A Dog Owner’s Stages Of Grief

The loss of a pet can be a traumatic experience. Dog owners have different emotions when their dog is diagnosed with a terminal illness or their dog dies. Not every dog owner will experience all the emotions associated with grief. Those that have the same feelings may still experience those emotions differently.

First of all, dog owners should not belittle their own feelings about the loss of their dog nor should they accept condescending remarks about their feelings of grief. Dog owners have special bonds with their dogs. The dog was a trusted companion that gave the dog owner unconditional love. The companionship of the dog was a stable element in the dog owner’s life.

There are some common emotional steps through the grief process. Not everyone will experience all these emotions. Some people will move through the grief process in a different order than others. The grieving process is a personal one.

The first emotion that is often experienced is denial. The dog owner may have denial about accepting their dog’s illness. After the dog’s death, the dog owner may deny their own feelings about the loss of their dog. They may try to convince themselves that they are okay and not bothered by the loss.

After the denial stage, a dog owner may experience anger. The anger may be directed towards God or life in general. The anger may be directed toward a loved one or the person may blame the veterinarian for not being able to save their dog. Dog owners may be angry at themselves for a perceived lack of attention to their dog or the inability to save their dog.

If the dog is ill, the dog owner may go through a process of bargaining. The dog owner may ask God or their higher power to spare the dog in exchange for a good deed or change in their life. The dog owner may experience depression. The loss of a dog can induce sadness, helplessness, or even a sense of hopelessness. Life can look dark for someone grieving the loss of their dog.

Eventually, the dog owner can move into the acceptance stage of the grieving process. This is the stage in which the dog owner can accept the dog’s illness or dog’s death. If the dog is ill, they may be motivated to cherish what time is left with their dog. After accepting the dog’s death, the dog owner can cherish the memories of the dog in a healthy way. They may still feel sad, but the sadness has become bearable and does not interfere with their daily lives.