The death of your dog is a painful event in life, as it was a member of the family for many years. However, grieving correctly to cope with the loss of your long-term animal friend is essential. You don’t have to be ashamed of it.
Naturally, man’s best friends have a limited life expectancy. Therefore, sooner or later, the time will come when you have to say goodbye to your beloved four-legged friend. Because of the close bond, this is always a heavy loss, accompanied by immense grief for the animal.
Mourn The Right Way
To outsiders, the grief may seem excessive, but it is only a natural process to you. The deceased companion was part of the family for many years and left a corresponding gap.
You should allow yourself to grieve and grieve properly. After all, this loss also has to be processed first. The best way to cope with grief is to let your emotions run free. Take your time, and don’t let other people put you under pressure.
The Farewell
Given the close bond between you and your dog, many people find it inappropriate to leave their beloved four-legged friend to the vet after they die. If you own your property, you can bury your dog in its natural environment. The following rules should have complied when doing this:
- Your dog must not have died of a reportable illness.
- The grave for your pet must be at least three feet away from public paths.
- Your garden must not be part of a water or nature reserve.
- The dog grave must be at least one and a half feet deep and well covered with soil.
If you don’t have a garden of your own, a pet cemetery can be an alternative for you. Or you can have your dog cremated and take the ashes home with you in an urn.
Here, too, you will meet people who cannot understand the motives for a funeral. Don’t let that affect you, and pay your respects to your best friend. The loyal companion has been by your side for years and deserves a dignified farewell.
The Griefing
Either way, if your dog has died, allow yourself the time to grieve properly. Then, let your feelings run free. At first, you will probably have a feel for a while that your four-legged friend is still there. Then, when you get home, you may find yourself calling out to him habitually.
At this stage in coping with grief, the first thing you need to do is accept that your dog has gone. This can be accompanied by emotional outbursts, mood swings, and other depressive emotional states. Allow these feelings to be processed. If necessary, it can help you take a vacation to calmly cope with this challenging first part of the grieving process.
It can also help to create specific time windows for remembering your dog. For example, go for a walk and use your four-legged friend’s favorite path for that. It will be painful at first, but over time the positive memories outweigh the sadness.