Mourning A Pet
Losing a pet can be just as traumatic as losing a member of your family. You are likely to feel a certain amount of grief during the mourning process, but that is totally normal. There is no reason to feel guilty just remember that you gave your pet the best life that they could have had. Also when mourning you pet try not to isolate yourself and to reminisce about the fond memories you had with your pet, these things will help to ease the mourning process.
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Step 1:
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Losing A Pet
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Ask anyone who's lost a cherished pet and they'll tell you the same thing. Losing a family pet can trigger feelings of grief as strong as those we feel when a human family member dies.
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Step 2:
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Scenario
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Goldie and I have been together for many years. Julie Boychuck and her beloved poodle Goldie have appeared more than once in the Pet Report, but this time Goldie is not by her side.
The link, the very close link we had...we were together 14 years.
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Step 3:
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Painful Process
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The loss of an animal is an incredibly painful process. For many of us an animal is the only unconditional love that many individuals experience. The first thing to do when your pet dies is to really acknowledge that it is a painful process, and allow yourself to feel those emotions.
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Step 4:
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Coping With Pet Loss
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So how can you deal with a pet loss?
Change your schedule. If you normally walked your dog at nine in the morning, leave at ten and take a different route. Build a scrapbook, or write a poem. Do something creative that will keep the memories alive. Use support mechanisms like family, and friends, and support loss groups and free telephone hot lines.
Instead of dwelling on the negatives of your pet passing, think of all the positive experiences you shared together. It could be something simple like going for an ice cream with your pet, or meeting someone new at a dog park. Think of the positive experiences you've shared with your pet, and the grieving process will move a little bit quicker.
The death of a pet is inevitable in our lifetime. All you have to do is tell yourself is that you did the best that you could do.
