“If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and,
prospectively, to equally profound sadness.”
~ Marjorie Garber
“If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and, prospectively, to equally profound sadness.”
~ Marjorie Garber
Coping with the loss of your dog
Losing your dog can feel like losing your best friend. You may feel heartbroken and full of grief. Yet you grapple with the understanding that your friends and family members may not fully grasp the depth of your feelings for the loss of your dog. Or sometimes well meaning friends may respond in a dismissive manner toward your grief—“its just a dog.” Usually friends who have dogs as companions will be more sensitive and supportive in your grief.
You may not fully realize the comfort that your dog has provided you over the years until your companion is gone. Dogs provide companionship on a daily basis as well as unconditional love.
If your dog has undergone surgery or treatment for a serious illness, then, you are coping with the loss of a having a fully functioning dog. That is a loss, too.
You may remember with sadness the actual day of the week your dog died and feel a little sad on this date every month—this is a typical grief reaction to the anniversary.
If you are a baby boomer coping with the loss of your dog, it is more challenging as you face your own aging body and mortality. Also, if you have lost few friends or family members, then, the loss of your dog can have more impact.