Many people are pet owners, and some consider their pets to be a part of their family. Since pets often have short lifespans, dealing with pet loss has unfortunately become a common issue. When a friend or loved one dies, people may find themselves feeling sad, angry, shocked, relieved, in the midst of their grief.
Understandingly, these feelings may also happen when someone loses a pet. The difference, however, is that grieving for the loss of a pet can be viewed as a disenfranchised loss, or a loss that is not acknowledged by society. Because of this, in the midst of their grief, pet owners may feel silly or foolish for grieving over “just a pet”. While it may seem odd to witness someone grieving over losing a pet, it is likely that the grieving pet owner spent many of their waking hours with the lost pet. The loss may have left a huge whole in their life, unlike when they lost “Aunt Sally” whom they only saw a few times a year and barely knew.
All this to say that if you or someone you know loses a pet, try to be patient with yourself/them throughout the grieving process. Try to think of ways to get through it by remembering the good memories and special moments. It may take weeks or months for you/them to feel ready to open your/their heart again to another pet. Hopefully, you/they will eventually feel ready for another pet!