For many pet owners, the death of a pet is akin to the death of any other family member whom they dearly love. They often experience the same feelings of shock, loss and grief for a long period of time. However, the people in their life may not understand the magnitude of their feelings in the same way they would if the loss were a person.

It’s important to note that the lack of other people’s understanding doesn’t change how you may experience the loss of a pet. It’s completely normal and healthy to grieve this loss no matter what anyone else may think.

Realize it’s a process

As you probably know, people experience several stages of grief. That process isn’t necessarily linear and it doesn’t have a set timeline. So, be gentle with yourself as you go through different emotions and continue to grieve over time. You don’t have to apologize for these feelings or feel the need to rush the process along. You may feel sad, to some extent, for years when you think of your pet. And that’s OK.

Find ways to cope

While you should allow yourself to feel your grief, it’s also wise to find ways to cope. That will look different for every person, but here are a few ideas that may work for you:

  • Choose a meaningful way to memorialize your pet. Check out our blog to find a way that connects with you.
  • Focus on the good. While you may find your mind going back to your pet’s final hours or days (especially if they were difficult),  it’s best for your own well-being to think about the years of happiness your pet had because of you.
  • Seek support from friends, family members, fellow pet owners, support groups, and counselors. You don’t have to go it alone.

Take care of yourself

Grief can sometimes lead to us neglecting our own basic needs, which can make you feel worse. So do your best to eat well, sleep well, and maintain your routines as you navigate your new reality. If, for example, you took your dog for a daily walk, you might feel better to still go for a walk at the same time. Your routines are even more important if you have other pets. They may also be grieving and will look to you for comfort and connection.

Adopting another pet

When you lose a pet, you’ll probably hear, “Get another one” pretty quickly. That certainly can feel like an insensitive thing to hear, as if the person believes that your beloved pet can easily be replaced. Of course, that’s not true. Each pet is totally unique and can never be replaced. And you should never let anyone make you feel rushed to add a new pet to your life after the loss of one.

From our experience, you’ll usually know when it’s time. Your grief will become lighter and you may feel like your heart has healed enough to make room for a new pet. When the time is right, be sure to go into the adoption process with an open mind. It can be tempting to look for a pet who looks or acts like the one you lost, but you just may find one that’s completely different and will add to your life in a new way.

No matter how you navigate this process, remember that your grief is valid and your loss is real. But, with time, you will heal.