How to Support a Grieving Person After the Loss of a Pet

The death of a pet can be just as devastating as other types of loss.

Few things hurt as much as losing a pet. Even Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show,” broke down on air when he announced the death of his beloved three-legged brindle pit bull, Dipper — a raw and touching segment that illustrated the deep grief felt by many pet owners. /p>

When a pet dies, owners lose companionship, affection and “just plain unconditional love — and we don't find that in many places in our world. lives,” said Sherry Cormier, psychologist and author of “Sweet Sorrow: Finding Enduring Wholeness After Loss and Grief.”

Our society tends to be “grief phobic.” said Dr. Cormier, and there's a sense that the feelings about losing a pet are either relatively low on the hierarchy of suffering, or that it's something people should be able to handle and overcome quickly. Dr. Cormier and other claims experts said that’s not always true; and they shared ways to help a loved one when losing a pet.

Validate the owner's loss.

Loss of a pet Pet can lead to disenfranchised grief, meaning it's not validated or recognized by the world, said Michelle Crossley, an associate professor at Rhode Island College and vice president of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. As a result, “many people end up grieving in isolation for fear of being rejected by others,” she said, adding, “They fear not understanding or minimizing the loss.” »

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Keep it simple when expressing your sympathies, Dr. Cormier said. She suggested something like: “I know your pet was a very important part of your life and your family. I can see how much he meant to you and how much you miss him already. chose to slaughter an animal to minimize suffering, Dr. Cormier said. She did it with two golden retrievers, but noted the circumstances were very different. One lived a long and happy life; the other had to be deleted unexpectedly due to an aggressive brain tumor.

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