Our capacity as human beings to love correlates to our capacity to grieve. Because of how we come to love our pets, we experience profound loss when one of them becomes ill or dies. Everyone mourns in their own way, and there is no timeline or formula for processing loss. However, there are some tools we can use to help ourselves, and those we care for, during the grieving process:

• Time: No one grieves on a prescribed timeline. Everyone is different and some losses take longer than others to move through. Be gentle with yourself and honor the time it takes to heal.
  
• Story: Share the story of your loss with those you care about and who care about you, but also share your joyful memories.
  
• Connect: Find and make use of your support system. Understand that not everyone knows how to support someone in grief.
  
• Retreat: While connections are helpful, also recognize there will be times you need to retreat and recharge. Grieving drains your energy and you may need more quiet time to recharge than you normally take.
  
• Listen: Pay attention to your self-talk. If your emotions are spiraling out of control, you may need additional support.
  
• Support: If you know someone who is grieving the loss of a pet, the best thing you can do is be a good companion. You can’t fix it for them, but you can help them heal by being there for them. Let them know you are thinking about them.
  
• Memorials: Memorials are a beautiful way to honor the memory of a beloved pet.
  

Grief Support

Pets are cherished members of the family. Unfortunately, one of the inevitable parts of having a beloved pet is saying goodbye. Friends and family can comfort you in this time of need, but they may not understand the depths of your loss. These websites and hotlines offer resources on dealing with the grief of losing a beloved pet.