It’s one of the most difficult things a person can go through isn’t it, losing a pet? That grief and longing you hold in your heart, the unanswered questions, the doubts on whether you did the right thing.
Did I let them go too soon? Were they in pain? Do they know how much I loved them? Are they okay?
In this article we’re going to take a look at how pet loss can affect you and how to deal with it.
Pets are family and their passing can leave a gaping void in our hearts and lives that can be difficult to deal with.
It’s hard to know how to cope with pet loss.
What to do, how to feel and where to turn to.
Not only is it the loss of their physical presence that hurts, but also managing and adapting to the change of routine and lifestyle, as you’re no longer able to enjoy your usual activities with your pet.
They play such an important part of your life, that when they’re gone it can feel like a part of you is missing too. For some people, their only companionship and love is from their beloved pet and with their passing they can suddenly feel very isolated and lonely.
Guilt is a very common feeling when dealing with grief.
Guilt is also incredibly easy to hold on to for far too long, especially when you’ve been dealing with those extremely difficult end of life decisions. Often times those “should of”s” or “if only’s” can preoccupy your mind as your reflect on your pet’s passing.
We can be our own worse critics right?
You may even feel afraid to let go of the pain of loss, in case you lose that connection to your pet, however, your connection is soul to soul at it’s purest, it will always remain – without the need for that pain.
Guilt can even creep in when you’re moving on again in life, like somehow you’re dishonouring, forgetting or replacing your animal companion –> especially if a new pet comes into your life.
But know this, your pets in spirit are often the ones guiding you to other furry family members that need the kind of love you have to offer! So take comfort in that.
They wish only the best for you right now (just like they always have done) and want you to know that although they leave their physical body, they never leave YOU.
Animals see life and death in such a different perspective to us and when people come to me to help them connect to their pet in spirit, that comfort and reassurance helps shift their own perspectives too.
It’s always beautiful to be a part of sharing the love and wisdom pets in spirit have for their guardians.
Your pet wants nothing more than for you to go out there and shine your beautiful light once more, in pure celebration of life. Taking the gifts and lessons your animal companion offered you and sharing them with others.
Sit in love and gratitude that this beautiful soul chose to be with you, for however long their time was on earth. You were gifted their presence.
Take solace in that, for that is truly special.
I encourage you to share their stories with love in your heart –> and one day you will do so without a lump in your throat or a tears in your eyes. After all they are with you now, still loving you from the other side.
Rainbow Bridge
So what happens when a pet crosses rainbow bridge? Who greets them when the pass over? Will they be waiting for us?
These are some common questions that come up after the death of a pet.
When your pet passes away their soul leaves their physical body and returns to the spirit form of beautiful light energy. They are welcomed back to the other side with the purest of love by family, loved ones (human and animal), angels or guides.
Your pet will certainly be waiting for you when your time comes to return to spirit form too (but they are also with you and guiding you now!)
Dealing with grief
We all deal with grief in different ways and the truth is, there is no right or wrong way to cope with pet loss. One of the most important things you can do after your pet crosses rainbow bridge is to give yourself time and permission to grieve.
You need this and it’s absolutely acceptable to do so. Grieving a pet is a very natural process.
Healing isn’t easy though, piecing together all the broken parts of your heart in attempt to make it whole again is a process that can seem overwhelming and it’s normal to feel a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, denial, guilt, and loneliness. Allow them to come up – be honest about how you are feeling and acknowledge them, as this will help release them.
To heal, you need to feel (even if that can be uncomfortable.)
Be gentle and patient with yourself, there is no timeline for grieving so take as long as you need.
If you have other pets at home, they can also grieve the loss of a companion and may show signs of confusion and sadness. They may need some extra attention too right now.
You may find writing your feelings down in a journal therapeutic, emptying that chatter from your mind and heaviness in your heart. Get it all out on paper. You could even write your pet a letter, expressing all the things you’d love to say.
talking about how you feel with others who will understand what you’re going through can help too. I know it can be hard to share your heartbreak or even put it into words, especially if you’ve had people show very little understanding for your situation or even made you feel silly for feeling this way over “just a pet.”
Let me reassure you now, your feelings are valid –> so, so, valid and your grief is real and can be just as painful as losing a human family member.
Your pet has a soul, personality, feelings, opinions and humour just like you and I, and losing them is extremely painful.
They are family, friends, healers and teachers and whether their passing is unexpected or with awareness the time is coming –> it’s never easy.
Having a support network in family, friends, or with online communities can really help. You don’t have to do this alone. If you are struggling to cope with pet loss, there are many resources available to help you, some of which I’ve linked below.
Organizations offering support:
Paws To Listen through Cats Protection.
Pet Bereavement and Pet Loss offered through the Blue Cross is another free confidential support service via phone, email or chat.
Have you lost a pet? How did you cope? Share your stories in the comments below. You may just help someone else going through the same thing.