Pet Loss and Bereavement – Should I Have a Funeral Or Memorial For My Pet?
Pet Loss and Bereavement – Should I Have a Funeral Or Memorial For My Pet?
Most people feel strongly that their pets are as much a member of the family as the humans residing in the home. When a cherished pet dies, it can affect everyone in the household – it is normal to want to take time to confront and mourn the death, express your love, and say a final good-bye.
In fact, records show that pets have been buried as far back as 2,000 years ago. National Geographic states that the oldest known pet cat was found in a 9,500 year old grave on the island of Cyprus, buried with a human.
Making a decision to have a funeral can assist in the grieving process and help to commemorate your pet’s life. If there are children in the household, a funeral can help them say good-bye to their pet. Many of us probably had little pet burials in the backyard as we were growing up – be it a fish, turtle, hamster, or parakeet.
If you should decide to have a funeral, friends who were familiar with the pet can be invited to attend. The funeral can be held in your home, the woods, or other place that will hold special meaning. You can play music, recite poetry, have devotional readings, or simply have several people talk about what the pet meant to them and how he/she will be remembered.
Some people may prefer to conduct a memorial service instead of a funeral, or perhaps have both a funeral and memorial. The following ideas may be helpful if you choose to memorialize your pet:
1) organize a special area of your home to display memories of your pet – photographs, pet toy, pet blanket
2) write a poem or draw a picture that shows the love for your pet
3) honor your pet with friends and family by sharing fond and joyful memories that your pet gave to your life
4) make a donation to an animal shelter or humane society
Because many people think of their pet as a very real part of the family, the loss of a pet and bereavement can feel just as difficult as losing a relative. Choosing to have a funeral or memorial for your pet can help to celebrate your pet’s life and provide a meaningful way to say good-bye.
Deborah A. is an animal lover with a special interest in helping others cope after the loss of a pet. Are you trying to move past the grief of your pet’s death? CLICK HERE or go to: http://www.petlosshelp.info to get more tips and relief in coping with your pet loss.
I have always loved animals and enjoyed having various pets as a child. As an adult, I spent 10 years breeding cockatoos and presently have a Bengal cat. Even with all the joy that having a pet brings to your life, also comes the heartache when the inevitable death of a pet occurs. I hope that my article can provide some help and consolation as you work through the grief of losing a beloved pet.
Absent Friend: Coping with the Loss of a Treasured Pet
Rating: 
(out of 1 reviews)
List Price: £4.95
Price:
Categories: coping with pet loss Tags: Bereavement, Funeral, Loss, Memorial, Should
Pet Loss and Grief – 4 Steps to Help Cope With Feelings of Guilt
Pet loss poem
Image by Mel1st
Pet Loss and Grief – 4 Steps to Help Cope With Feelings of Guilt
When we have a pet, we naturally take on a deep sense of responsibility. Our pet depends on us for food, water, shelter, healthcare, and love. When we suffer a pet loss, the grief may seem overwhelming. One of the strongest emotions we can feel after a pet’s death is guilt.
Feeling guilt is a normal reaction to the grief we are going through after experiencing a pet loss. If you lost a pet through an accident, you may be thinking “if only I had…”
- Been keeping a closer eye
- Exercised more caution
- Had come directly home
- Been more aware
If you lost a pet through an unforeseen illness, you may be wondering “why didn’t I…”
- Get to the veterinarian sooner?
- Consider getting another medical opinion?
- Pay closer attention to see signs of illness?
- Not wait so long to do anything?
You may still find other reasons to feel guilty about a pet’s death, thinking “if only I had…”
- Not been so preoccupied
- Devoted more attention
- Not pushed him/her off my lap
- Not yelled at him/her
Sometimes there is nothing we can when our pet succumbs to an illness or suffers an injury. In working through feelings of guilt, we may learn how to better identify symptoms of ill health or gain knowledge from a mistake. The following four steps can assist in coping with feelings of guilt after a pet’s death:
1) Talk about your feelings to a family member or close friend who can provide more objectivity
2) Change the focus from your feelings of powerlessness to the times you had with your pet in good health and the occasions you took excellent care of your pet
3) Recognize that you cared for your pet the best way you could at that time, that injuries and sickness happen, and that people make errors
4) Talk to your veterinarian about any remaining concerns about your pet’s state of health
Although the pet loss and grief can be devastating, it is important to remember that having feelings of guilt are to be expected and it will take time to work through them and begin the healing process.
Deborah A. is an animal lover with a special interest in helping others cope after the loss of a pet. Are you trying to move past the grief of your pet’s death? CLICK HERE or go to: http://www.petlosshelp.info to get more tips and relief in coping with your pet loss.
