08/08/2025
Navigating Life After Pet Loss.
When we bring a pet into our lives, and this could be any animal, (not just the fluffy kind) we welcome more than just fur, scales, paws, claws or teeth, we invite in loyalty, comfort, and unconditional love, because that is how it feels to you. Whether it is the gentle nudge of a wet nose in the morning or the steady companionship of a tail that never stops wagging, a hiss or miaw our animals become part of our daily rhythm, part of who we are, they become family.
So when that rhythm stops, when the bowl is empty, the collar hangs quietly by the door, the cage is empty and the house feels just a bit too still, we are left with a grief that can feel overwhelming, isolating, and often misunderstood by so many.
As a bereavement counsellor, I often hear people say, “I don’t understand why I’m this upset. I knew this day would come.” But knowing something doesn’t soften the ache, because the bond between a human and their animal isn’t just emotional, it is spiritual. It is a connection that doesn’t need words. And that is what makes the silence after they are gone, so hard to bear for so many of us.
If you are grieving the loss of a pet, please know this.
💛your grief is real.
💚It matters.
💙And you don’t need to apologise for it, ever.
Why does Pet Loss Hurts So Much?
Unlike many human relationships, the bond we have with our pets is refreshingly simple. They don’t judge, they don’t hold grudges, and they don’t care what we look like, earn, or achieve, they love us unconditionally.
They love us at our worst and walk beside us through life’s messiest moments. When they leave, we don’t just lose a companion, we lose our emotional anchor, our routine, and often, a piece of our identity.
Often pet loss can be a 'silent' grief. Friends and colleagues may not fully understand why you are so affected, and often we will hide our emotions due to embarrassment. You might hear, “It was just a dog,” or “Why not get another cat?” These comments, while often well-meaning, can make you feel even more alone in your pain. That is why it is so important to find spaces where your grief is acknowledged and held with care and understanding.
There Is No 'Right Way' to Grieve.
Everyone mourns differently. Some people find comfort in keeping their pet’s belongings close. Others need to tuck them away. Some write letters to their pet, light candles, or plant a tree in their memory. I plant fruit trees because of the blossoms, as they represent my beautiful pets. Others feel numb for weeks, unable to cry. There is no right or wrong here, only your way. Grief isn’t a straight road. It twists and loops, and just when you think you are okay, a sound or smell can take you right back.
But here is something, you are NOT alone.
At Glebe Meadow Counselling and Hypnotherapy I offer a gentle space for you to process your grief, whether your loss was recent or years ago. Whether it was your first pet or the fifth or eleventh you had to said goodbye to, I understand the depth of this sorrow, and I’m here to walk beside you through it. We can talk about anticipatory grief, the guilt that sometimes follows euthanasia decisions, or simply sit with the silence together.
Because love, real love, doesn’t end when a heartbeat does.
So allow yourself to remember.
In time, the sting will soften. The tears will come less often, and the memories will bring more smiles than pain. You will remember the sound of paws on the floor, the joyful bark, the silent miaw, the way the scales felt when you gently stroked the snake or lizard, the way their head fit just under your hand or in your hand, they will simply always be part of your story, part of you and your life.
And the love you shared, well that never leaves you.
So be kind to yourself and don't let anyone silence your feelings and emotions, let them come through, and allow yourself to grieve.
©2025 Pet Bereavement Therapy by Glebe Medow Counselling
Glebe Meadow Counselling
