Losing a pet is painful but worrying about the right things to do before the pet dies can be difficult. Anticipatory grief may begin to enter and we may lose valuable time with our cat, horse or dog. It is important to make our pets last days as wonderful as possible as well as make the proper decision when to say goodbye. This is easier said then done unfortunately.
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
There is fear in many pet owner hearts that if they get a new pet then they are replacing the old. This is common also with widows or widowers. The reality the dog or cat is not being replaced. Nothing can replace a beloved pet. No new dog or cat can ever be the same but one can love more than one. One can form new and unique bonds and share one’s hearts with other beautiful dogs and cats. Always treasure the individual but try not to close your heart to others.
The article, “If you’re denying yourself the love of a new pet after a loss, please reconsider in 2022” by Dana Perino looks at finding the room in one’s heart to love another dog or cat in one’s life. She states,
“My mind flashed forward to a future without a dog — a human survival instinct to protect yourself against future heartaches. That would be fine. I could do it. I’d have to if I lost Percy so soon after falling in love with him. Fortunately, none of that came true.”
Her story of her own loss and experience can serve as an example to love more and not close. To read the entire article, please click here
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
When people lose a pet, most ignore it as a real grief or loss. Instead individuals may say a multitude of things that discredit the loss or lessen its importance. It is important to recognize the loss and the value of the pet to the person in grief counseling. It is essential to understand that pets are family to many people and deserve the respect the held within the family unit. Losses of pets can be as painful as any other loss.
The article, “What Not To Say To People Grieving A Sick, Lost Or Dead Pet” by Monica Torres looks at what not to say to someone who lost a pet. She states,
“For so many people, a pet is a member of the family, and the loss can be felt even more deeply than some human losses. “It’s really dismissive to minimize the loss as ‘less than’ or not valid,” said Jennifer Breslow, a New York City-based psychotherapist who works with clients dealing with the loss of a pet.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Putting a dog, cat, horse, or any pet down is a painful decision. It is something that takes much thought and love in regards to the pets condition and also one’s own anguish. It is definitely not one of life’s happiest moments but in those moments, we find our true love for each other in the final goodbye. The goodbyes used to be very sterile and informal. The dog or cat was taken back never to be seen again. Fortunately, now one can stand side by side or even receive the ashes of a loved pet. Even so, now euthanasia is offered at home in some cases. This is a difficult decision but may also be a more comforting one for many.
The article, “At-home euthanasia can provide comfort to pets and owners” by Kathryn Streeter looks closer at how a pet owner can utilize home euthanasia for one’s beloved pet. She states,
“Psychotherapist and thanatologist Andrea Warnick has experienced both clinic and at-home euthanasia when her cats were terminally ill. “I think [at-home euthanasia] is a wonderful option because at this point a pet is pretty sick, and actually transporting them to a vet’s office can be anxiety-provoking and uncomfortable,” says Warnick, whose practice in Canada, Andrea Warnick Consulting, focuses on supporting grieving children, youths and adults.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
For many losing a pet is like losing a child. A pet represents to many the only opportunity to experience a type of parenthood. The pet is their life and for some, their only friend. Hence the loss becomes more stronger for those who are attached to their pet. This is not unhealthy but a bond of love that may be different than human love but still nonetheless is love.
The article, “How to Grieve the Death of a Pet” from Cleveland Clinic’s HealthEssentials takes a closer look at how to better cope when losing a pet. The article states,
“Given how much comfort pets bring, it’s understandable that losing them can be emotionally devastating. “Our animals become a part of our family,” says Dr. Sullivan. “They provide unconditional love and support, which is something that people don’t get from a lot of different places.”
Pets are family. When individuals lessen the impact of the loss of a pet they show their lack of empathy but also lack of understanding. Some may never experience the love one can have for an animal that is truly sad, but for those who do, we all too well understand the deep pain of losing a pet.
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Specialist Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Losing a pet is a painful loss that many try to diminish. The true reality is that losing a pet is like losing family. One’s grief for this loss must be recognized and not reduced to such horrible statements as “he was just a dog” or “she was just a cat”
The American Academy of Grief Counseling offers a Pet Loss Grief Support Certification for qualified professionals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support. Please review the program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
Please also review the video on Pet Loss Grief Support
Dealing with pet loss is difficult for many people. Many individuals go through multiple steps and phases of grief. Some deal with certain aspects of the loss itself.
The article, “5 Themes in How People Deal with Pet Loss” by Arash Emamzadeh looks at 5 particular themes of loss pet owners may lament in their mind. He states,
“Unfortunately, these relationships sometimes end abruptly or tragically—such as when a pet dies or a helper animal has to be put down. As with any major loss, a period of suffering and grief is expected. But grieving the loss of a pet presents its own challenges; one such challenge is the lack of agreed-upon burial rituals and the problem of disenfranchised grief (grief not socially acknowledged or mourned publicly).”
Pet loss can be a difficult time for a variety of reasons. It is important to never dismiss this loss in others but to fully understand the impact of the loss on each individual
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Losing a dog is a painful life experience. For some it happens multiple times, for others, the pain may be so great, it only happens once and they are unable to open up again. The bond between human and canine is undeniable. It is so strong that the love can be as strong as any love between family. For those who truly understand it, the loss of a dog is the loss of family. A dog is not owned, a dog is not a pet, but a family member that is loved and cherished. Hence the loss of a dog can be a very agonizing loss.
The article, “How to Grieve for a Very Good Dog” by Annette McGivney looks closer at the grief experienced over the loss of a dog. She states,
“When my yellow Lab died last spring, I was flattened by an overwhelming sadness that’s with me still. And that’s normal, experts say, because losing a pet is often one of the hardest yet least acknowledged traumas we’ll ever face.”
If you would like to learn more about AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification, then please review and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet loss Grief Support.
One of the saddest things is losing a dog. Losing a dog is painful because over the 10 to 15 years the dog in our life, he or she becomes an everyday staple. Many wish dogs could live longer. This is one of the things to consider when owning a dog that one will not have them for a life time but a series of them. This may be sad but also gives one a chance to share life with many more.
In novels, we see individuals who live almost like immortal lives. Our lives are almost immortal like when compared to a dog’s life and it teaches us to appreciate them while they are here. We need to smile on the bad days they misbehave or tear up a shoe and we need to appreciate the love and energy they show us. We are their entire world and we need to enjoy everyday they are with us.
The article, “It’s not fair that a dog’s life is so short” by Linda Smith states,
“Over the years, friends had warned me that the decision to let a cherished pet go was one of the most difficult they had ever made. At the time, I would nod and agree and move on with my day. As my dog got older, however, and this reality neared for me, I listened more closely to those stories of pet loss from friends.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program and see if it matches your academic and professional programs. The program is online and independent study and open to professionals seeking a four year certification to help others deal with the loss of a pet.
Helping someone through the loss of a pet is something many consider trivial but it is not. It is important to treat all losses as important and to learn how to help someone through listening and acknowledgement of their grief.
The article, ‘LOSING A PET” from the USdesk looks at how to talk and listen to someone who loses a pet. The article refers to some helpful ways to guide someone through the loss. The article states,
“While losing a pet is painful and overwhelming, unfortunately, it can also be a very lonely process, as community support typically associated with death is absent when a pet dies. To make matters worse, grieving owners may feel embarrassed over the extent of their own heartbreak and feel ashamed to reach out to friends for comfort.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification