Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is extremely difficult. Here are some ideas for ways to help say goodbye that might help lessen some of your pain at this difficult time.
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is extremely difficult. Even though you know their time may be near, it can be hard to acknowledge. Pets provide us with unconditional love and support. When it is time to say goodbye to a beloved pet, you may want to do some things to make this time special and create special memories. Here are some ideas for ways to help say goodbye that might help lessen some of your pain at this difficult time.
- Give your pet a day to remember. Create a list of some of your pet’s favorite activities to do one last time. It might be simple things like going for a walk in their favorite spot. Or maybe even taking them somewhere new you’ve always wanted to take them.
- Take more pictures.
- Get support from friends and family. Let close friends and family members know what is going on and don’t be afraid to ask for support. If you need help making arrangements or someone to go with you to the vet, don’t hesitate to ask. If you just need someone to spend time with you to listen, it’s ok to ask for that too.
- Keep a journal or make a scrapbook. Take pictures, save mementos, and make a scrapbook. Or record your thoughts and feelings in a journal.
- Give extra hugs, kisses and love. Live in the moment. Give your pet all the extra love they deserve.
- Try to prepare yourself. While there is no way to really prepare for the moment, you can try to prepare yourself emotionally, spiritually and practically. Acknowledge grief feelings when they arise and spend time reflecting on what your pet means to you.
- Consider outside support. For many people, losing a pet can feel as devastating as losing a human family member. After all, they are with you 24/7 and probably saw you through some tough times in your life. If you are finding it difficult to cope with your loss, seek out support from a mental health professional or grief support group.
Even if you do try to prepare yourself, know that losing a pet is hard. It’s ok to grieve and often that grief will come in waves, ebbing and flowing throughout the days, weeks and months following your loss. But hopefully, allowing yourself some time to prepare will help lessen some of your grief and make the transition to this new chapter in your life a little bit easier.
