Dog Death: 12 Tips When Coping with the Loss of Your Pet
Dog Death: 12 Tips When Coping With the Loss of Your Pet
Our dogs are there during the quietest, peaceful parts of our day. These four legged family members love us even when others may not, and they comfort and console us when we need it most. Because our companions are an integral part of our lives, they leave an empty space when they pass away. If your dog has died, dealing with the grief that follows is often devastating.
Many people do not understand the depth to which a person may feel the loss of a pet as they do when we have lost a human loved one. In some circumstances, we may be left to deal with the loss without human support and consolation. It has been noted often that the death of a beloved pet is sometimes more devastating than the loss of a human companion since our companion dog is dependent upon us constantly to secure each and every desire. We are their voice and their provider.
Although nothing can replace a beloved animal, there are ways in which we can help keep the memories alive and be comforted by them. Try one of these ideas to memorialize your lost dog.
1. Keep a journal that describes the things that your dog did as a way of remembering the good times you had.
2. Create a photo album or photo montage of your dog.
3. Have a local artist paint a portrait of your dog.
4. If you are handy with crafts, needlepoint a picture of your dog with his birth and death dates.
5. Place a stone with your dog’s name in your garden.
6. Hold a memorial service for your canine companion that includes family and friends.
7. Plant a tree, bush, or flower in remembrance of your dog.
8. Make a donation to your favorite animal charity in your dog’s name. Inquire if they have special donation categories such as putting a dog’s name on a shelter cage or on a brick that becomes part of a new building.
9. Gather up your dog’s belongings and store them in a special container that you can retrieve when the pain heals.
10. Place your dog’s ashes in an urn to keep near.
11. If you prefer to bury your pet in a cemetery, check local ones for those that have special pet burial locations, or contact your local humane organization or shelter to see if they provide pet burial services. Put a memorial stone on his grave.
12. Contact your local humane society to see if they have a support group in which people meet to share their experiences. Often, it helps us deal with the loss of a pet to talk about it with other pet people who understand what we are going through.
