The death of a pet is a significant event for any family. Even if well-meaning friends or family members don't understand your grief, try to find others who do. 江戸川区 ペット火葬

A funeral gives the family an opportunity to openly express emotions and begin the process of healing. It doesn't have to be a somber affair.
1. Talk About Your Pet

Many people consider their pet a member of the family. They may talk to their pet, bring them along on errands, and even celebrate their pets’ birthdays. Pets provide companionship, unconditional love and acceptance to their owners. This is why so many people are devastated when their pet passes away.

Grief over the death of a pet is as natural as grief over the death of any other loved one. Grieving a pet takes time, and the process is different for each person. It is important to acknowledge your feelings and not repress them. You should also not be afraid to express your sadness and remember your pet fondly.

The loss of a beloved pet can leave you feeling alone, and surrounded by people who don’t understand. Oftentimes, friends and family members will offer cliches like, “It was just a dog,” or “You can always get another one.” These comments make the pain more difficult and do not help the grieving process.

If your own family members don’t understand, seek out other pet lovers to talk with. You can find support groups for pet loss in your area or online. You can also visit your veterinarian’s office or call a pet loss hotline. Having a safe space to discuss your feelings can be helpful, and rituals such as pet funerals can be healing.

Remembering your pet and expressing your feelings in a healthy manner is vital to your family’s health. Trying to avoid negative feelings can cause stress and lead to more serious health problems. Creating new routines that allow you to enjoy your daily activities without the pet can ease the transition. For instance, taking a stroll in your favorite park or playing a familiar game can help you adjust to the absence of your pet.
2. Create a Memory Box

When someone you love dies, it’s common to want to remember them by putting together a memory box. This can be done in many ways – you could find an old shoebox, or a tin that was theirs, a special container from a thrift store or even make one yourself out of wood (look at craft stores for inspiration).

Putting together a memory box is a way to compartmentalise your grief. It can be a place to keep photos, letters and mementos of your loved one. Eventually, you may start to use your memory box less and less as you move through the stages of grief. But your loss won’t be forgotten, it will simply become a part of your life.

If you have young children, this is a great opportunity to teach them about the grieving process. Talk honestly about death, using age-appropriate language and avoiding euphemisms, such as saying your pet “went to sleep” or "had a long journey."

It can also be helpful for younger children to have a book that helps them understand their feelings, such as the award-winning The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland. This heartfelt story is written from the perspective of a child who creates a memory box to help cope with the loss of a beloved family member.

You can also help a child create their own memorial by giving them a small plant or tree to mark the spot where your pet died, such as forget-me-nots. Or you can light a candle or make a photo collage on the computer in honor of their beloved pet.
3. Take a Walk

For many people, walking is a comforting way to deal with grief. Grief can be exhausting and exercising releases endorphins that improve mood and help fight stress. Walking in a natural environment is even better because the sights and sounds of nature provide solace. Walking outdoors can also help those who struggle with depression or anxiety since research shows that physical activity reduces the symptoms of these disorders.

Some grieving individuals may prefer to walk alone, but others appreciate the social connection that can come from striding shoulder-to-shoulder with other people. Grief support groups and hospice programs often organize organized walking clubs. It is not unusual to find people who met through these organizations who continue to meet regularly as walking buddies.

The mental health charity Mind lists walking as one of the best activities for promoting good mental wellbeing. It suggests starting out slowly and gradually increasing your time and distance until you reach a comfortable level that feels therapeutic to you.

Walking is a simple and inexpensive activity that can be done almost anywhere. A stroll around the block, a walk through a park or even walking in your backyard can provide an opportunity to connect with nature and remember your pet. It is important to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather conditions you will be experiencing.

As you take your steps on the mourner’s path, you may notice that there are different shades of green in the leaves, grass or shrubbery. The same can be said for the various stages of grief. While you may not understand the loss at a moment’s notice, you can still find comfort in the fact that you are taking steps forward towards coping with your grief.
4. Make a Photo Album

Many families today assemble photo albums for their loved ones before their funerals, allowing them to relive important moments of their life together while honoring the memory of the deceased. In this era of short attention spans and digital images, physical photo albums are one of the last bastions of tactile memory and a reminder of what once was. Feeling the fabric of a photo album in your hands and turning its pages is like a remembrance in itself.

As you work on your album, be sure to include a variety of photos. This will help you to remember the good times as well as the difficult ones. It is also helpful to include any memorabilia that belonged to your pet, such as ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, favorite recipes, old postcards, or even their memorial pamphlet from the funeral.

A memorial album is an excellent opportunity to incorporate a quote or poem that captures the essence of your pet. There are countless bereavement quotes and poems online that can be used or you can write your own. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but writing down your thoughts and feelings can be helpful in coping with loss.

Including a special page where you can share stories about your pet with the rest of your family can also be healing. This can be especially useful if you have children who are struggling with the death of their pet. It can be hard for them to process the loss when they are constantly being told that their pet ran away or they have regressed to behaviors such as bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.

Gathering with your family to work on the album together can be a powerful and therapeutic experience. Whether it is done in a formal support group or just at your next scrapbook crop, the act of revisiting these memories together can help ease some of the difficult emotions associated with grief.
5. Do Something You Both Enjoyed

Continuing to do activities you both enjoyed can help in the grieving process. It can also provide you with a sense of normalcy and give you a chance to focus on what’s good in your life. For example, you could continue to play your favorite video game, take a walk or engage in a hobby such as knitting or painting.

Grief can make you feel numb or depressed, but it’s important to find ways to express your feelings in healthy ways. Research shows that people who exhibit emotional flexibility can be healthier and have a better quality of life after a loss. For instance, a person with flexibility might smile and laugh when talking about a happy memory of their loved one but tear up when recalling a negative experience such as an argument.

It’s normal for your feelings to fluctuate throughout the day and night. You can take a break from grieving by engaging in an enjoyable activity or by spending time with friends. However, it’s important to return to your grief when you feel ready.

The overriding feeling in grief is sadness, but you may have moments or periods of happiness. It’s okay to enjoy yourself and don’t be afraid to laugh again. In fact, your deceased loved one would want you to start enjoying life again.

It’s also important to keep up with your physical health, as depression and agitation associated with grief can lead to health problems. So, try to maintain a regular exercise routine and eat well. You should also schedule doctor’s appointments and set reminders to take your medications. If you have trouble remembering to take care of yourself, enlist the help of a friend or family member to check in on you daily.