Dealing with the death of a pet is very difficult.  Whether they are elderly, involved in a tragic accident or very sick, it is never an easy situation. The feelings one goes through during this time can be very intense because the human-animal bond is so strong.  It is no longer considered taboo to feel very distraught over the loss of a pet.  Fortunately, it is now more accepted to mourn the loss of a pet. 



You are not alone. 



Understanding the grieving process often helps if you are feeling confused or don’t know how to move forward.



Grief is the emotional process which you experience following a loss.  It can be thought of as the process of letting go or of saying goodbye.  The emotions experienced during the grief process can be intense, and occasionally you may feel that your emotions are “out of control”.  The nature and duration of the grief process may be unique to each individual; however, the AVERAGE duration of the grief process following the loss of a pet is TEN months.  Some bereaved pet owners will recover quickly, and some will need more than a year to recover.



There are SIX recognized stages of the grief process which most people experience.  The stages are not always linear and may fluctuate.  One may experience each of them on separate days, or they may all be experienced within a five-minute period.  They are as follows:



•DENIAL is the normal defense, which serves to buffer you from some unbearable news or shock.  It can be experienced as numbness, or you may seem to actively refute the loss.

•BARGAINING is experienced as conscious or unconscious attempts to control the situation or reverse the loss.

•ANGER can be direct or indirect, specified or generalized.  In addition, anger appears very often, especially in pet loss, in the form of guilt.

•DEPRESSION is the actual “grief”.  It can be the most painful part of the process because you are “letting go”.

•PERSONAL GROWTH is the prelude to recovery and is experienced with the beginning of recognition of some meaning or growth in the experience and/or your pets’ life.

•ACCEPTANCE AND RESOLUTION is the final stage of the process.  You have accepted their loss and their growth.  There is restoration of functioning and hope.

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