Pets Information

My Dog Died !


Pets provide an unconditional love that requires very little on the part of the human.

Animals are so special to those of us who love them. We miss them when they are no longer with us. We grieve for them in ways which are just the same as grieving for a human loved one.

Whether the end comes through old age, illness, sudden death, or euthanasia, the death of a pet can cause enormous feelings of sorrow, guilt, and loneliness for children and adults alike. Yet pet owners are often inhibited in their very real grief, even if the animal was considered a fully-fledged family member, a child's favoured playmate, or an older person's loyal and faithful companion.

Pet owners in grief are largely misunderstood and can even be ridiculed by friends and by society in general.

Some people don't want a pet because they do die ! It's understandable to be reluctant to expose yourself to death but, at the same time, we become immeasurably more human because our animals die. When we live with animals we're more in tune with the rhythms of the planet from day to night and from season to season because our companions make us more aware of the changes around us. Our companion animals teach us about the simple gifts of a beautiful day, a good meal and a gentle touch.

The death of a pet can make us wrestle with our belief structure - a natural part of the grieving process. Whether grieving an animal or human, we question our beliefs and many people find their belief structure becomes stronger when they ask themselves hard questions. Others find an new way of acceptance.

We use some kind of visualisation during our grieving process, imagining our loved ones in a beautiful place of peace and tranquil beauty, filled with light and flowers. Many of us see out deceased animals in this same place. This can be helpful and can provide some peace for those who are grieving.

And we learn from our animals. Animals aren't afraid to die, they show us that the end of life can be faced without fear. They can teach us to accept death as an opening for love and wonder.

Allow yourself to grieve in whatever way is appropriate for you. The loss of a pet is real grief and causes us to travel through the stages of grief - denial, anger, depression, guilt, and acceptance. These stages must be lived through for the mourning process to allow full healing.

Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant, grief counsellor and mythologist. She creates ceremonies and Rites of Passage for individual and civic functions, and specialises in celebrations for women. http://celebrant.yarralink.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

CBS Local

Protect Pets As Temps Soar
CBS Local
That's why the Michigan Humane Society is urging pet owners to take precautions to protect their pets from heat-related dangers that can result in heatstroke, or worse. Rule No. 1 says that while dogs are great companions and, as we all know, ...
VIDEO: Humane Society's Pet Of The WeekPatch.com
Keep your pet safeEdmonton Sun
Humane Society launches sticker campaign to keep pets safeGlobal Edmonton
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Pet Tales: Hospice may help an ailing, aging animal
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But Ms. Spadafori is not your average pet owner. She has been writing about pet care and veterinary medicine for 30 years, and she had just written an article for www.vetstreet.com about a new and growing trend -- hospice care for animals.



Prepare for a Pet Emergency
Patch.com
We've all heard them before—horror stories about other people's pet emergencies. And yet, if you're anything like me, you probably hear these stories and still manage to find comfort in the idea that such catastrophes probably won't happen to you and ...



New Zealand Herald

Pet sitting gets boost from the web
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Instead of putting pets in kennels, Dog Vacay brings together dog lovers with casual and professional dog sitters to provide an affordable experience for pets. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) By Sue Manning The Associated Press When you travel and have to ...
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Giant to Fill Pet Prescriptions
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Giant Food Stores have partnered with PetCareRx to fill pet medications at your local Giant pharmacy. With more than 60 percent of its grocery shoppers having at least one dog or cat in their household, Giant Food Stores announced the partnership with ...

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LAist

Pets of the Week: Manny & Holly
LAist
Come check me out at the spcaLA South Bay Pet Adoption Center and see what a great girl I am. spcaLA is Los Angeles' oldest animal welfare organization. Their services include animal cruelty investigations, humane education, animal behavior & training, ...



Kansas.com

Safety tips to keep pets cool this summer
Kansas.com
By Jennifer VanderSmith Don't apply sunscreen or insect repellent not labeled specifically for use on animals to your pet. As summer approaches, consider some tips from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on how to keep your ...



Adopt this Pet: Callie is a Calico Cutie Looking for a Calm Home
Patch.com
Callie is one of the adoptable pets at the Seattle Humane Society featured this week on Bellevue Patch. Check this column soon to meet another featured adoptable pet. By Patch Staff Callie is a 4-year-old calico cutie who wants a person of her very own ...



Plan for pets
Palm Beach Daily News
The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League or your veterinarian can provide information including action plans and seminars on preparing your pets for an emergency. The league's website also has a list of animal shelters and guidelines under its “Disaster ...



HSMO offers tips to protect pets during the high heat
KSDK
As the Humane Society of Missouri points out, it's a good time to prepare your pet for high heat. Dr. Claire Kluge shares the following tips to protect your pet: -Never leave a pet unattended in a parked car when the temperature is more than 70 degrees ...

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