Anyone who has ever loved a pet understands how difficult it can be to deal with their passing. Simply reaching out to a friend who recently lost their pet is among the most heartfelt things you can do for them. Just simply be there for your buddy as they work through the stages of their sorrow by asking if they need anything and by asking open-ended inquiries about the lives of their pets. Being present for your friend while they are grieving the loss of their pet is the most crucial thing you can do. A key step in the grieving process is talking to friends or loved ones. It might make them feel better to hear them recall memories or share tales about their deceased pet. That’s what you can expect from a friend: elicit memories and perhaps even a few tears. If you’re unable to offer your buddy in-person support, send a card or note expressing your condolences for the death of their beloved pet. Call, send flowers or both. Ask them how they are doing, make an offer to help, and then make the same offer again days, months, or years later.
Listening & Giving Them Time
It’s typical to try to put a bright light on what happened amid a loss to lessen unpleasant feelings. Take care not to move too quickly. Again, it’s all right if your friend is depressed; nevertheless, don’t jump to positive conclusions because doing so could downplay how serious the person’s loss is. Allowing them to grieve and recover at their rate and in their way will help them.
Some people have the propensity to want to forget a loss as soon as possible without giving it enough time to sink in. Remind them that it may take time for them to process the death of a pet. In a trying time, encourage them to allow themselves to grieve.
After your initial contact, follow up with your friend and make sure they’re doing okay. They will need time to heal, and the process may have its ups and downs. A few days later, sending a follow-up message to check on how they are doing can make the difference between offering polite courtesy and demonstrating genuine empathy.
Encourage Them to Treat Themselves with Kindness
Sometimes, pet owners are compelled to put their animals to sleep because they get ill or become old. Your friend might be having trouble accepting this and wonder if their choice was the right one. These emotions are reasonable. While it’s vital to pay attention to this, if they assert that something is their fault or that they made the incorrect choice, you should challenge them and support the choice they made for their animal. Allow them to take no responsibility for whatever painful choices they had to make for their pet as they drew closer to the end of their lives. Make sure they understand that they are a responsible pet owner who has always had their pet’s best interests in mind.
Support Them by Honoring Their Pet
Assist them in honoring the life of the pet they lost. Give them ideas for ways to remember their pet if you want to help them get over their loss. Encourage folks who are mourning to create the routines they need to get through the initial, trying moments. People who are grieving for their beloved pets should find a way to honor them, including holding funerals and burial rituals. Help your friend or relative arrange and carry out the event if that’s what they want to do. You can also assist your friend in creating a memory box or photo collage if they would like.
Comfort Them With Some Food
When you lose a loved one, your brain enters “crisis mode,” which causes you to lose track of daily activities like eating. If you can quickly prepare something that you are aware your friend will enjoy, do it. You may also offer to bring them food or watch the kids for a couple of nights or a baked item of any kind! In trying circumstances, food is a natural source of solace. A wonderful approach to let someone know you are thinking of them is to bake a recipe for them. Even better, ask them over so you can prepare something together. Spending time with a friend in a social setting might be advantageous for both of you.
Walk Away Your Sorrows
Grief cannot be cured, but exercise can improve your mood by generating endorphins. Taking a walk outside can be a fantastic opportunity for them to chat with you about losing their pet. In addition to mourning, your buddy might also be settling into a new schedule now that they don’t have a pet to look after. After their pet has passed away, going for walks with them can help them create a new habit.
Additionally, spending time in nature might help those who are grieving or facing loss. Everyone’s well-being and mental health can benefit from being in nature, but those who are grieving especially can benefit.
Things You Should Avoid Saying
Sometimes even the greatest of intentions can lead to undesirable outcomes. Even while it’s normal for us to want to fix what a friend or loved one is going through, we should refrain from doing so. However, saying things like “Well, you gave them a good life” or “They were lucky to have you” is not necessarily helpful or reassuring. Because no two people ever experience sorrow, sadness, and loss in precisely the same ways.
Do not tell them that time heals all wounds. Don’t say, “You think you’ve got it bad…” or “When my pet died…” Do not compare one griever’s loss or experience to another’s. Comparisons are attempts to downplay the loss or pressure the bereaved to act appropriately. Need Not impose a timeframe for feeling better—there is no timeline for grieving. Do not suggest, “It’s been however long; you shouldn’t still be so unhappy. “Avoid saying, “You’ll feel better if you get another pet.” A new pet can’t replace the one who died and suggesting as much could come across as offensively dismissing the loss. When and if the person feels ready, they may get another pet. If the person who is mourning wants to talk to you about it but you are at a loss for words, simply listen. It’s crucial that you keep your feelings to yourself, even if you don’t understand or believe the person is exaggerating the situation. You’re there to offer care and support. The best thing you can do is listen sympathetically since this is about them.
