What is Pet Memorial Month? September is the month dedicated to honoring and remembering our beloved ones who have passed. As anyone who has experienced the grief of losing their loved one, you know that it never gets easier. The hurt doesn’t go away, but instead, we learn how to live with the sorrow over time.
Speaking from personal experience, I see my two dogs as my babies, and I cannot imagine the difficult time I will be going through. I just am so thankful for every moment that I have with them. I am also lucky to have more than one fur baby, and the attachment that they gain from having each other is so beautiful to see but, at the same time, heartbreaking tothink of what will happen when they won’t have each other. How can you support your loved one that is also grieving the loss of their best friend?
Quality Time Together is Key!
The loss of a pet is more like the loss of a family member, but 10x worse for the pup because they just don’t fully understand in the way that we do. Taking time off work and connecting with your dog can be helpful. In this way, you can be away from the stress of getting work done, and you can give all your attention to your dog and make them feel loved during this rough time in both of your lives. Depression and anxiety will be normal, so cuddling and quality time will help ease the grieving period.
Routine is Important
When you lose someone, you may feel like your life is spiraling out of control. Keeping to an established routine can lessen the family’s collective anxiety and can actually bring a sense of security and comfort because it will feel like some things in their life are under control and remain as expected. Your dog will also find solace in keeping a routine that they are used to. Feeding them at their regular time, walking at their usual time, and bedtime at their regular time will give them one less thing to worry about.
Get Out of the House
The constant reminder of memories, previously occupied spaces, and even smells can stunt the grieving process. A change of scenery, like going to a cafe together or trying a new walking route, can give you and your dog a much needed break and a new shared experience. Your dog can become very needy for attention and might manifest their grief in the form of separation anxiety, so through these 2-6 months, it is essential to be attentive to them.
Wait to Adopt Another Dog
This is sometimes the most difficult piece of advice to recieve, but it is super important to actually digest and understand. You don’t intend to replace your dog, but sometimes the thought of filling that grief with another animal seems to be the best and only option.
But…
That dog won’t fill that void. And even worse, they will never act or be the same as the one you lost, and your family and your dog will learn that the hard way. That realization can make the grieving process even more difficult than it already was, and then you realize you are putting another dog into a situation where they might not fully be wanted simply because your family is grieving and they are not ready.
Grief looks different for everyone, so take it day by day and do what you can to honor their memory. Your furry babies also need to go through that with you, so don’t do it alone! Some people start volunteering, even fostering once they are ready, and some people donate in their honor.
If that is something you are interested in, OC Pom Rescue has many opportunities to volunteer, and they even have an In Honor of Page where your dog can help rescue dogs get the medical attention they need to get out of a bad situation and into their loving, forever home.
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