I Lost My Pet! How Do I Go On?

Losing loved ones is a part of life and, unfortunately, there isn't much we can do about it. That doesn’t stop us from hurting. It doesn’t prevent us from missing them and thinking about the things they did to make us laugh, cry; or when they helped us through toughest of situations. And then there are those times when your pet merely kept you company and made you feel truly special.

So what do you do? How do you move on? Will you ever get over it?  What will you say to the kids? Will they understand? Is the house going to be the same without “Skipper” or “Daisy” or “Hulk” taking up room on the couch?

It’s Okay to Cry

The truth is, you can move on. It’s not always easy, but you can do it if you know what to do. It’s okay to sit around and mope for a few days or even weeks; however long it takes you to come to terms with your loss.

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Adopting is an Option, but Be Wary

If you want get over the loss of a pet quickly, you could save another from a pet shelter. The bond you share with your new best friend may fill the void, but it will never fill the void completely. At least you’ll have the love of a new furry animal to keep you company at night, when you might feel the most grief. 

However, make sure you consider adopting very carefully and don’t move too fast. It might not be healthy because you might tend to expect from that pet what you expected from your previous pet. This may result in you comparing the two, which may cause you even more grief and undo amounts of stress. 

Take It One Day At A Time

Like every tough situation in life, take it slow. Time heals. Think about some people that you may have lost in the past and how painful it right after, but then consider that it’s much easier to talk about it now. Time heals all wounds. Feeling hurt right now is normal, but it will pass soon. 

Console yourself and your kids with all the fun times you had with your pet. Remember with fondness your little buddy’s personality and know that your FBF wouldn’t want you grieving. As a final note, there is nothing wrong with needing to talk to someone about the loss of your pet. If you need to see a Therapist and talk about how you feel, do it. Do anything it takes to help you cope with the loss of your pet. Just know that things will get better. 

At Live.Love.Pet! we’ve had to deal with a few pet losses recently, and it’s a subject no one likes to discuss. Just know that we love the pets you let us care for just as much as you do. When you lose your pets, it hurts us just as much. We’re always here for you and your furry buddy, in life and afterwards. If you ever want to talk about your pet, or discuss anything pet related, we’re always here. Mahalo!

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