How To Handle The Death Of A Dog

Your beloved friend has died. The companion that you have spent countless hours relaxing beside, walking, bathing, petting, feeding, and nurturing. How can you possibly cope with that loss? This was your best friend; the non-judgmental animal that you could always turn to for a tail wag or an enthusiastic welcome when you come home. Now they are gone from your life, and you are left struggling with feelings of guilt, remorse, and grief.

You are very much not alone in your grief. The death of a dog can be very challenging to overcome for anyone because there is the attachment that humans can form with their dogs runs deep, and it’s personal. You may not want to share your grief with anyone for fear that they might think that you are overreacting or that you are unbalanced. That sounds strange to say, but some people just cannot relate to the emotional response that is triggered when a beloved pet dies. If you find yourself surrounded by people that don’t understand what you are feeling or that cannot relate, then you should reach out to other people like yourself that have experienced the death of a dog. This can help you understand how they coped with the death of a dog and how they remember their dog now.

You may go through several stages of pain and grief, but you will eventually be able to accept the positive impact that your pet had on your life and remember the funniest, happiest, and most adorable moments that you experienced with your dog. A dog becomes part of your family, and so it is only natural that when you experience the death of a dog, your life is changed irreversibly. Your routine may even be different, and you may feel sad that your dog is not there to need you anymore. The death of a dog is not an easy thing to handle, but you will eventually be able to look back at your pet’s life with joy and happiness, and that is when you will be able to truly enjoy his or her memory.

When you are coping with the death of a dog, it will take time to heal from the pain. Some days may be harder than others, but you should make sure that you find the support that you need so that you can eventually remember your dog fondly and forgive yourself for anything that you think you could have done differently.

By: Renee Wood, MSW

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Renee Wood founded The Comfort Company in 2000. She is a social worker that has helped families deal with the loss or pending loss of a child, as well as aiding patients in the end-stage of renal failure. The gifts provided by The Comfort Company offer Pet sympathy gifts as well as hope for healing hearts.