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Initial Feelings of Loss
Losing a very close four-legged friend is one of the hardest things a pet lover
will ever go through. When you lose a pet, you lose a member of your family.
When your beloved pet dies, it can leave you with feelings of guilt and intense
remorse. During these difficult times, it is important to deal with the feelings
that you have, as you have them, rather than keep them bottled inside. Going
through each of the seven stages of grief is both normal and healthy to heal
your broken heart. It is important to recognize that, though most people go
through each of these stages, there is no particular order to the stages.
Stages of grief:
1. Shock/Denial
2. Disorganization
3. Violent emotions/Anger
4. Guilt/Bargaining
5. Loneliness and Loss/Depression
6. Relief/Acceptance
7. Re-establishment
How do I move on?
Throughout the initial grieving process, it is hard to imagine your life
continuing on normally without your best friend beside you. You wonder how you
can go back to daily routines and activities when there is such a large void in
your life. Some things that may help you move forward once you have gotten over
the initial shock:
► Talk with those closest to you. Your friends and family will likely be the
best consolation during such a difficult time. Many people do not understand the
human/animal bond and cannot fathom the intense remorse over the loss of a pet.
If you do not have a strong support system, consider a local support group or
hotline.
Hotlines:
- llinois: Chicago Veterinary Medical Association – (630) 325-1600 (leave
voice-mail; calls returned between 7-9 pm; long distance calls returned collect)
- Indiana: Pet Loss Support Group - (317) 251-4028
- Michigan: Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine - (517)
432-2696 (T/Th 7:30-9:30pm ET)
► Maintain routine as much as possible. Getting too far away from your typical
day-to-day activities will make your loss you feel even more extreme.
► Begin to remember positive feelings and funny memories of your friend. Often
times, just remembering your buddy will help the pain feel less sharp.
► Consider options that help you to move on. A new pet, a memorial to your lost
pet through giving to a local animal charity, a memorial stone or framing a
loved picture can help to bring closure.
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