Pet Parenting and Loss: How do others deal with the grief of losing a pet?

How to deal with grief from losing a pet

There’s a saying that pets give the happiest days and the saddest day. As pet parents who’ve also gone through losing our own pets, we know how painful this heartbreak is. After we covered coping strategies for losing a pet  in an article earlier this year, we reached out to others in the pet community for tips that have helped them deal with their grief. 

1. Keep a memento like a clay paw print or photo box 

Some people best cope with grief through physical mementos of their loved one. Places like Pet to Nature Philippines offer creating a clay print of your pet’s paw and a keepsake box. You can also get necklaces or bracelets with your pet’s face through Pawtastic! 

2. Read books and videos on loss 

A lot of people seek comfort in art and words. This TED talk on Pet Loss Grief has helped a lot of grieving pet parents make sense of their emotions. The book, When your Pet Dies by a renowned grief counselor is also worth checking out.

3. Write in a pet loss journal 

Grief can feel lonely and not everyone understands the pain of losing a pet. If writing your thoughts out helps you process, check out this Pet Loss Journal. This toolkit has 60+ pages of worksheets and prompts that can help you navigate your loss and revisit your memories when you miss your pet. 

4. Seek grief counseling and pet loss support groups 

Losing a pet is a type of disenfranchised grief––a grief that isn’t often acknowledged by society. We’re here to tell you that losing a pet is a big deal, and people often find comfort in others who have gone through the same thing. If it’s difficult for you to open up to others about this in person, pet loss groups on Facebook could be a great place to start. Reaching out to other members of your SPC family might also help! 

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