I have always loved animals and enjoyed having various pets as a child. As an adult, I spent 10 years breeding cockatoos and presently have a Bengal cat. Even with all the joy that having a pet brings to your life, also comes the heartache when the inevitable death of a pet occurs. I hope that my article can provide some help and consolation as you work through the grief of losing a beloved pet.
Coping with Pet Loss (Overcoming Common Problems)
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
Dealing with aspects of pet loss, this book includes: stages of grieving; when mourning mask deeper problems; dealing with those who don’t understand; helping children cope; considering euthanasia; missing: when pet loss isn’t death related; special loss: losing a service dog; remembering a pet; and when to get another pet.
Rating: (out of 3 reviews)
List Price: £7.99
Price: £2.99
Grieving A Pet Loss – 3 Tips To Assist You In The Grieving Process
Grieving A Pet Loss – 3 Tips To Assist You In The Grieving Process
Losing a pet can be a heartbreaking experience. For those of us who share their life with a beloved pet, grieving a pet loss can be very agonizing. You may notice physical symptoms such as having a poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, or little energy.
If you had a strong, emotional relationship with your pet, your feelings of hurt may startle you. For those who have deeply cared for their pet, the loss can seem every bit as overwhelming as the death of a human. When you consider that a pet can give you unconditional love and friendship, does not judge you, and provides dedicated affection, it becomes easier to understand why the loss can be so deep.
By taking a look at how you have dealt with other losses in your life, you will be able to draw strength at getting through this one as well. The following three tips may assist you in the grieving process:
1) When you have suffered a loss in the past, how did you cope with it - did you isolate yourself from others, yell, cry, seek comfort from a close friend or relative?
2) What knowledge did you gain from your previous losses that can help you now – did you learn how to minimize the agony somehow, discover better ways to cope, reduce the time it took to get back on your feet?
3) In working through your present grief, what kind of support would be helpful - talking your feelings out, immersing yourself in a physical activity or hobby, replacing your loss with another pet?
Grieving a pet loss and feeling depressed is normal. It is important to take time to feel the loss and then discover the best way for you to be able to move ahead with your life.
Deborah A. is an animal lover with a special interest in helping others cope after the loss of a pet. Are you trying to move past the grief of your pet’s death? CLICK HERE or go to: http://www.petlosshelp.info to get more tips and relief in coping with your pet loss.
I have always loved animals and enjoyed having various pets as a child. As an adult, I spent 10 years breeding cockatoos and presently have a Bengal cat. Even with all the joy that having a pet brings to your life, also comes the heartache when the inevitable death of a pet occurs. I hope that my article can provide some help and consolation as you work through the grief of losing a beloved pet.
Helping Your Child Cope With Pet Loss – 3 Tips to Help Children Ages 2-6
Helping Your Child Cope With Pet Loss – 3 Tips to Help Children Ages 2-6
For many people, a pet is considered to be an important member of the family. Losing a pet can, therefore, cause a substantial amount of grieving in a household. When there are children involved, special consideration should be made as this is often a child’s initial exposure with death.
In helping your child cope with pet loss, it is important to realize that everyone (including the parents) is going to be emotionally affected. You will need to convey to your children that it is okay to grieve. By showing your own emotions and grief, this sends a message that the pet was an extraordinary member of the family, and allows your children to also show their sadness and thus, start the healing process.
For children ages 2-6, the death of their pet will feel like the loss of a friend. A child may not see the death as something permanent. They may think their pet is asleep, or feel that bad behavior or anger directed towards the pet caused the death. By avoiding saying the pet has been “put to sleep,” or “run away,” you can minimize confusion or doubt. If you say that their pet’s body no longer works and that the pet will not be returning, this helps keep the explanation simple.
The following three tips can give ideas on how to handle a pet’s death with children ages 2-6:
1) inform your child’s teachers about the pet loss in case there are any behavior changes
2) hold off on getting another pet until your child shows a desire for one
3) be open to having as many conversations as needed to allow your child to share his/her emotions and worries
Helping your child cope with pet loss will take some extra attention, however, children are generally able to accept their pet is gone and recover from the loss.
Deborah A. is an animal lover with a special interest in helping others cope after the loss of a pet. Are you trying to move past the grief of your pet’s death?
I have always loved animals and enjoyed having various pets as a child. As an adult, I spent 10 years breeding cockatoos and presently have a Bengal cat. Even with all the joy that having a pet brings to your life, also comes the heartache when the inevitable death of a pet occurs. I hope that my article can provide some help and consolation as you work through the grief of losing a beloved pet.