Pet Loss Grief Support

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Article on Pet Bereavement Time

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The loss of a pet is a big loss.  For years and years, people downgraded this loss and acted as if it was just a pet.  People were told they are over reacting over a loss of a pet.  Now, society is seeing such losses as big losses to individuals.  Pets are like family and the bonds of love are just as strong.  With such discussions, some ask if pet bereavement time is needed from employment.  Should employers give an employee time away from work to properly grieve?

Saying good bye to a pet is like losing family for many. Pet bereavement is a possible need. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

 

The article, “Can You Take An Extended Period Off Work After Your Pet Dies?” by Rebecca Reid looks closer at this.  She states,

“Mixed in with the sympathetic responses to Lorde’s loss were the voices of those who found her raw misery unpalatable, because it was felt for a pet, not a person. But grief is a strange, complicated thing. It’s entirely possible to feel nothing when someone who you ‘should’ feel sad about dies, and a huge amount at the loss of someone strange”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

 

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Training Article on a Grieving Dog

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

When our dogs are sad, we are sad.  Dogs are family and when a dog is not feeling well or is grieving the loss of another person or pet, then we naturally want to comfort our dog.  Dogs display emotion and sadness in different ways and we need to identify that grief and also be able to spark joy into their lives again.

What should you do when your dog is grieving? Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling training and see if it meets your needs

 

The article, “How to help a dog who is grieving the loss of a loved one” by Lisa Walden states,

“Dogs experiencing a loss can show signs of confusion, fear or depression. If it’s the loss of their owner, you may notice dogs trying to figure out where that person has gone. If it’s another pet who has passed away, your dog may spend more time in their bed or favorite places, often with the hope that their friend may return.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Article and Losing a Dog

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Losing a pet is not a minor thing in life.  A cat, dog, or horse is a long term companion.  To some, the pet is even family.  Learning to live without the pet is something harder to do than other people may imagine.

Losing a dog is like losing a family member to many. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program Article on Bereavement Time and Pet Loss

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The loss of a pet is a big deal.  Dogs, cats and horses are like family.  As the issue becomes larger, professionals are asking if a person should receive bereavement day for the loss of dog or cat or horse.  While many do not receive days for aunts or uncles, but only parents or children, employers should consider giving someone a day to grieve the death of a pet.  This is best for the business and the mindset of the griever.

People need time to grieve the loss of a pet. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

The article, “Should employees be allowed bereavement leave when a pet dies?” by Kate Palmer states,

“Currently, there is no legal requirement for employers to allow their employees any time off work when their pet dies and, currently, no right to any form of bereavement leave at all. Permitting time off for employees in times of bereavement is down to the discretion of their employer and it is perfectly acceptable for them to refuse such a request.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

 

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program Article on the Nature of Pet Loss

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Losing a pet is traumatic but is there a line to be drawn before it becomes too abnormal?  For instance, losing a dog or cat is questioned by some as not a true loss.  Obviously this loss is subjective to the person who loss the animal but it is clear dogs, cats and even horses are companions.  They are more like family to many and to some, all they have.   Can it be taken farther to include mice, or fish?  This is a difficult question when something crosses the line as a pathology and not recognizing the reality of grief in the person.  The grief definitely needs respected but what are the lines that should be drawn in regards to abnormal reactions?  Individuals can form unhealthy bonds, but those bonds still exist and need respected.

Is pet loss grief limited to only dogs, cats and horses or should more extreme forms of loss be accepted? Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

The article, “Why I’m Mourning The Death Of My Hedgehog As Much As Any Dog Or Cat” by Gark Mavigan looks at why grief can be over any type of loss and should be respected.  He states.

“Vicky and I had cried enough tears to make a small island out of Northern California’s favorite whitewashed Mexican food chain. We’d only been married a few months, so this was our tragedy honeymoon, our first time facing loss head-on as a team.

“Do you think she’s in heaven? Or hedgie heaven?” I tried to eke a smile out of Vicky’s puffed-up face, though I was legitimately curious.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Again, grieving over loss is a normal thing.  One can grieve over the loss of any pet.  The subjective connection is the key.   Whether that connection is healthy or not is not the concern initially of the grief counselor, but helping the person adjust to the loss in a proportionate way.  It is not so much that certain losses are greater or less, but first acknowledging one’s loss and helping one through it.

