How to Mourn the Death of a Dog
Dealing with the death of a beloved pet is never easy, and each individual deals with grief in his own way. Recognize that your dog's death is a genuine time to grieve, then find comforting ways to move through the grieving process.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Don't mourn alone. Seek out empathetic friends who will listen to and comfort you. Be aware that some people consider grieving over a pet's death inappropriate.
-
2
Acknowledge your feelings of loss and do not discount the sadness you are experiencing.
-
-
3
Express your feelings by writing them down in a journal. Journaling can help you sort through grief-related emotions, such as anger, denial and acceptance.
-
4
Consult outside resources for help. Online pet bereavement forums allow you to share your feelings with others experiencing similar issues.
-
5
Prepare a memorial for your dog in your home or at a pet cemetery. Gather your dog's favorite belongings in one spot or make a donation in its name to an animal welfare agency.
-
6
If you have children, involve them in the grieving process. Be truthful about the dog's death; do not tell the child that the pet ran away or simply went to sleep. This may lead the child to feel rejected or develop a fear of going to sleep. Express your own grief and loss and allow the child to see this.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Grief takes time, be patient.
I had a rough time dealing with the death of a beloved dog as a teenager. I had adopted little tan mutt when I was about 12 and I accidently ran her over when I was 16. I was devastated. Time was the thing that feeled that wound. So take the time to acknowledge your grief. It is very real and let time pass. Soon another dog will wiggle their tail, look at you with their moist eyes, raise their ears to listen to your voice and again you are lost. You are hopelessly a dog lover and this new pet has found a new companion in you.
References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
More Like This
Comments
-
We are so sad about having to put our beloved dog Smokie to sleep this past Thursday. She was 15 years old and was not well; she declined so quickly in a few days. I miss her so much. She was a special part of our family having lived with us for so long. She was a special and crazy dog that loved all of us.
