Death affects each of us differently. How we cope with death and the ensuing grief is a unique process as well.
The death of a beloved pet can be a profound loss. Many of us need help coping with the avalanche of emotions this can trigger.
The Humane Society of America has a helpful article on some of the basics of coping with the death of a pet. Just go to www.hsus.org/pets/ to read the article in its entirety. Click “Pet Care” on the left hand side then scroll down the list of alphabetized articles to find Coping with the Death of Your Pet.
I hope this helps answer some questions you may have and provide a little comfort too.
With warmest regards,
Gina
Friday, March 30, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Someone to Watch Over Me
Someone To Watch Over Me
There are so many things I miss about my dog, Sammy. You know what I mean. But one of the things I miss the most is he was my protector and watch dog. Take what just happened, for instance. The UPS man delivered a package to my backdoor. When he knocked, I jumped about ten feet. I didn’t hear his truck idling in the street or his footsteps in the garage despite the house and back door windows being open.
I could always count on Sam to sound the alarm if someone or something foreign stepped foot on our property. Even though he only weighed ten pounds his bark let you know he was capable of tearing you limb from limb.
It’s in moments like these that I miss him the most. I’m made acutely aware of how really alone I am when I’m home by myself. I don’t feel quite as safe as I used to because with Sammy here I was never really alone. As the days and months have passed, I’ve adjusted to that aloness, or so I tell myself. Only until the UPS man comes knocking again.
My warmest regards,
Gina
There are so many things I miss about my dog, Sammy. You know what I mean. But one of the things I miss the most is he was my protector and watch dog. Take what just happened, for instance. The UPS man delivered a package to my backdoor. When he knocked, I jumped about ten feet. I didn’t hear his truck idling in the street or his footsteps in the garage despite the house and back door windows being open.
I could always count on Sam to sound the alarm if someone or something foreign stepped foot on our property. Even though he only weighed ten pounds his bark let you know he was capable of tearing you limb from limb.
It’s in moments like these that I miss him the most. I’m made acutely aware of how really alone I am when I’m home by myself. I don’t feel quite as safe as I used to because with Sammy here I was never really alone. As the days and months have passed, I’ve adjusted to that aloness, or so I tell myself. Only until the UPS man comes knocking again.
My warmest regards,
Gina
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Life Lessons 102
Life Lessons 102
Not long ago, I phoned a good friend of mine only to find out he was waiting for the veterinarian to arrive at his home to euthanize his ten-year-old lab, Casper. Casper had been suffering for some time with terminal cancer. Sadly, less than a year before, they had to unexpectedly euthanize Casper’s brother, Ace, due to a sudden illness.
I remember when they told us about Ace’s sudden illness and untimely death. I expressed my sympathy for their loss but didn’t really feel it. My pets were healthy at that time and I had never dealt with the loss of a pet.
What a difference a year makes! I would have never believed we would be faced with that same painful decision and now I understood. Really understood. It is a pain like no other.
Dealing with the death of one beloved pet is traumatic enough, but two in one year? My heart ached for them. It brought back a rush of painful memories and emotions.
It’s been almost a year since we said goodbye to our dog, Sammy, and I still grieve for him and miss him. The pain has subsided and time has afforded me some perspective on his death. There will always be a special place for him in my heart and memory.
I’m so grateful I had ten great years with him. Pets will teach you a lot about yourself and life if you’re open to those lessons. The most important lesson, I believe, our beloved animal companions teach us is about love. Not any old love, but unconditional love, the rarest kind of all.
My warmest regards,
Gina
Not long ago, I phoned a good friend of mine only to find out he was waiting for the veterinarian to arrive at his home to euthanize his ten-year-old lab, Casper. Casper had been suffering for some time with terminal cancer. Sadly, less than a year before, they had to unexpectedly euthanize Casper’s brother, Ace, due to a sudden illness.
I remember when they told us about Ace’s sudden illness and untimely death. I expressed my sympathy for their loss but didn’t really feel it. My pets were healthy at that time and I had never dealt with the loss of a pet.
What a difference a year makes! I would have never believed we would be faced with that same painful decision and now I understood. Really understood. It is a pain like no other.
