Death of a Pet

DEATH OF A PET

It may seem silly to have a "Death of a Pet" section, but in some cases pets can be as important as a human family member. As with any other type of death, the experience of grief can vary. For a family who has lived with a pet for years, for a single person who has no companion other than a cat or a dog, or for a handicapped individual who had a trained animal as a companion, the death of a pet can be a major grieving experience. Acknowledging the loss can be a comfort to the individual or the family if they feel odd that they are crying over "just an animal." Remind them that the animal made up a very real "family" that has now changed.

Be especially sensitive to children's grief over the loss of a pet; they may not be as able to express grief and yet feel it keenly.

If those grieving are interested, a "funeral" or "memorial service" may be a helpful way to say good-bye to a pet. As in any other funeral, sharing both joyful and frustrating memories is helpful and shapes a meaningful legacy for the family. If a family has recently gone through another loss, i.e., a death of a grandmother, they may find that mounting grief requires more attention than it would normally.

Grieving the Death of a Pet

When a pet dies, you may feel you've lost one of your best friends. Often people don't understand your sadness, thinking that it's "just a dog or a cat." But to you, that pet was a member of your family. Allow yourself the freedom to grieve the death of your pet as you would a person. A funeral or family ritual may be very appropriate. Memories shared can be some of the best legacies. Your pet entertained, comforted, frustrated, but always loved you.

Suggested Reading for Children After the Death of a Pet
There are several resources you can use in locating these titles: your local library bookstores, local support groups' lending libraries, and your temples library. Remember, if a book doesn't seem to make sense right now, try reading it again later.

General