Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

we all have to go thru this at sometime so i thought i would share

Many people don’t understand the emotion surrounding a pet’s death. Our friends mean well when they tell us to go out and get another dog or cat. But we know it’s not that simple. We have to grieve the part of us that’s gone. Many clients have told me that they grieved more over the loss of their pet then over a human relative’s death. They talk about the guilt they feel from these emotions. From a spiritual perspective, those humans were loved, but they weren’t part of them. They weren’t on this earth to walk life’s journey with them. Their animals were.

All our pets teach us something as they travel through life with us. Sometimes the journey is difficult; sometimes it’s nothing but joy. In either case, their passing can create a grief that takes us to our knees.

Many veterinary schools have grief counselors and pet loss support groups. These caring professionals and volunteers have an understanding of the human-animal bond, and can guide us through the grief process. If your loss is overwhelming, or you would like to talk about your beloved pet, reach out to someone who has experience with human-animal relationships.

And don’t hesitate to reach out to your pet. Sound strange? Science tells us that matter is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form. All of life is energy, and your pet hasn’t gone anywhere. His physical presence has shifted to a different vibration. Your spiritual paths together are still intact, but you can’t experience this new part of the journey together unless you know it exists.

You may want to try this simple exercise. Think of your beloved pet, and open your heart. Feel the joy of her life, or the grief caused by her loss. While experiencing this feeling, ask for greater understanding. It may take time, but if you continue this process, the wisdom of the situation will come through.

A word of warning is in order. Pure grief is a positive energy state created by the loss of something precious to us. It is not: why did this happen to me or what did everyone, including myself, do wrong? It is not blame. Those thoughts are coming from a negative place. Having said that, you may want to ask for clarity surrounding them. They can illuminate other areas of your life that are being influenced by these beliefs.

Negative thoughts don’t connect us to the help that’s available. On the contrary, they block it from finding us, and create more drama in our lives. So, bringing awareness to these negative emotions is one more way your pet can help you create a more joyful life — even in his absence.

thanks sunny, i know what you mean, i picture ours with my parents and grand parents, you never get over it, just remember them and love your new ones

I just lost my 18 year old, "Kiwi", last week and still can't talk about it. Sweetest cat in the world (well don't want my others to hear this!). He was good to me, like many of my other pets have been, and died in his sleep, without pain....just old age. He spared me the horror of having to take him in to the vet to - - well, you know. He is buried under my window here where I am sitting now.

Can't talk about it anymore, so, I know the pain and have gone through it so many times as I use to rescue abandoned and abused cats. Can't do it anymore, but I still have some of them and they are all very old - - many more heartaches to come.

I have a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes reading this thread. I, too have lost pets over the years that were so loved and still missed to this day.

After me and my husband were married, we went to the local shelter and adopted our first child! A beautiful german shepard mix that was a part of our growing family for 18 years, he passed at home, his name was Smokey.

Through the years we have rescued many dogs, cats, birds that other people did not want anymore. The joy they have brought to our family can't be described!

Big hugs for all of you!!

I've lost so many beloved pets over the years it seems I have been in constant mourning. They ARE our kids - they depend on us for their food, shelter, medical care, comfort attention and love. I often wondered why I let myself in for more of the same, but I always need my kids! I have a small pet sitting business in my home, and when I lose one of my little guys, it affects me terribly as well. In past years, I have had them cremated and find lovely little decorated boxes for them and place their most precious belongings in with them. It's kind 'a comforting to have them still around in one way or another. Others have told me it's the same for them too.

I went way back to find this -- was looking for something else. I'm glad I found it. It made me think of my beloved Gracie. It's been a year now since she died and while it still hurts as though it happened yesterday, I can now laugh about the funny things she did. There will never be another dog quite as special and precious as she was, but reading this makes me realize I'm not alone and grieving does get easier. Thank you.

wow!

i have a different kind of pet that i lost about 2 years ago.
my beloved mule , Mabel.
mabel was given to me by the dad when i was 4 years old.
she was old and gray then. mabel and i went many miles together, we would ride for hours everyday intil i was 14,
then i let my brother ride her because he was littlier than me. she was really getting old. but we still traveled many miles, but just my other mule sugar .... well, i grew up moved out then did my brother , and mabel still got older.
my boys got to ride her when they were babies. we did not put to much weight on her... she got to the point that we could not get her up anymore. she we have had her 24 years, and she was about 20+ years old when got her. so she was about 44 to 48 years old human years. putting her down was the hardest thing to do. she had been a great part of my life.
my best friend you could say. still to this day , it is hard to walk out to the pasture , look under then walnut tree where she is buried. but the years of memories are still alive in my mind and my heart, she she will always live on there.

two post above this one . i posted about my mule mabel passing.
well, my other mule sugar, left this world yesterday.
we had her for 20 years and w she was arround 7 when we got her. i also went a many mile on her back. i feel like i just lost another great part of my childhood...

now i am all misty eyed too, i think the great joy any pet gives you is exactly why we grieve so much, remembering their faces and little habits