A good friend of mine lost her dog last week. It made me reflect on the loss of my own pets… To say life changing would be too dramatic… but in a sense it is. Last year, I lost the first dog my husband and I ever owned. He was 11 when he died and lived a very pampered life! I found his death especially hard because I couldn’t stop thinking about how much of a role he played in our lives… he was there when my children were born, he was there when I purchased my first house, he was there when we moved 800 miles away from our family… I couldn’t stop reminiscing about all of the major life events he was present for. He was a true member of our family!
“Pets are not our whole life but they make our lives whole”. If you have ever owned a pet, I am sure you can relate to this quote! Pets change our lives for the better. They give us unconditional love, they never judge, are always loyal… the list goes on! I lost another dog, Bear, six months after Bo. Bear was a dog we rescued. He gave us just as much love and loyalty. We only had him for a short time but it hurt just the same when he passed.
It is always awkward giving condolences to someone who has lost a pet. My typical response is, “you loved him/her like family and you will miss him dearly. Know that you gave him the best life possible. Remember the huge role he played in your life. Believe that he too knew exactly how important he was to you and you to him”.
People grieve differently when they loose a pet. Some cry, some need a friend to lean on and some need grief counseling. Others, like me, need all three outlets… and then go out and get another dog! I believe my life and family are not complete unless we have pets to share it with!
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