Dealing with the death of one beloved pet is traumatic enough, but two in one year? My heart ached for them. It brought back a rush of painful memories and emotions.
It’s been almost a year since we said goodbye to our dog, Sammy, and I still grieve for him and miss him. The pain has subsided and time has afforded me some perspective on his death. There will always be a special place for him in my heart and memory.
I’m so grateful I had ten great years with him. Pets will teach you a lot about yourself and life if you’re open to those lessons. The most important lesson, I believe, our beloved animal companions teach us is about love. Not any old love, but unconditional love, the rarest kind of all.
My warmest regards,
Gina
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Life Lessons 101
Life Lessons 101
I was clueless. Completely. No idea. Not even an inkling. I’m still flabbergasted. And it’s been 9 months.
What am I talking about? If you’ve experienced it, you know. If you haven’t, but own a pet you love with all your heart, you will.
I’m talking about the grief, the sorrow, the heartache that you feel in the pit of your stomach when your pet dies. Oh, it gets easier as the days and months go by, but it also hangs around like a fog that just won’t lift, a chronic headache that aspirin only dulls.
Pets, especially dogs and cats, enrich our lives in ways no other living creatures can. They understand us, communicate with us, enjoy and seek our company, show physical affection, desire our approval, sleep with us and share our meals. They truly become family members, often the most enjoyable to be around! And unlike their masters, unconditional love is what they’re all about. Just a little affection from us goes a long way with our furry friends.
They teach us valuable lessons if we’ll pay attention. Lessons about unconditional love, the need for interdependence, service to others, responsibility, selflessness, forgiveness, joy, spontaneity, humor, flexibility, gratitude, living one day at a time and I’m just scratching the surface.
Pet ownership is not always a bed or roses, I know, especially when they get sick or hurt requiring medical care which can be expensive. They may need life long treatment for a medical condition or disease or require a special diet. But they don’t ever seem to complain. They take it in stride. They don’t make everyone else around them miserable. When these situations occur, most pet owners are more than willing to bear the added expense and inconvenience because their love runs deep for these beloved companions.
Studies have shown the physical and psychological benefits of pet ownership especially for elderly individuals living alone or in nursing homes. Pet ownership enhances the quality and longevity of their lives.
Let’s face it; our pets just plain make us smile. And so do their memories and that’s always a good thing!
My warmest regards,
Gina
I was clueless. Completely. No idea. Not even an inkling. I’m still flabbergasted. And it’s been 9 months.
What am I talking about? If you’ve experienced it, you know. If you haven’t, but own a pet you love with all your heart, you will.
I’m talking about the grief, the sorrow, the heartache that you feel in the pit of your stomach when your pet dies. Oh, it gets easier as the days and months go by, but it also hangs around like a fog that just won’t lift, a chronic headache that aspirin only dulls.
Pets, especially dogs and cats, enrich our lives in ways no other living creatures can. They understand us, communicate with us, enjoy and seek our company, show physical affection, desire our approval, sleep with us and share our meals. They truly become family members, often the most enjoyable to be around! And unlike their masters, unconditional love is what they’re all about. Just a little affection from us goes a long way with our furry friends.
They teach us valuable lessons if we’ll pay attention. Lessons about unconditional love, the need for interdependence, service to others, responsibility, selflessness, forgiveness, joy, spontaneity, humor, flexibility, gratitude, living one day at a time and I’m just scratching the surface.
Pet ownership is not always a bed or roses, I know, especially when they get sick or hurt requiring medical care which can be expensive. They may need life long treatment for a medical condition or disease or require a special diet. But they don’t ever seem to complain. They take it in stride. They don’t make everyone else around them miserable. When these situations occur, most pet owners are more than willing to bear the added expense and inconvenience because their love runs deep for these beloved companions.
Studies have shown the physical and psychological benefits of pet ownership especially for elderly individuals living alone or in nursing homes. Pet ownership enhances the quality and longevity of their lives.
Let’s face it; our pets just plain make us smile. And so do their memories and that’s always a good thing!
My warmest regards,
Gina
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