If you’ve ever loved and lost a pet, you know how painful it can be. Pets are part of the family and losing them is like losing any other loved one. While there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to grieve the loss of a pet (or any loved one for that matter), I do have some tips for coping with this type of loss that have personally helped me over the years.

Loss of a pet is painful.

A pet can be such an important part of your life. A lot of people may think that they are just animals but they are also very much not. Pets can be as much a part of your family as any human family member. Your cat or dog could spend every night in your bedroom, and even have its own special spot on the bed (or couch). If you were lucky enough to live with this same animal for its entire life then you had something special that no one else could ever fully understand: The bond between two creatures who love each other deeply and unconditionally is something so unique that I'm not sure we'll ever understand it completely.

Everyone grieves differently.

Grief is a personal process. Everyone grieves differently, and the amount of time that it takes to move through the stages of grief will be different for each person. Some people don't want to talk about their loss at all, while others are very open about their pain. There are many ways to deal with grief: some people find comfort in sharing their experiences with friends or family members; others find solace in writing down their thoughts and feelings; still others like to spend time outdoors where they can reflect on their relationship with their pet. The important thing is that everyone gets as much support as possible during this difficult time!

Talking can help.

Talking about your pet can help you process your feelings. You may feel like talking about him or her with others will make you miss them more, but the truth is that it can help you remember the good times with your pet. Talking with family, friends and even strangers who have recently lost a pet is a great way to share stories and connect over shared experiences of love and loss.

Be kind to yourself.

• Don't be hard on yourself. It's normal to feel guilty about grieving your pet. If you're having a hard time getting through the day without crying, talk to someone about it. Your feelings are valid and you need to let them out in order to heal.

• Don't compare your grief with others'. While it might seem like everyone else is over their pet's death while yours is still affecting your daily life, that's not true at all—everyone grieves differently and their experience is valid as well!

• Don't feel guilty about asking for help. If things just aren't getting better after two weeks post-loss, do not hesitate to reach out. There's nothing wrong with asking friends, family members, or counselors for support when needed. In fact, they may even have some tips on how to best deal with these emotions so that life feels less overwhelming. 

Find support from other pet lovers.

Others can help you through your grief by providing you with emotional support. 

You may:

• Talk to a friend, family member or another pet owner who has also experienced the loss of an animal.

• Join a pet therapy group in your community or online. If there are no groups available, create one yourself and invite others to join you.

• Find a therapist specializing in grief counseling for pets who lost their life unexpectedly or due to illness. When selecting someone to help you navigate this difficult time, make sure they have experience working with grieving pet owners and have no conflict of interest relating to their training or professional activities involving animals (for example, if they are involved in veterinary practice).

Reflect on the good times. 

When you’re ready, it may be helpful to reflect on the good times. Remember their favorite spots or tricks. Think about them playing with their favorite toy, or cuddling on the sofa with you.

Think of all the happy memories you had together, like trips to the dog park, or when they snuck up behind you and scared the daylights out of you!

You might even want to think back on how much joy your pet brought into other people’s lives (like members of their family). Maybe they were a therapy dog for someone who was going through hard times or maybe they helped a child learn about kindness through storybooks at bedtime every night.

Lastly—and most importantly—think about how much joy your pet brought into your own life. Your pet was there by your side through thick and thin; through good times and bad; through laughter and tears…

Request time off and speak with a counselor or therapist if needed.

While the loss of a pet can be difficult, you are not alone. Like any other major life event, the grieving process takes time and effort. If you think that you might have trouble coping with your pet's death in addition to work, school or other responsibilities, it's important to speak up about this. Ask for time off if needed and seek out support from friends and family members who can offer emotional support during this period. It is also helpful to try talking to a counselor or therapist if you feel like your depression or anxiety is worsening as a result of losing your pet. Speaking with someone who understands what you're going through will help take some of the stress off of yourself by providing another perspective on things that are bothering you right now.

It's OK to be sad, and it's OK to grieve however you want or need to, but there are ways you can help yourself heal too.

It's OK to be sad, and it's OK to grieve however you want or need to. You can grieve for as long as you need to. It’s also OK to miss your pet, even if the loss was expected. It’s also OK if you feel angry at your pet for leaving or wish you would have appreciated them more while they were alive, even those challenging moments when they pooped on your couch. Guilt is another common feeling when dealing with a pet death—you may feel guilty about not being able to do more for them while they were alive or guilty about being upset. 

The loss of a pet is painful, and everyone grieves differently. Everyone grieves in their own time and in their own way. It's OK to be sad, and it's OK to grieve however you want or need to, but there are ways you can help yourself heal too. Talk about your feelings with friends or family members who understand and support you; keep pictures of your pet nearby so that they're not forgotten; think about the good times you had together; consider volunteering at an animal shelter to help other pets find homes. If the pain becomes too much for you, give yourself permission to request time off work or seek counseling from a professional therapist.