Grieving the loss of a companion animal can be as difficult as grieving the loss of a family member or friend. It is critical to allow yourself to grieve and experience your emotions.
Our caring staff can provide you with resources to help you cope with the loss of a companion animal.
We would be honored to help you cope with the loss of your beloved pet. Our grief counseling services can assist you in processing your pet loss and provide tools for a healthy grieving process. We offer assistance and guidance in the following areas:
Although it may be difficult to accept, it is critical to allow yourself time to mourn. You may want to keep up appearances and suppress your grief, but your to-do list can wait, and your friends and family will understand if you need time to heal.
Be gentle with yourself, and remember that sadness is not a sign of weakness, but rather a natural part of life. Suppressing your emotions will only lead to an increase in stress, anxiety, and anger in the long run.
Finding a way to remember and honor your deceased pet is an important part of the healing process. Memorializing your pet can help you find closure while also serving as a sweet reminder of all the good times.
Did your pet have a favorite toy? Did they have a personalized collar or a favorite place to curl up? Consider these details and take the time to create a small memorial just for them.
While it may seem most compassionate to lie to your children about your pet's death, see it as an opportunity to teach them a valuable lesson about mortality and the grieving process.
Pet loss can demonstrate to your children what your family does when something sad occurs, as well as that grief and loss are natural parts of life. They can and should grieve, but it is also acceptable for them to eventually move on and feel happy again.
You may come across people who are unconcerned about your loss because they don't understand it. They may minimize your feelings (intentionally or unintentionally) and advise you to "just get a new pet."
We will assist you in navigating conversations about your pet loss with those in your life, as well as provide you with tools to politely but firmly assert your right to process your loss in your way.
Canyon Animal Hospital is accepting new patients! Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of Laguna Beach companion animals. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.