Grief and acceptance of loss
We bring our dogs into our lives and homes, and cherish and love them. We spend hours talking to them, making them the non-judgmental repository of all our secret hopes and fears. We trust them implicitly and they never let us down. What more could we possibly want? More time with them is the first thing that springs to mind. Our dogs have much shorter life spans than we do, so almost everyone has had to say goodbye to a beloved dog at some point in their lives. While it's not easy to say goodbye, knowing what to expect, and realizing that support is available should you need it will help you during your time of grief.
The Five Stages of GriefMost people pass through five stages of mourning, but each person experiences them at varying levels of intensity, for varying lengths of time, and sometimes in a different order. Some of the stages converge and overlap each other. However you experience the mourning, it's important to remember that your feelings are completely normal.
DenialPeople enter the denial stage in an attempt to escape the painful reality of their dog's death. Sometimes you're certain that you heard your dog's tags jingle on his collar or you feel him next to you. Some people swear that their dog is wandering outside, especially people who do not see their dog's body after they've passed.This denial is normal, a way to try and have everything remain the same, but if allowed to linger too long, you run a real chance of being overwhelmed by painful feelings of loss when you're not prepared for them.
AngerAnger is, like denial, a way to focus the hurt and pain on something. Human nature compels us to find someone or something to blame when we are hurt or sad. It's difficult to accept that suffering is a part of life, so we look for a scapegoat to blame.Our dogs can end up as the scapegoats because we're angry with them for leaving us. Anger can be directed at ourselves or toward a loved one, especially when we feel that the death could have been avoided. Your veterinarian is another convenient target for anger, because he euthanized your dog. Although anger is a normal step in the grief process, we have to get over it and remind ourselves that no one is at fault. Death is simply an unavoidable, and unhappy, fact of life.
GuiltPeople often blame themselves for their dog's death, obsessively wondering if something could have been done to save their dog. Could they have fed them a better diet or given them more exercise? Still other people beat themselves up wishing they had spent more quality time with their dog.Try to remember that guilt does no one any good and it won't change anything that has already happened. There is no point in feeling guilty about things you wish you had done now that your dog is gone. You'll feel better if you just accept the things you cannot change and move on with your life.
DepressionIt is completely understandable and normal to withdraw and feel lost and confused at the death of a loved one. Many people lose their appetite and find that taking care of the simplest matter is a chore. Depression has been likened to a steep downhill slope--once you've started down, it's difficult to stop and return to normal.The death of a cherished dog can release a veritable avalanche of unrelated feelings and repressed emotions that make your depression worse. For many people their dog was the one thing they could count on, even when everything else in their world was in chaos. Dogs offer us unconditional love and support, and when they die, our source of strength can be removed and we fall into a state of depression.
AcceptanceAccepting that your cherished dog is gone forever is hard to do. The road to acceptance is long, but there are many people willing to help along the way and things you can do for yourself the make the traveling easier. Allowing yourself time to mourn is very important.Many people cannot understand how someone could love an animal so much and thus can't understand how you could be so upset when your dog dies. But as long as you realize the important role your dog played in your life, that's all that matters. Cherish your memories of the good times--and the sad times. Talk about her with friends and family, recalling special moments. Although painful at first, you will find that it helps you focus on the good things and move beyond the pain. If you want support during this time, there is a vast network of resources available in your family and friends, your church or with grief counselors. There are plenty of grief management groups on the Internet. Talking to someone who understands your feelings is an immense help. Any of these things, or perhaps a combination of several of them, will help you accept your loss, deal with it, and move on.
Easing the painNothing can take away your sense of loss, but there are some coping strategies you can employ that will help you move through the stages of grief and finally reach acceptance. Choose what works best for you.
Source: Adapted from the American Animal Hospital Association |
 
Comments
|
Grief and acceptance of loss
66 topics, 369 posts
topics
|
replies | views | last post |
|
I lost my Westie 11/4/09
He was 12 years old. He just got sick quickly and before I knew it he was gone. The vet even took him home to give him medi... (continued) |
2 | 42 |
13 hours ago by Linda view |
|
IMHA and Canine cancer
Hello all, I just wanted to share a short story about our two ladies. actually, we have (had) 3 dogs. they were all re... (continued) |
1 | 131 |
Oct 27, 2009 5:24pm by john view |
|
Gut wrenching story about a tragic loss
There is no way to describe how sad a story this is. A loving family with many beautiful birds had a tragic loss. All of t... (continued) |
0 | 121 |
Oct 23, 2009 7:42pm by Fond Pet Mem... view |
|
My beautiful Ling and Tashy are gone
Our 14 yr. old Pekingnese died a few weeks ago. She was breating fast and shallow the day before she died, and she coughed ... (continued) |
3 | 178 |
Oct 22, 2009 4:23pm by xia view |
 |
|
|
|
