Pet loss is no different than other loss but it is sometimes dismissed and downgraded. Losing a pet is like losing family and it should be treated as such. If someone loses a dog or cat that has been with them for years and has been their closest companion, then the loss will hurt as if a person has died.
The loss of a pet can be traumatic and life altering. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification
The article, “How to mourn the loss of a pet: ‘There are no rules, grief has no endpoint’” by Gemma White reviews how intense the loss of a pet can be. She states,
“Owners can sometimes face indifference or a lack of understanding from those who may not understand the place their pet held in their lives. But whether dog, cat, horse or hamster, the loss of a pet can have a devastating effect.”
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.
When we discover our dog is soon to die or will die within months, we start to prepare ourselves for that horrible day. Anticipatory grief sets in as we await the time we dread. We try to enjoy the good days and stretch out as much time left.
Waiting for one’s dog to let them know it is time to die is a sad journey. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification .
Waiting for one’s dog to let them know it is time to die is a sad journey. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification
The article, “My Dog is Dying” from “What’s Your Grief” looks at the pain and questions surrounding this period. The article states,
“And yet I know the inevitable is coming. I find myself bracing for it every day, hypervigilant and tense. I watch his every move like a hawk. Did he eat? How much did he eat? Does it look like he’s in pain? Is that tumor bigger than it was yesterday? On his bad days I find myself mentally preparing. I’ve brought myself to tears more than once thinking about my world without him. I think about his long, happy life. I remind myself that I don’t want him to suffer.”
Losing a pet is difficult and it can take time to recover from. 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
Losing a pet is difficult. The choice to put the pet down is also a difficult part of that process. How to say goodbye and when is a sad time for pet owners. Sometimes, letting one’s pet die at home is a nice way and is a possible service to make the pet more comfortable instead of the sad drive to the vet’s office.
Home Euthanasia for a pet is a new concept for some. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Grief Loss Support Certification
The article, “At-home euthanasia can provide comfort to pets, owners” by Kathryn Streeter looks deeper at euthanasia at home for pets. She states,
“This prompted a hard family conversation about quality of life. It was time, we thought, and made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanise her. But there was one bright side: We were able to do so in a way that was best for Ezzy and for us: In the privacy, comfort and, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, safety, of our home.”
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.
Losing a pet due to old age and natural causes is difficult but losing one to an accident is even more heartbreaking. Like any unexpected death it can cause trauma and intense grief. It is every pet owners greatest fear to discover an unexpected death or a pet hit by a car.
The sudden loss of a pet can be traumatic and tragic. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification
The article, “Coping with a pet’s accidental death — especially when you blame yourself” by Gavin Jenkins looks closer at personal stories of how others dealt with the sudden and tragic death of their pets. He states,
“Grieving the loss of a pet is often as painful as mourning a close friend or relative. But being responsible for and witnessing your pet’s death can add guilt, trauma and shame to the heartbreak. And as we discovered after Suzy died, this emotional toll impedes the grieving process.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification. 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 difficult. Pets are family and losing one can make anyone struggle. This is true especially during the pandemic as individuals suffer the loss of pets. Individuals are home more and because of this the loss of a pet can even sting more. To many, during covid, the pet may be their only companion they see everyday.
Pets are our home life and with the pandemic they are even more part of our life than ever before. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program
The article, “9 Tips for Grieving the Loss of a Pet During the Pandemic, According to a Grief Specialist” by Erin Bunch looks at how individuals can better cope with the loss of a pet. The article states,
“And since pets tend to provide their owners with unconditional comfort and emotional support, their passing can leave a significant hole in our lives. Add this factor to the reality that many are spending more time at home with their pets than ever before due to COVID-19 safety measures, and the exacerbated sense of loss for those whose pets have died during the pandemic is much clearer.”
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 in Pet Loss Grief Support.
Saying farewell to a pet is one of the most difficult things. It involves making the decision if a pet is able to live comfortably. It takes understanding that the terminal condition has finally become too much for the beloved pet. It takes sacrifice to say good bye for the better good. There is a long process in this grief process that starts from the decision and continues well after the final goodbyes.
Saying goodbye to a pet is the most difficult but sometimes most humane act. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Program
The article, “How to Say Goodbye to Your Pet” by Kyle Ramond Fitzpatrick looks at this difficult but humane choice of love. He states,
“When there’s an emergency or when an animal is suffering from an incurable issue, he says, making the choice to end an animal’s life is obvious. When the situation is more nebulous, like having a senior pet, one should wait for them to “tell you” when the negatives outweigh the positives of their life.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Program. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification. Please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Pet loss is a disenfranchised loss. This means many do not acknowledge it or give the loss or people experiencing the loss the respect and time it needs. People can be ridiculed or left behind in the grieving process because others place little value on the loss of a pet. Common phrases such as “its just a dog” or “at least it was not a family member” and “why are you still upset over a cat” are all insensitive comments, pet owners deal with.
The loss of a pet is a real loss that needs to be acknowledged and accepted.
