Grief after losing a pet is natural, especially if they have been an important member of the family. Losing something that you have loved can make you feel alone and bereaved so never think that you are being "silly" for having such feelings.

As pet owners ourselves, and having a manager with 22 years experience as a veterinary nurse, we understand what you are going through. We KNOW how important your pet was to your whole family structure, how things AREN’T the same around the home anymore and how all of those small things bring back memories.

Because we all handle grief differently, it is sometimes difficult for others to understand those feelings. We are here to help you through that process. Sometimes just being able to sit down and talk about your feelings freely with someone who understands can help. We are available anytime to help you through your grief, or just as someone to talk to.

Pet Loss Grief Counselling Now Available.

Here are some ideas to help you memorialise and honour your past pets.

1/ If there was a spot in your yard that was your pet's favourite, plant a tree, bush, or perennial flower there with which to remember him or her.
2/ Scatter your pet's ashes in a favourite park, woods, or spot in the garden.
3/ Write a thank-you note to your pet and have it cremated with him or her, or have the note put into the urn with his or her ashes.
4/ Create a memorial shrine with photos, beloved toys, name tages etc.
5/ Draw or paint a picture of your pet or have a professional paint a portrait from a favourite photograph.
6/ Decorate your pet's urn or casket/burial box with meaningful items.
7/ Create a photo collage and include words cut out from various magazines that make you think of your pet's personality.
8/ Develop your own private ceremony or ritual.

Understanding your grief

If you were to try to list the number of human beings that you’ve spent as much as 24 hours a day with,… and for year after year,… or then try to list those you know in life who are constantly seeking you out,… wanting to be with you eternally,… and awaiting your return when you depart,… or who never fail to comfort you when you are upset,… or who make you smile or laugh regularly,… even from just watching them sleep,… or if you tried to name the people who you want to touch, caress, hold or stroke (in a totally non sexual way),… or who look at you with absolute admiration, love or devotion even when you are totally at your worst,… then you would most likely be unable to provide a single name, unless it was your Pet’s name

Only your precious Pet loves you as unconditionally as this!!

Is it any wonder then, that when our Pets pass away, this devastates us more than almost any other kind of loss.  I heard somewhere that, “Until a person has loved an animal, a part of their soul remains un-awakened!”

Our pets are helpless, and sometimes we must make difficult decisions on their behalf, and that is our responsibility as their carers.  It takes the greatest amount of love, devotion and courage to end the suffering of a pet’s life,…and this explains why the decision is so difficult, but rarely is anything so painful ever easy to accomplish.

Recovering from grief and loss therefore can also require great strength and courage,… to face life and love, and inevitably revisit pain and suffering and delightful memories from time to time.

Shock, loneliness, regret, self pity, anger, denial, and guilt are some of the emotions that predominate with the loss of our companions.  Sometimes there are feelings of, “what if?... or, “if only”,… You are not alone if you experience this. These are normal healthy feelings that must run their course in order for us to commence healing.

The mourning of a pet can be as intense or even more intense than it would be for mourning another person, since our pets are often our best and closest friends, or … our surrogate children, or… our alter egos. They can represent the innocence and grace that we have not been able to often express in life, and when they die, it feels as though a part of us seems to die as well. To deny or repress that sense of loss or grief would be to devalue the love and affection that was brought into our lives.

With the passing of time, you will slowly heal.  It is said that the hard edges will soften with time. The feelings and the emotions, and the mourning may be extremely intense, but you will eventually recover, one small bitter-sweet step at a time to risk love again, in spite of revisiting the pain and anguish….