Life After Losing A Cherished Pet
As any dedicated pet owner must know, coping with the unexpected death of a pet is an extremely difficult thing to do. Whether a dog, a cat or a parrot, pets find a permanent place in our homes – and our lives. The unconditional love a pet has to offer can be more rewarding than words can say. Unfortunately, the pain of losing that love runs just as deep.
Losing a pet after a long and happy relationship is heartbreaking enough. The tragedy of coping with the unexpected death of a pet due to an accident or sudden illness seems especially cruel. There may be thoughts of “what if”, coupled by feelings of guilt. In any case, there will be feelings of emptiness and loss, and the grieving process takes time. Adults that grieve for the loss of a pet often have a difficult time getting over the loss. Children – especially the very young – will inevitably have the toughest time coping with the unexpected death of a pet.
While it is true that time is the greatest healer of all, there are ways to ease the recovery process in the interim. Many people make the decision to rush out after the death of a pet and adopt a new best friend. While this concept may work for some, in most cases this method will fail. Pet owners need to allow themselves time to grieve. Coping with the unexpected death of a pet means finding a means of closure. Without closure, feelings become bottled up inside and this may become an unhealthy situation.
Allowing children to express their sadness or anger is important. Until this can occur, the ability to love another pet is hampered. Most likely, the love will not happen overnight. A beloved pet cannot be ‘replaced’ like a broken toy. While it is wonderful to open one’s heart to love a pet again, it should happen at the right time – and for the right reason.
That said, the first course of action in coping with the unexpected death of a pet is to grieve. Before the grieving process begins, a good idea is to store away a pet’s belongings so you are not reminded of your loss every moment of the day. This does not mean you should discard everything. Most pet owners will want to save special keepsakes to remember their beloved pets by. Placing them out of sight while one is grieving will probably help somewhat.
When the time is right, choosing another pet to help fill the void is a wonderful thing to do. A person will know when the time for adopting another pet is right. Opening one’s heart to love again can truly be a blessing and ease the pain. Keep in mind, this is not a replacement, but a means of enriching one’s life. Choose your new best friend wisely and don’t be afraid to love again. The reward of sharing your life and love with another animal is too special to ignore.
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