Pet Bereavement & Help
Coping with grief
Grief is expressed in many ways – so there is no set path for you to follow to come to terms with the death of a pet. It is important to allow yourself time to grieve – you should never feel guilty, ashamed or embarrassed about being upset – grief is a natural process.
After the death of a pet you may feel a number of emotions, and grief is commonly known to have five stages; denial and shock, anger and frustration, depression, and then finally acceptance. You may also feel loneliness and guilt too.
Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. Your vet, friends and family will be there to support you and offer advice. Surround yourself with people that understand your loss.
Never be too proud to seek professional advice to help you cope with your pain. Ask your vet or one of the advisors at Pets @ Rest if they can recommend a local pet bereavement counsellor or support group. There are also a number of books available and support services, such as the Pet Bereavement Service.
Pets may not be with us forever, but the treasured memories you make with them are.
Coping with loss
Many pet owners form strong, long-lasting bonds with their pets and so it is completely natural to be overcome by grief and sadness upon the loss of a companion.
Pets offer us unconditional love, affection, joy and companionship and many of us are unprepared for the great feelings of loss and loneliness when a pet passes away.
Understanding the process of losing a companion can make it easier to cope with, and Pets @ Rest are able to answer your questions and carry out your wishes – tailoring our service to your needs where possible.
Affecting Children
Children can be deeply affected by the loss of a pet and on some occasions it will be the first time they have experienced bereavement.
Young children may have a number of questions about death, so it is important to allow them to talk about their feelings and answer their questions as best you can. Depending on your child’s age, the language you use can be very important; using phrases such as ‘put to sleep’ can be confusing for young children. Use straightforward words, although it may be hard to say, using the word ‘died’ is simple to understand.
For some children, it can help to draw pictures of their pet, write a poem or create a memory box of photos and toys. These can help children to celebrate their pet’s life rather than focus on the finality of death.
If your pet is ill and unlikely to recover, it is recommended to discuss this with children to allow them time to prepare for the loss, ask any questions and give them time to say goodbye. In some instances, a child may not have been able to say goodbye to their pet, so you may want to think about holding a celebration of life ceremony at home to help your child accept their pet’s death – such as allowing your child to write a message to their pet and tying it to a helium-filled balloon for it to float off into the sky.
If you are choosing to bury your pet at home, allow children to be a part of this, such as creating a grave marker, planting a remembrance tree or flower, or even helping to dig the pet’s resting place. If you would prefer cremation, it may help children to choose where to scatter the ashes, or they may opt to keep the ashes in a special place. Whichever option you choose, it is important to take your child’s wishes into account too.
Most importantly, don’t stop your children from talking about their pet or expressing their emotions. Try to help them to focus on the good memories they shared together and the special place they hold in their hearts.
This information is produced by The Pet Charity, a national charity which promotes the joy and benefits of pet ownership.
Copyright © 2014 The Pet Charity. All Rights Reserved.
Registered Charity No: 1052488
Call the support line on 0800 096 6606 (UK only including northern Ireland).
The support line is open from 8.30am – 8.30pm everyday.
Registered Charity No: 224392
Find a counsellor near you.