Pets, as they say, as a man's best friend. We spend years if not decades without animals and can grow extremely attached to them. If anything our dogs and cats are considered to be a part of the family, we include them in the family photos, we buy them a new squeaky toy for Christmas, you name it. However, after so many years of fun and memories, our animals grow old, as do we, just at a much faster pace. Eventually their age or an illness will claim their life and they will either die on their own in their favorite spot of shade in the backyard, or we will take them to the veterinarian to be put down so that they no longer have to suffer anymore. It is such a hard thing to lose your loved one, and that includes a beloved pet who has been such a vital part of your family. Whether you are a 45 year old parent, or it is you 5 to 17 year old kids, the loss of a pet is hard, and learning how to cope is a process that will take time.

It's funny because unless you are a dog or cat owner, people don't tend to have a good understanding g of the bond between an animal and an owner can be. Many times you'll hear people trying to tell you after they hear of a loss of a pet that it was s "just an animal" or "you'll move on" or even "why don't you just buy a new one?" all of these statements sound legitimate to the person who does not have a furry companion, however to the person who is mourning the loss of a pet, those words can be devastating. Grieving over the loss of an animal can look very differently for each person, however according to many studies there are a general set of stages that will associate a person dealing with the grief of losing a loved one, and that includes the house pet as well.

The first stage of grief is often that of shock or even denial. In a child perhaps, you will see them trying to convince themselves that the dog is just outside or at the groomers and coming home soon rather than gone forever. The next stage of grief is usually anger, though not all will experience this at an extreme level, they may still question why they had to lose their beloved friend. Then next stage you or your loved ones may experience is that of bargaining, or perhaps trying to trade your affections for your old animal and transferring them into a new thing. Next people may experience a time of being depressed or just being overcome with missing them a lot and sadness. Eventually, though it may take time, you and your family will come to a place of acceptance of the loss and perhaps be ready to move forward and add a new furry friend into your home again. As stated, these stages are different for every person and it just takes a time for people to move on.

If the pain is extensive, be sure to talk to someone about how you are feeling because e holding in emotion of grief is never helpful. Especially encourage your children to talk about these feelings. In the event that your animal has not yet died, and yet you are noticing sig s of health concerns or old age, be certain to take them into the vet regularly for a checkup.