"If there is a Heaven, it's certain our animals are to be there.
Their lives become so interwoven with our own,
it would take more than an Archangel to detangle them."
~Pam Brown
pet :
noun. A domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure and treated with care and affection.
Synonyms noun: darling - favorite - minion
Synonyms adjective: favorite - beloved
Synonyms verb: fondle - caress - pamper - cuddle - stroke - dandle
A pet may have been selected because of appearance, pedigree, to teach a child responsibility or provide companionship (especially with the elderly) . Regardless of where your pet came from, a breeder, a pet-shop, a rescue shelter or the side of the road, there was some magic spark that told you to welcome them in your home.
What is a pet good for? Love, friendship, companionship, play, lessons on patience, exercise and as if that weren't enough, they are good for your health! Having a pet may help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or mental goals, such as decreased stress. There is evidence that having a pet can help a person lead a longer, healthier life. Pet ownership was shown to significantly reduce triglycerides, and thus heart disease risk, in the elderly. A study by the National Institute of Health found that people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of a heart attack than those who didn’t own one.
With all the good that comes from sharing your home with a pet, the loss of a pet can be devastating. They are indeed members of the family. Below are some of the common suggestions to help cope with the loss of a pet.
noun. A domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure and treated with care and affection.
Synonyms noun: darling - favorite - minion
Synonyms adjective: favorite - beloved
Synonyms verb: fondle - caress - pamper - cuddle - stroke - dandle
A pet may have been selected because of appearance, pedigree, to teach a child responsibility or provide companionship (especially with the elderly) . Regardless of where your pet came from, a breeder, a pet-shop, a rescue shelter or the side of the road, there was some magic spark that told you to welcome them in your home.
What is a pet good for? Love, friendship, companionship, play, lessons on patience, exercise and as if that weren't enough, they are good for your health! Having a pet may help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or mental goals, such as decreased stress. There is evidence that having a pet can help a person lead a longer, healthier life. Pet ownership was shown to significantly reduce triglycerides, and thus heart disease risk, in the elderly. A study by the National Institute of Health found that people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of a heart attack than those who didn’t own one.
With all the good that comes from sharing your home with a pet, the loss of a pet can be devastating. They are indeed members of the family. Below are some of the common suggestions to help cope with the loss of a pet.
- Avoid inhibiting grieving
- Strengthen positive memories. Share them with family or friends.
- If spiritual or religious, seek solace.
- Consider changing your living environment by putting away pet-related items or rearranging the home.
- Adjust the daily routine or schedule to avoid pet-related "moments"
- Express emotion through writing down experiences and memories (click here to visit Lightning-Strike Pet Loss Support, a Cyber-Shoulder to cry on. Opens in new window)
- Memorialize your beloved pet (perhaps a scrapbook, photos on the wall, web page or a memorial marker)
- Multi-pet households can focus on the remaining pets
- Sleep may be difficult when you are used to having a pet laying against your back or legs in bed. Placing a stuffed animal or rolled blanket on the bed where your pet used to sleep may help.
- Get a new pet - NOTE- this does NOT help with the grief, but may be a lovely distraction.
Just a few self-indulgent pictures of our furry family:
"Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened." ~Dr. Seuss |
"For the soul of every living thing
is in the hand of God." Job 12:10 |