Losing a pet is devastating. It is a kind of heartbreak that can leave you reeling, often in ways you didn’t expect. Pets are not just animals who share our homes—they are companions, confidants, and quiet fixtures in the background of our daily lives.
Their absence can echo through the house in the most ordinary moments: the silence when you come home, the empty spot at the end of the bed, and the food bowl that no longer needs filling. It is a grief that is deep, real, and deserving of time and space to be felt.
So when they are gone, it is perfectly reasonable to feel like someone has yanked out a piece of your soul and left a chew toy in its place.
- First of all, grieve unapologetically. If you feel like crying at random adverts featuring golden retrievers, do it. If you want to spend three days in pyjamas eating ice cream while watching videos of your pet snoring–that is not pathetic; that is healing. Ignore anyone who tells you to “just get another one.” Your pet was not a kettle that stopped working. You can’t just replace a personality like that.
- Next up, talk about them. Yes, even if people look uncomfortable when you mention your late hamster’s favourite TV show. Telling stories about your pet helps keep their memory warm and alive. Laugh about the time your cat proudly presented a leaf as if it were a prized gazelle. Share the photo of your dog in that ridiculous birthday hat. The joy they gave you does not vanish with them.
- Create a ritual, however silly it sounds. Light a candle, make a scrapbook, plant a tree, or write them a letter. Give your grief somewhere to sit that isn’t just on your chest.
- And finally, be kind to yourself. Losing a pet is a type of heartbreak that is rarely taken as seriously as it should be. But your feelings are valid. They weren’t “just an animal”—they were family. So take your time, embrace the quirks of your grief, and when you’re ready, open your heart again—maybe not to replace, but to continue the love.
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