Most of us have endured the pain of losing a beloved pet at some point in life and depending upon the type of relationship we had with our pet it will undoubtably measure how much pain we suffer after the loss. Some people develop a profound bond over time with their pet, while others may just enjoy having them around and usually recover from grief rather quickly. They may even replace their deceased pet right away to help them cope and move on from the grieving process more quickly. Everyone has their own unique way of coping with pet loss.
The loss of a special animal companion can leave devastating heartache and most people will suffer in silence out of fear of not being taken seriously just because the loss was not a human loss. There are many people today in situations where their pets mean everything to them just like any human being could. Many have been let down by those around them therefore turning to an animal for unconditional love and company and as a confidante. This is quite normal as animals have qualities our fellow humans do not seem to indicate.
Companion animals have now become an accepted part of our family and when a pet passes away we feel that as such. I lost my pet lizard just one year ago, and the pain I felt was so immense I didn’t want to go on anymore. I felt the best thing I could do for myself and on behalf of my deceased pet was to write about pet grief loss and become a “Pet Loss Counsellor,” in which I have only started studying at an online college. The bond I had with my pet lizard was very profound indeed.
Our pets or as I prefer to call them “family members” teach us so much about ourselves if we are open to allowing them to educate us. Even after they pass into spirit the lessons themselves are more vivid and real. Heartbreaking grief over the loss of a pet is not something to hide or be ashamed of. Pets are our family and we grieve for them in that way. There are groups you can join on social media such as Facebook. This gives grieving pet carer’s a chance to express their grief in a safe and non judgemental social environment
We now live in a very different world from what it was twenty years ago, no one needs to bottle their emotions up any longer in fear of being ridiculed or made fun of. Animals are not rated as “just pets” but our best friends and our confidante’s and most of all our mentors.