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Step 1
Don’t hold your emotions back. There’s no shame in crying, in fact its a healthy response. Know that its ok to feel depressed and go through a period of mourning. Your pet was a big part of your life and a period of mourning is simply the natural reaction that occurs when that part is taken away.
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Step 2
Understand what’s actually happening emotionally. Many people will feel a general sadness over the death of a pet and ‘feel sorry’ that the pet has died, but if you think about it there’s no reason to ‘feel sorry’ for your pet. If your pet was old or sick, it no longer has to deal with the problems associated with illness or old age. The one who’s still alive and subject to the problems and concerns of life is you. Understanding this can give you a peace over the death of your pet and offer a realization that the mourning process is something for you to deal with personally.
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Step 3
Take comfort in knowing that you provided your pet with a good life. Its well known that pets are our companions, but did you ever stop and realize that we are their companions as well? By loving and caring for your pet, you gave it a happy and fulfilling experience while it was alive.
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Step 4
Find happiness in the memory of your pet. Even though your pet is gone, you will carry the memories of your time together for the rest of your life. Some people may even decide to keep an object or trinket that reminds them of their pet as a way to honor the pet’s memory.
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Step 5
Finally, see your pet’s death as an important life lesson. Death is a part of life and a natural process that we all must face. By coming to terms with this reality, we can gain peace and understanding concerning our own life experience.
Comments
artdreams said
on 3/15/2009 What a compassionate and wise article - 5 stars! Great articulation and understanding of people's loss of a dear pet - mine were two cats, Winter and Sniffy. They were two big blessings in our family!