Friends & Family Support

A brown dog with a curled tail standing on a bed, looking out a large window on a bright day. The window has white curtains, and the outside view shows neighboring houses with some rain or snow.

understanding

Although pet lovers can relate to the heartbreak, grieving the loss of a pet, as opposed to a human, is still a disenfranchised grief in today’s society.

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Comments like “It’s just a dog‚” or “Are you going to get another cat?” can feel hurtful and isolating.

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A woman hugging a large, gray dog that is sleeping with its eyes closed on a bed with textured white bedding.

how to support

After a loss, many times we just want our loss to be acknowledged. We don’t want to be fixed; we want our feelings to be heard. It helps us work through our feelings when we can share how deeply we loved the pet we lost.

Any pet lover knows how hard it can be to process the death of a beloved pet.

One of the most meaningful things you can do for a friend who recently lost their pet is to simply reach out. Let them know you’re thinking of them and their pet. This simple step can make the process of healing easier for them.

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A large brown dog lying on a wooden floor, with a plush toy turtle near its front paws, looking off to the side with its tongue slightly out.

Support with a gift

There is a societal understanding of how we grieve for humans, even human relationships we aren’t super close to. There are obituaries, ceremonies, funerals, understood actions like sending flowers. But where do we look for how to handle a situation for pets?

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This guide is a collection of gifts we received with my own review of how it felt to receive them. I hope you find it helpful.

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