01/07/2025
TW: discusses pet loss and bereavement
This was our beautiful girl Staffy who we lost at a relatively young age. Many years later I still think of her often and feel those pangs of grief - losing her was heartbreaking.
I don’t think we discuss pet loss and the impact of grieving our beloved animals enough. This compounds our grief often as we feel we can’t share how strongly we feel to those around us and just how devastating their loss can be. For many of us our pets are so much more than just an animal in our homes - they are our most trusted companions, best friends, a reason to get up each day, an unconditional love that we might not feel with anyone else. They might have got us through some of the most challenging times in our lives, given us a purpose or brought so much joy into our lives.
And whilst we know we are very likely to outlive them, when we do our world can be turned upside down. You might feel others, (particularly those who don’t own/live with animals) don’t understand or expect you to ‘get over’ your grief quickly. There isn’t the same consideration given in the workplace with regards to compassionate leave for pet grief and we can feel isolated with our sadness.
I wanted to reassure you that your grief reaction and ANY feelings you might have are valid. However you decide to cope with your loss is also completely OK - you might decide to get another pet quickly, you might need to take time off work, find yourself bereft for a long time or able to go back to normal routines fairly quickly.
However you feel and manage I would encourage you to share how you’re feeling with those you trust including your veterinary practice who might have a specialist pet grief counsellor. Your veterinary nurse can also be a great support. I also encourage you to mark their memory in whatever way you need when you are ready & only you will know what that should be.
Time is indeed a great healer but acknowledging just how important our pets are to us and what a privilege it has been to have our pet in our lives can be a good starting point to coming to terms with our loss.
