How do you grieve the death of your dog?

 How do you grieve the death of your dog?

The death of a dog can be, for some owners, as painful as the disappearance of a loved one. The dog is a faithful, loyal, affectionate animal that holds an important place in a family and is considered a full-fledged member. Grieving the loss of a dog is therefore difficult. How does the mourning period unfold and can we prevent the loss of our dog from leaving too deep a wound? How can we talk about it with young children to help them accept the death of their little companion? Here are a few tips

Grieving a dog: the different inevitable stages of mourning

When a dog dies, its owner feels a real emptiness, a situation often misunderstood by people who have never had a pet. This absence is very destabilizing and has repercussions on all members of the family. Mourning is a period that takes place in several inevitable stages, namely :

Guilt: the owner blames himself for not having been able to save his dog and convinces himself that he might have been able to avoid his death.

Irritation, even anger: Whether the dog has died from an accident or an illness, the owner feels anger towards the person he considers responsible for his disappearance, such as the handler who could not avoid the animal or the veterinarian in charge of treating him.

Refusal: it may happen that the owner of the dog is unable to realize that his animal is no longer there. He therefore goes through this stage of denial because he does not accept his death.

Depression and sometimes even depression: great suffering sets in as soon as the owner of the animal becomes aware of his definitive absence.

This process can last from a few weeks to several months. It is useless to want to fight against this process which is necessary to allow the mourning process to take place.

Death of a dog: how to deal with mourning?

It is fundamental to respect the stages of mourning and therefore to accept that it may take time. This allows you to calm down your feelings of anger and to understand that no one is responsible for the disappearance of your dog, but that it is unfortunately an unavoidable outcome for any living being.

This is a destabilizing situation that can leave indelible marks on many people. In order to live the mourning period after the death of your dog as well as possible, it is absolutely necessary not to isolate yourself. On the contrary, you must surround yourself with people you trust, who understand the emptiness created by this loss and the pain felt by the master. On the contrary, it is better to avoid being around people who do not understand this distress and the psychological pain that death causes. One should not refrain from mourning one's little companion, and there is no shame in grieving. It is a normal and liberating reaction.

It is very important to remember the good times spent with your pet and to talk about them with your loved ones, to share with them the nicest anecdotes, to show them photos of the animal or videos that were taken at different times of its life. This is a very good way to ease their grief.

However, it is strongly recommended that you do not become locked in your memories and that you get involved in activities. The ideal is to change your habits. Going out with family or friends, practicing a sport or a hobby, sharing more time with your other pet if you have one, are very important to get your life back on track little by little.

Helping a child to grieve after the death of his dog: the choice of words

It is essential, when you have children who are also suffering greatly from the death of their pet, to take the time to talk with them. They must be able to express the pain they feel.

Let's not forget that for younger children, it is often when they lose their pet that they face death for the first time. They therefore need to be accompanied, supported, but also to understand death so that they do not feel responsible.

To do this, the choice of vocabulary is very important. It is highly preferable to talk about death rather than departure so that the child does not wait for the return of his animal. In this way, he too will be able to grieve.

Contact animal funeral homes

In order to schedule a funeral after the death of a dog, it is advisable to contact a specialized funeral home. The owner who is shocked by the loss of his pet can be accompanied by professionals who are very sensitive and attentive to their clients' needs. They can help all members of the family face this very painful period, bringing them comfort and compassion.

These animal funeral homes offer different services and know how to respond to particular requests so that each master can choose the formula that suits him or her best (see this file on dog cremation). This will help him to mourn his dog in peace. Inhumation, individual cremation, collective cremation, choice of a funerary article and/or an urn allowing the recovery of the ashes... It is possible to ask for several quotes in order to compare the services offered and their rates.

Following the death of their dog, some people fall into a serious depression because they are left alone to face their suffering. However, to be able to turn the page does not mean ignoring death or forgetting one's little companion. But it is fundamental to get better. When it seems difficult, or even impossible, one should not hesitate to consult one's doctor or to get help from a psychologist. Thanks to a follow-up, it is then possible to accept the evidence so that time can finally do its work. Finally, when everything is better, it is then possible to welcome a new pet. But this should never be done too soon. We must wait until we are ready to adopt.