How To Deal With Losing A Pet
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How To Deal With Losing A Pet
When found with the recent absence of a pet who was also a family member and friend, it is important to find a way to progress in a healthy way. Janetta Smith, an animal behaviourist, explains what are the different ways that can help and why this process is important as opposed to simply going out and getting a new pet.
I'm just going to talk through a few things about how to look at things when there's obviously a death of a pet in the family. It's always good to remember the good times. Never wasting the last few of hours of their life or the last few months of their illnesses because that will just upset you, so remember just the funny points, some of the funny stories, some of the little quirks they had and that will keep you smiling.
It may make you upset but it obviously keeps the good memories alive. Cherish those memories, you know, never avoid thinking about them. Also, on the internet, you can get sort of poems.
The Rainbow is a good poem to have that just makes you think about how good a life they had and how good you were towards them. Have tokens around the house, things like photographs. Leave some of their toys and their bedding for a while around the house.
Don't suddenly just put everything away and then just get upset when you bring them out. Put them away when you feel ready. It may take a month, week, take it a year but at least you do it on your own time.
Maybe you can get some drawing made, have this little memento you can keep to yourself, some little heart, something that's engraved with their name on it. That just helps you to deal with it on your own time. Never go out straight away and get another animal because what you'll do is always, always, refer back to how your other cat or dog was.
That's not good for the new animal or it will hide the memories. Also, go out for walks, go for countryside walks. Even though you won't walk your dog again, just take in the countryside.
Meditate. It's actually a good sort of way of chilling out. Maybe volunteer at a rescue centre.
Go along to it, rescue kennels always are a good way to help out. It helps you put that time you would spend grieving into helping other animals. If it progresses, if you really can't deal with it, you may be better off dealing with a pet griever and counsellor who will talk things through with you.
These are just a few tips to remember when you deal with the death of a good and loving pet. .