How Do You Go on After Losing a Pet ?

August 28 is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a chance to remember fondly the pets we have loved and lost.  Losing a cherished pet is a heart-breaking experience that creates a wound that may take years to heal - or one that might never heal.  It's true, though, that remembering those pets with joy can be part of the healing so we welcome August 28. 

It's a day we all dread - when we lose a beloved pet.  Whether due to age, illness, accident or some other reason, it's the same grief and it can be overwhelming. 

Our cats and dogs give us unconditional love, company and there are even health benefits to be gained by having a cat or dog.  As we all know, the minute you adopt a cat, he/she has a permanent place in your heart and is part of the family.  Here at BCR it's the same way.

Family Grief Counselor Jill S. Cohen wrote:

So how do you handle this grief?  There are lots of experts on the subject that offer advice and help but rule #1 is that it's ok to grieve however it expresses itself.  It can bring depression and fatigue.  Some people can't talk about the lost pet at all.  Others can and do.  Some will cry at the mention of that pet's name for years. Maybe it's a combination of these things.  However it's expressed - it's all ok.  Being able to let the grief out is very important.  The most often cited best way to handle grief is to find a person or group of people who feel as you do about pets and talk with them.

If you have other cats in your house, they can be the greatest comfort of all for all kinds of grief or sadness.  For those who have difficulty talking about a lost cat, being with another pet cat helps.  No talking required, just companionship and even perhaps a sense of shared loss.  As you may have experienced when you were sick, cats are very sensitive to their people and seem to know when you need comforting.  In addition to that, cats adapt to what's going on around them and will "keep pace" with you and how you're feeling.  CLICK HERE to read more about how cats can help with grief.

People offering solace and comfort to someone who has lost a pet should empathize and always acknowledge the person's love for their pet and the bond they shared.  Hopefully, they will also understand that this grief might go on for a long time and be patient.  As we're sure you know, the worst thing to say to someone who's just lost a pet is, "Well, you can always get another cat."   That maybe true but not at that moment!  Pet owners reach that time on their own schedules and do what they feel comfortable doing.

To learn more about how to cope with the grief of losing a pet, CLICK HERE.