Pet Loss:
It's never easy to say goodbye to our family pets, whether
it's through illness, injury or euthanasia. They are special
friends that have worked their way into our hearts, given us
unconditional love, and trusted us to take care of them
throughout their lives. When they leave us, we need to journey
through the grief process.
The traditional stages of grief include denial, anger,
bargaining, depression and acceptance. Even though they're
described as stages, they're not meant to be experienced in a
logical or orderly fashion, with defined beginnings or endings.
All five stages can be experienced over a period of hours or a
period of months; even after you've moved on, some stages can
resurface when triggered by a memory or an event.
Grief is a personal experience, but you don't have to go through
it alone. If you look around the internet, you'll find many
resources that can help. Here are a few links to get you
started:
Here are a few links to get you started:
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Animal Hospital Association