Grieve with Them

Whether the loss is a person or an animal, or someone moving out of the home, your animal(s) will feel grief and loss too. They might stop eating, seem depressed, sleep more and not want to play as much. It is a common reaction for the person that has just experienced a loss to put their attention, and fears, onto the grieving animal. While it is difficult to witness them mourning, try as much as possible to allow them to grieve in their own way and timing. 

Better yet…grieve together. Perhaps you can both lay on the bed or favorite blanket of the animal or person that transitioned and release your pain through gentle tears. Switching the focus to your grieving process is the fastest way to help your animal heal and move through their grief. Your animal will not absorb any emotional pain that you are beautifully releasing in healthy ways; they are more apt to absorb what you are repressing. 

When the beings around you are honored and respected via your giving them the space to grief, they will no longer feel the need to repress their pain so you feel better. Have compassion for yourself, knowing that you and your beloved animal will heal your hearts faster when you find courage to grieve alongside of them.