The death of a pet is never easy. When you lose your cat or dog or even smaller animals such as a hamster or rabbit, you have to face the reality that they were not just a pet, they were your family member and friend. You may have a loved one who has recently lost their beloved pet and is struggling to cope. There are many things you can do to show your support and help them through this time. In this blog, we look at what you can do to support a friend who is mourning the death of their pet.
Grieving A Pet
When your friend is grieving the loss of their pet, it can be hard to know how best to help them. It’s important to remember that everyone handles grief differently. Some people want to talk about it and some people don’t, and that’s no different when someone is grieving a pet. The loss of a pet has been shown to have similar effects on mental health as losing a human family member. It can cause depression, anxiety, and feelings of emptiness or even guilt.
Here are some tips on how to comfort someone grieving a pet:
Listen And Be Present
Most people who have lost a pet understand that it’s normal to feel sad about the loss of their furry friend, but they might not want to discuss those feelings with others, or they may be putting on a brave face and feel like they don’t need support. Let them know that you’re there if they need someone to talk things through with, or as just a person to be there, even if they aren’t comfortable opening up right away.
Offer Your Condolences
It’s important to recognise that even if you don’t have pets yourself and don’t understand grieving for a pet, this is still a loss for your friend. Choosing the right wording can be important for the owner who just lost their pet. Their feelings are very real. Be sympathetic and empathetic, and make sure to let them know they are not alone.
Give Them Support Options
There are many charities and help organisations for those who are going through the loss of their pet. If your friend is having trouble opening up to you around this time, offer your shoulder for them but also offer them the websites and helplines of those who have the knowledge that you may not have, to help them. Examples of these are The Blue Cross and their Pet Bereavement Services, or PawsToListen which are a Cats Bereavement service.
Remember Their Pet
Support doesn’t need to be done just through words, but by helping around their house, cooking meals, or creating a keepsake for them to remember their pet by. You can also gift them a Remembered Forever keepsake frame so that they have a pet memorial they can keep forever, showing them that you’re thinking about them and that you want to support them during this difficult time. A small memento like this can help remind them of their beloved pet and give them something tangible to hold onto while they grieve. See Remembered Forever’s pet ashes keepsakes, such as Pet Ashes Frames for more ideas on how to help your friend remember their pet.
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