Coping with Grief

The animals in our lives are more than just our pets and play important roles in our daily lives in many different ways. The many things they give to us during their lives is immeasurable, such as companionship, loyalty, devotion, joy, laughter, comfort and unconditional love, to name a few. 

When the time comes for us to say goodbye to our furry companions, it can be an overwhelming and heartbreaking process and we grieve just as we do any significant loss in our lives. In grief, there is no "one size fits all". Grief is a very personal journey and there's no "right" or "wrong" way to experience it. 

In grieving, we may experience many different emotions, that can ebb and flow, depending on the moment or the day. This is a very normal process in grief and it's important to recognize and acknowledge what we're feeling in that moment and work through it. Failure to work through our emotions relating to the grief we're going through, can actually prolong our healing process. 

After any loss, especially one this significant, it may be necessary to seek assistance from a grief counselor or support group to help us on our journey to healing. While we will never forget our furry family members and we will always hold dear the wonderful memories we carry of them, we can work through the grief toward healing the emotional distress we feel from their loss.

Below you will find links that can be helpful resources in dealing with the grief you may be experiencing if you have recently had to say goodbye to your furry family member as well as links that can be helpful if you're preparing to saying goodbye.

How to Cope When Your Pet is Ill

Grieving the Loss of a Pet

Helping Children Through Pet Loss

Moving Forward After the Loss of a Pet

How Animals Grieve

Grief Support/Counseling Services