Losing a pet

The grief over the death or losing a beloved pet can be as deep if not deeper than that over the loss of a human being for many pet owners. In today’s society pets are very much loved members of the family. Many people revolve their lives around their pets including hobbies such as dog shows, dog agility, and equestrian sports.

Society is not always accepting of our personal grief and pet bereavement/ pet loss is one of those areas. Family and friends may find it hard to understand why someone should grieve so much for the loss of a pet however grieving over the loss of your much-loved companion is perfectly normal!

Pet loss may also be the last in a long line of distressing experiences i.e. the death of a close family member or a past traumatic event.

Difficult Decisions

Difficult decisions may have to be made such as euthanasia. A much-loved pet that has gone missing or re-homed through no fault of the owner or the dog can bring its own emotional implications. Talking to a therapist can help to work through the different emotions you experience.

Common Symptoms of Grief

Below are some common reactions to the death or loss of a pet. The majority of these are also the same reactions experienced in grief over the death of a much-loved family member or friend.

Loss of appetite
Fear
Pain
Emptiness
Isolation
Shock
Feeling silly in the eyes of others for grieving a pet
Emptiness
Anxiety
Crying
Sleeplessness

Your feelings are valid. Whatever you are feeling in relation to a loss of a beloved pet will be met with compassion, understanding, and empathy in the counselling room. 

If you’d like to talk to me about your experience, do drop me a line using the contact form below.