How to Cope with Pet Loss

No one person will experience grief the same when coping with a dying pet. It is finding the best way for you to deal with that pet loss that matters.  We have touched on coping with pet loss in another blog and have expanded on that blog some more here.

Coping Strategies for Grieving Pet Loss

It’s okay to cry. Those tears are a part of that anguish. Let your body react the way it needs to, invite the grief in, and then let what comes naturally happen. By acknowledging your grief and giving yourself permission to express the pain of your pet loss, you are taking the first step in healing. Support from others will help too. Don’t be afraid to speak to family and friends about your grief over losing your beloved pet. Opening up and talking about your feelings and your pet can really help. There is no time limit on grief. Some days will be harder than others as you have dates or places that remind you of that special bond you shared. Whether it’s a birthday, gotcha day, holiday, or special event, when you are ready, you can continue those traditions as a way to celebrate that unconditional love.

Get a Commemorative Item

There are many types of pet memorial gifts that can help honor the memory of a pet loss. Saying farewell with an item that means something to you will create yet another positive memory and assist you in finding solace. Here at Tranquil Tides, we can custom engrave a picture of your beloved companion on an urn, along with name and dates. What better way to put a smile on your face by taking your favorite picture of your cherished pet and turning into a custom picture engraving.  Besides that special urn, we also carry other selections.  One is taking that photograph and having it placed inside an urn to view.  We also have vases and acacia wood urns to display your pet’s name and dates on.

There are also other types of urns available to remember your pet. Choose what will be significant to you. Other options could be personalized jewelry, photo keepsakes, memory boxes, pet statues, or pet memorial trees, among many more.  Below are some other ways to memorialize your beloved pet.

Host a Memorial Service

A memorial service is not just for people anymore. Many pet parents want to say farewell with a final touching tribute and share this moment with friends and family. This special occasion could be at your home, your favorite hiking spot, a dog park, a swimming hole, or even at your favorite ice cream stand.

Wherever you decide to memorialize your pet, let your pet’s memory come to life with stories and their dearest toys and possessions.

Custom Art and Jewelry

To help with the loss of a loved one, custom art and jewelry can represent the beauty of the love you shared. From hand-sculpted charms and pendants to bracelets and rings, there is a wide array to help remind you of your furry pal. Pet memorial jewelry is a perfect choice to keep your pet’s memory close to you at all times.

Create an Outdoor Shrine

If your pet was the outdoorsy type, designating a special spot in your yard to memorialize your pet might be fitting. A garden stone personalized with their name, quote, or photo might be the most appropriate way to honor their memory. Along beside a garden stone, you can plant a tree or flower, add their keepsakes, and bury/scatter their ashes. Make this pet memorial spot meaningful so you’ll think of them every time you walk by.

Capture Their Paw Print

Make an everlasting paw print using an ink pad or impression kit. This print can be used as a reference for a tattoo or artistic drawing that can be used in your pet’s memorial. You can frame your loved one’s paw print and have it on display. Here at Tranquil Tides, we offer an ink paw print and Pawpals Paw Print Keepsake.

Memory Boxes

Creating a memory box of your cherished pet’s favorite things, from toys and photos to ID tags and collars, to display in your home is a popular way to memorialize the love you shared. Studies have shown that those who created a keepsake box experienced less distress over losing a pet and had a more positive outlook on life. In other words, keeping them with you in spirit can help ease your pain.

Donate to Other Animals in Need

Animal shelters and rescues are a wonderful way to honor your pet’s memory by donating your time or money for other animals in need. This can have a life-saving impact and help you fill your own emotional needs. If your pet was a rescue, try giving back to that organization. And, who knows, another fur baby could capture your interest, and you can adopt another in the name and memory of your beloved pet.

For a list of great places to donate, please view this list.

Purchase Pet Memorabilia at Tranquil Tides in Nixa, Missouri

Pet Aquamation is an environmentally friendly, gentle, and natural alternative to flame cremation. We also offer custom picture engraving on urns and other keepsakes. If you’re interested in seeing how we can help you memorialize your pet, contact us today.

Helping Children Overcome the Loss of a Pet

The concept of pet loss and death can be confusing for a child. Don’t underestimate their feelings. Children may grieve for a shorter time but it is no less intense. Encourage the child to talk about their pet and express their emotions. They may feel they have lost their best friend, an important member of their family, and they may have feelings of disbelief, pain, sadness, numbness, or denial. Provide them with plenty of hugs and reassurance and talk with them freely about death, dying, and grief. The age of the child and how those around them deal with the pet loss may lay the foundation for how they cope with losses in later years.

Should I Get Another Pet?

The decision to get another pet is a very personal one. And one that is not the same for each family. There is no right or wrong answer when dealing with grief. You will know when the time is right to introduce a new pet to your family. While another pet can give you a new sense of direction and companionship, you might feel guilty. Remember, your cherished pet will always have a place in your heart, one that you will never forget. Providing another pet with a home can bring joy and laughter for all. Every pet has their own personality and nothing can replace the bond of your past beloved pet.

Find Compassionate Service with Tranquil Tides

Throughout our lives, we experience many major life changes. These can include the loss of beloved friends and family and even pet loss. Try not to replay your last moments with your pet. You have their lifetime of memories to choose from. Find those memories that make you smile and relive those. Should you have a need to schedule an appointment with Tranquil Tides, we would love to hear some of those stories.

For additional reading on this somber subject, please see our Grief Resources.

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