The loss of a pet can be very difficult on all members of the family. Psychologists recognize that the loss of a pet is just as difficult as the death of a person. Unfortunately, society does not recognize this fact and may not give people permission to grieve openly.
The death of a pet can be a painful time especially for children, who may also have questions about mortality and the afterlife. Single people and childless couples, who raised a pet instead of a child, may feel particularly bereft.
The articles below offer advice as well as recount personal stories. They also address the technical decisions which must be made regarding burial and memorials.
Resources on dealing with death of a beloved pet:
- About Feelings of Guilt
- Adopting a Pet After a Loss
- Care of a Terminally Ill Pet
- Dealing with Children, Elderly and Disabled on Loss of a Pet
- Depression in Cats and Dogs
- Do Pets Mourn Lost Friends?
- Euthanasia – Time to Say Goodbye
- Help Your Child Cope with the Loss of a Pet
- Log of Timo’s Fight With Cancer: Page 2
- Log of Timo’s Fight with Cancer
- Memorials for Pets
- My Experience with an Animal Communicator
- On losing a pet
- Pet Cemeteries
- Pet Cremation Options
- Predicting Survival Times for Cancer
- Rememberances
- Signs from Our Angels
- What You Should Know About Pet Cremation
- When to put a pet to sleep
- World Pet Memorial Day