Pet Memorial Day is September 11th. If you’re an animal lover, there’s a good chance that at some point you’ve had to say goodbye to a beloved furry friend. It’s never easy seeing a cherished companion go over the Rainbow Bridge. In fact, the grief of losing a pet can be just as powerful as loving a loved human friend or family member. A Marietta, GA vet offers some advice on coping with the heartbreak below.
Create A Memorials
There are many different ways to honor your furry friend’s memory. If you have a garden, you can plant a tree, bush, or flower for them. You can also order or perhaps create a custom garden stone. As for interior pieces, you can get an inscribed eco globe or perhaps a piece of pottery. Another good option is to upload your pet’s pictures to a digital photo album. Or, make a scrapbook for them. You may also find it very healing to make a donation to an animal shelter or charity in your pet’s memory.
Help Children Cope
The loss of a pet can be particularly unsettling for young children. For many kids, this is their first true experience with death. Talk to your little ones about the loss, and offer them ways to say goodbye in their own way. Art can be a great option for this, as it’s a great way for kids to express their feelings. Drawings, poems, stories, or even painting pottery can also help your little ones cope.
Moving On
Sooner or later, you’re going to start thinking about adopting a new pet. There’s no right or wrong timeline for this. Some people find it best to move on quickly, and let a new adorable fuzzy face help soothe the pain of their loss. Others have a very hard time moving on, especially if they’ve lost a pet that they were extremely bonded to, or if their animal companion passed in a tragic and/or traumatic way. You may want to wait until you’ve gotten used to the fact that your furry best friend is gone. Aside from that, our best advice is to just keep an open heart.
If you’ve recently had to say goodbye to a cherished pet, please accept sincere condolences from all of us here at your Marietta, GA animal clinic. We know how hard and heartbreaking this is.
