz discusses her grief and guilt for grieving her pet. She states,
“Our pets’ lives have value ― they matter! ― even though society often trivializes our relationships with them. And though I feel like I’m not supposed to grieve Cassie’s death as intensely or profoundly as I do ― especially during a pandemic when so many other truly awful things are happening ― her life and the loss of it is momentous to me, and maybe more so because of COVID-19.”
To read the entire article, please click here
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.