Coping with the death of a pet

Losing a beloved pet can hit you as hard as the loss of a family member. As animal lovers we invest a lot of time and love in our pets and when their lives end it can leave a big hole. Grief is normal and healthy; your pet will have been a big part of your life and death is never easy to deal with. But how do come to terms with the loss of your pet?

Sharing your grief with someone can help; I recently lost one of my cats and I needed the strength of my husband to help me come to terms with it. And later that day he needed me to be there for him when it finally hit him that our beloved little cat had gone.

Let your grief out. There is nothing to be ashamed at by grieving for an animal. Those who say that the loss of a pet is not as big as the loss of a family member has obviously not lost a pet - they are, after all, family members as well.

If your grief is getting to you, and it can, find help. Losing a pet is hard, but with the right help and frame of mind you will be able to look back on their lives with a smile.