Loosing a pet can be very difficult to deal with but for me it was a nightmare. I thought I knew what depression was. I found out I didnt after our dog was killed. Now I ask how could I get anymore depressed. I cant imagine losing a human child the grief would kill me.
Why do you think we become so close to our animals? My children always say mom you love those dogs more then us. I think thats crazy but this is how they feel and I dont know why. Maybe its because I stayed so focused on babyboys case for over 2 years. I talked about that more then anything else and There was times my kids would become so angry with me even to the point of crying saying mom why cant you just let it go?
I asked myself that every day .I guess I felt responsible for his death and that I caused all this hell our family went through.
Depression controls every part of your body and mind it is a illness and could last for years, I wonder if I'll ever over come it. I think losing babyboy was the icing on the cake for me because through out my life I have had several things happen to me that caused me grief .Losing someone very close to me was one of them.
Here are a few good helpful hints to help you overcome the grief of losing a pet.
How do we over come our grief?
Religion is a great way to cope and prayer.
Then we have our friends ,I have made a lot of great friends since all this began for me and they have been very uplifting.
I found a website called rainbow bridge and on that site they had a chat room where you could talk with people that was going through the same thing.
Find friends that care about the same things as you. A lot of times people cant understand people that have close bonds with animals.
Get another pet. There are thousands of animals that need loving homes across the country I see it daily on facebook.
Find new ways to connect with other animal lovers there are wonderful websites and online community's all over the net. (Dogster/facebook/myspace/rainbowbridge)
Write about your loss and the love you had for your pet sometimes it helps.
Find ways to help like volunteer at your local animal shelter get involved and help with things they have going on .Consider rescue there are so many ways to give back .
I made a Rainbow Bridge group on facebook in memory of my dog I wanted to help others dealing with loss check it out here
Also I have a Grief support group Here
If your depression becomes to much to handle talk with your doctor and seek help because depression is a terrible thing to go through and can last for years.