Losing a pet is a very subjective experience though. To some, it may not be a big deal, while others it may be a life altering loss. Whether paws or fins, feathers or scales, the loss of a pet can be small or big to certain people. While we naturally conceive dogs, cats and horses as the most common losses, losing smaller pets can also be painful. While these smaller pets may not be able to form the emotional bond a dog can, certain individuals still form bonds. Maybe the fish was a last reminder of a departed spouse, or the small hamster was a gift of a departed parent. These attached meanings to smaller animals also play roles in how a person may subjectively grieve.
Still even so, one may have a fish for years upon years and live a very lonely life. The loss of that simple fish, albeit, it is unable to reciprocally return love, still represents a major aspect of that person’s life. So we cannot limit loss or dismiss it. We must acknowledge it and respect it.
Is there a chance of pathological reaction to a loss of a smaller pet that is out of touch to reality? It is possible, but there is a chance for pathological reaction to any loss, whether human or otherwise. So it is important to acknowledge even the smallest loss and reassess the person’s progress through it. Normally a loss of a hamster, or fish, may take a few days or week, but again, to some, this pet may have extra intrinsic value based on the person’s subjective situation.
Obviously, the wagging of a tail and bark to greet you at home will normally have greater loss reaction. The loss of a dog, cat or horse USUALLY affects a person longer than a loss of a small pet, as a fish, or hamster. These losses have a more reciprocal bond because of the animal’s higher intelligence. AGAIN, this does not mean we can assume based on reciprocity of love and intelligence of an animal that a loss will be less or more, but it does give one a general consensus that most individuals will grieve the loss of these pets more than a smaller creature of less intelligence and emotional capacity to bond with a person.
A loss of a cat, dog or horse can be as painful as losing a family member for some. A lonely old person may grieve the loss of a cat more than a family member he never sees. A family may grieve the loss of a family dog that played a part in all activities. These are not just mere animals but beloved friends and family that may not be human but beloved nonetheless. Many see these pets as their children and the loss can hurt as much as losing a child.
To some, the loss of a pet is like losing family. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program
Grief Counselors need to teach and educate that pet loss is a real loss. They need to help others and show sympathy to those who will not receive it from others over the loss. They need to acknowledge the loss of their clients pet loss and help them cope through it. These losses are not to be minimized or lessened or ignored, but to be acknowledged and accepted as true and impactful losses
If you would like to learn more about Pet Loss then please review AICHP’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.
Saying farewell to a pet is a difficult thing. It is a painful moment when you finally say goodbye to a loved one. In saying farewell, it should be done like anyone else we love. Rituals and traditions can help ease the pain.
Saying farewell to a pet is a critical part of the grieving process. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program
The article, “How to farewell your pet if you can’t be there when they die” by Rachel Edwards discusses how one can ease the pain of losing a pet through ritual and tradition. She states,
“Linda Michie is a registered counsellor for people experiencing the gamut of life — including the death of pets. She says many people feel guilty if they are not able to be with their pets at the end, thinking they should be there right to the last moment. “I remind them that they gave their pets such a great life and that without great love there is no great loss,” she says. Linda works with people to find a solution to not being able to be present for a pet’s death. These are her suggestions.”
Children and their experience with loss usually begins with the death of a pet. Helping a child understand the finality of death but also allowing the child to express grief is key to this learning process, albeit, as painful as it may be to the entire family.
For a child, the loss of a pet is sometimes the child’s first experience with loss. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Program
The article, “How to deal with the death of a pet when you have kids” by Mel Ritterman looks at this difficult and painful process. He states,
“Having to say goodbye to your dog is like losing a family member and your best friend all in one. It’s heartbreaking and so incredibly emotional. Then throw kids into the mix and it is just so much harder. How do you explain this to your children? How do you grieve when you have to be the parent? How do we explain death to kids?”
Pet loss and children enter into types of loss. One the loss of a pet and second the particular loss from the view of a child. These things make the loss no easier and require parents and caregivers to mourn but also teach their children the nature of loss in life.
Mourning loved ones is natural and dogs are no different. Losing dogs are painful. Life can be a series of dogs and each dog has a special place and time in our heart. It does not get easier losing a loved one. Some individuals may only have one dog their whole life because they are two heart broken. How we mourn our dogs is important. It is important to understand that it is natural and fine to miss our dogs and cry over them.
Humans can deeply mourn the loss of their dog. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Training Program and see if it meets your needs
The article, “Mourning Our Dogs The death of a much-loved dog is sometimes followed by regrets and self-doubt.” by Scott Janssen looks at how we can better mourn our dogs. He states,
“When we lose a canine companion, self-critical thoughts and feelings may become a part of our grief. We may disproportionally focus on our perceived failures and imperfections rather than view our actions as those of someone doing her or his best to stand by a canine loved one during painful circumstances. This is known as “moral pain,” and fortunately, there are things we can do to relieve it.”
Like any loss, we can grieve and feel guilty over a loss. Losing a dog can be no different. Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program