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

 

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program on the Impact of a Loss of a Pet

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The loss of a pet can be very traumatic.  Pets are family and the loss of a pet can be as traumatic as losing a family member.  Unfortunately, many individuals mock this type of loss and mock it as insignificant.  This is unfortunate and very untrue.  The loss of a pet needs to be respected as a significant loss.

The loss of a pet can be as traumatic as the loss of any family member. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

The article, “Here’s How the Death of a Pet Can Be Just as Traumatic as Other Forms of Grief” by Philip Ellis states,

“So often, when an animal companion dies and the human partner is bereft, well-meaning people say things such as: ‘it’s only a dog,’ ‘come on, get over it,’ ‘you can always get another one,’ ‘they’re better off,’ ‘be strong,’ ‘you’re crying too much,’ ‘get a life.’ And so the grief-stricken suffer again.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program 

 

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification Article on Pets and Legal Status

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

In many legal senses, dogs are seen as property.  The reality though is they are not property but family.  Legal terms can be cold and lead to the devaluing of our pets.  It is important in all venues to see pets as individuals, who although may not be people with rights, still nonetheless are seen with intrinsic value beyond.

Pets are more than property but are family. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification

The article,”Maine Voices: Dog’s day in court isn’t about property – it’s about the human-animal bond” by PAULA GERSTENBLATT relates how it is more than just property disputes in court but a human-animal bond.  The article states,

“In a recent editorial, “Our View: Dogs shouldn’t get their day in court” (May 16, Page A6), the Editorial Board writes: “Pets may seem like family, but they’re property – which is how courts should rule.” Research on the human-animal bond indicates pets are considered family, and the connection equals or exceeds that experienced between humans.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional needs.

 

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program Article on the Reality of Pet Loss

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The loss of a pet is not something easy.  Losing a pet is in fact a very hard loss for many and should not be ignored.  Losing a pet is like losing family and pet loss counseling is sometimes needed.

The loss of a pet is a real loss that needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

The article, “When pets die, the grieving process is real” by Jack Hagerman, takes a closer look at the type of grief involved in losing a pet.  He states,

“Because we don’t typically have funerals for pets, we miss out on this important step in the grieving process.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs.

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program Article on the Reality of Loss with a Pet

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Pets are family.  The loss of a pet can be traumatizing because of this.   When we start to objectively define loss for another as small or not significant, we miss the whole point of grief.   Grief is a reaction to loss and the severity is connected to the level of love.  A dog or cat or horse are all great companions.   These type of higher intelligent companion pets have connections with the person that cannot be ignored.   Lesser intelligent pets may not have the emotional connection, but as grief counselors, we need to recognize in particular cases the affect of the loss on the person.

Losing a pet is a serious loss and needs to be viewed as such. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program
Losing a pet is a serious loss and needs to be viewed as such. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

So it is important that the loss of pets be taken far more seriously.   An individual who loves his dog and lost his companion will suffer as much as a person who may have lost a brother.  Just because some individuals do not love animals, does not invalidate the legitimate bond with our pets.

The article, “Why we should start recognising the loss of a pet as ‘real grief'” by Jill Stark looks at this type of loss more deeply and why it is so important to recognize.  She states,

“There is often the expectation to keep feelings “in perspective” or to move on and “just get another one” – as if our pets are interchangeable non-entities we can replace like an old pair of socks.”

To read the entire article, please click here

I feel, these terms used by many towards the grieving over pets are insensitive and dodge the real loss and pain.  One can never replace a family member and because of this, one can never replace a pet.

If you would like to learn more, please review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification Article on Explaining a Pet’s Death

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Great article on talking to a child about the death of a pet.  The death of a pet is a horrible loss but is also usually the first death experience for a child.  It is important to properly grieve the loss but to also use it as teaching moment to explain death.   While a teaching moment may be very difficult for the loss of a dog, horse or cat, it may be easier if it is a goldfish, or hampster.

Explaining to a child how a family dog or cat died can be a difficult thing. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification
Explaining to a child how a family dog or cat died can be a difficult thing. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification

The article, “The Dog Isn’t Sleeping: How To Talk With Children About Death” by Cody Turner states,

“My parents exchanged pained glances. I know now that life had put them in an impossible bind. Mingo had been dying for months and suffering for weeks. The vet urged euthanasia then and there. My parents reluctantly but humanely agreed. But how to tell me? So they didn’t, hoping to wait until after my birthday.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional needs.