At Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory, we understand how hard it is when a pet family member passes away. Grieving a pet family member is normal, natural, and OK. Sometimes pet loss may hurt as much or more as a human loss. Our pet was not “just a dog” or “just a cat,” but a cherished member of the family.
When they come to the end of life, you feel a significant, even traumatic loss. For many pet families, when a pet passes away it is like losing a best friend, family member, a trusted companion all at once. When that loss occurs, many are left with grief and other emotions that can be overwhelming, not knowing what to do or say to move forward, or even what to say to others.
Knowing that the loss of a pet family member can bring devastating grief, we at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory want to support you during this time so you may have a healthy grief journey. All families we are honored to serve will automatically be enrolled into our comprehensive pet bereavement program. This program consists of several components:
Circle of Friends – You will receive periodic texts and/or email messages to check on how you are doing, and be offered support resources.
In-person Support Pet Bereavement Program – Families of all ages will be invited to join this in-person program. It will include connections with others going through a similar grief journey, how to cope from the loss of your pet family member, activities to work through the grief process, and encouragement to begin a new chapter.
We are proud to partner with the SW MO Humane Society to facilitate a time for pet support group members to be a part of their volunteer program as one of the last activities of the support group. We know that pet families loved their pet family member beyond measure. Pets at the Humane Society would benefit from this type of love as we heal ourselves on our journey. A win-win for members and pets alike.
What can I expect to feel?
Guilt
Guilt may occur if you feel responsible for your pet’s death – the “if only I had been more careful” syndrome. It is pointless and often erroneous to burden yourself with guilt for the accident or illness that claimed your pet’s life, and only makes it more difficult to resolve your grief.
Denial
Denial makes it difficult to accept that your pet is really gone. It is hard to imagine that your pet won’t greet you when you come home, or that it does not need its evening meal. Others find it hard to get a new pet for fear of being “disloyal” to the old.
Anger
Anger may be directed at the illness that killed your pet, the driver of the speeding car, the veterinarian who “failed ” to save its life. Sometimes it is justified, but when carried to extremes, it distracts you from the important task of resolving your grief.
Depression
Depression is a natural consequence of grief, but can leave you powerless to cope with your feelings. Extreme depression robs you of motivation and energy, causing you to dwell upon your sorrow.
Suggested small daily steps/activities that can help you in your healing journey:
Give yourself permission to grieve.
Don’t be afraid to cry.
Be patient with yourself – grieving takes time and feelings of sadness and despair don’t just disappear.
Find a compassionate listener.
Postpone making major decisions until you feel you are ready to handle them.
Focus on your responsibilities like your family, your job, and your friends to rally your inner strength.
Knowledge is power. Learn more about grief through books and videos.
Realize that it is OK to be angry about your loss.
Do not panic when you have a setback. Grief has its own individual timetable.
Write in a journal of your feelings, or draw/paint what you are feeling. Write about your happy times and happy memories with your cherished pet. Plan/define the next chapter in your life.
Memorialize and celebrate your cherished pet.
Express the love you had for your pet to other furry animals at an animal shelter.
Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory offers a comprehensive bereavement program to help support you on your healthy grief journey. We have Circle of Friends for Pet Families that will contact you to follow up during your grief journey, provide resources, and generally check on your well-being.
You may contact us for other bereavement resources and sessions.
You may explore some of our pet loss support resources here.
You may explore some of our pet loss support resources here.
Books for Adults:
The Loss of a Pet by Wallace Sife, PhD When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering, and Healing by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD Pet Loss – A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children by Herbert A. Nieburg and Arlense Fischer When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope with Your Feelings by James Quackenbush How to ROAR: Pet Loss Grief Recovery by Robin Jean Brown Pet Loss and Divine Healing: A Compassionate Guide for Navigating Your Devastating Loss by Rachel Shirley Repairing the Heartbreak of Pet Loss Grief: 3 Phrases of Healing after Losing Your Best Friend by C. Jeffry And I Love You Still…A Thoughtful Guide and Remembrance Journal for Healing the Loss of a Pet by Dr. Julianne C Corbin Losing a Pet: A Book of Grief and Recovery by Emily Newcombe
Books for Children:
Ages 3 and Older
Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story about the Loss of a Pet by Patrice Karst I Will Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr The Rainbow Bridge: A Dog’s Story by Judith Kristen
Ages 5 and Older
Paw Prints in the Start. A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet by Warren Hanson The Tenth Good Things about Barney by Judith Viorst and Erik Bleguard
Cherished Pets Bereavement Support Program
The Cherished Pets Bereavement Support Program is meant to be a safe place to come together with others who have lost a pet family member. It is designed for all ages. We provide this support program at no charge for all pet families we are honored to serve. All pet families will receive notice of this
support group through the Circle of Friends aftercare program or you may inquire with one of our pet specialists.
The program is designed as a series, however, participants may start the series at any point with a session. Basic session information may be repeated, but also different based on participation and stories of attendees.
There will be a time to share about our pet loss with others, activities to learn and help cope with the loss of our pet family member, and plans-of-action to progress to the next chapter in our healing journey.
We are partnered with the SW MO Humane Society to facilitate one of our sessions to be a part of the volunteer orientation program so that those who chose, especially for those who have lost a pet, may extend their love to other pets in need.
All sessions are held at the Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory facility the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, beginning at 6:00 PM, usually lasting about 1-2 hours, except one session that will be held at the SW MO Humane Society for volunteer orientation.
For those individuals who work or cannot make the in-person session, we will have an opportunity for a secure on-session at the same time. Participants must RSVP so a link may be sent. Contact us directly at Cherished Pets at info@cherishedpetsfuneralhome.com or call/text us at #417-366-PETS (7387) for more information.
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