Grieving The Loss Of A Pet

This is for anyone who has lost their beloved pet. Grieving the death of a pet can be devastating. For humans, we have celebrations of life and funerals to say goodbye, gain closure and begin the healing process. However, this isn't a common practice for pets but it's equally important for our healing. You can listen to this message and prayer to say goodbye to your pet, family member and best friend as they cross over the Rainbow Bridge.

- In memory of my 15 year old cocker spaniel, Tink

Transcript

Hi,

This is Dr.

Tracey Moreno.

I'm a psychologist.

Thank you for joining me to talk about the loss of a pet.

The death of a beloved pet can be a unique grieving experience.

Even though many people love their pets and consider them part of their family,

The grieving process is often minimized or not taken as seriously as that of a human loved one.

We don't get bereavement time off work and there usually isn't a funeral or celebration of life.

No one sends us flowers and we're expected to get over it and move on with life much quicker.

However,

The loss of a pet can be just as painful and devastating and life-changing as the loss of any human.

Sometimes it's even worse.

And if you're listening to this,

I'm sure you can understand that.

So it's important to go through the grieving process for a pet just as you would a human.

And part of that process is saying goodbye.

Do this in whatever way you feel comfortable.

It can be as small as lighting a candle in their honor,

Writing them a eulogy,

Or as big as having a celebration of life gathering.

Anything that will help you honor them and what they brought to your life,

What you'll always carry with you.

And make sure it's a way to say goodbye because saying goodbye helps us gain closure and acceptance.

I recently lost my 15-year-old cocker spaniel baby girl.

To honor her and say goodbye,

I chose to write a eulogy,

Which is a goodbye letter that I will read to her and burn.

But before I do,

I wanted to share it with you just to show that it's okay to grieve and it's okay to feel the loss.

And it's okay to honor them.

So I'd like to dedicate this to my dog,

My baby girl.

Her name is Tink,

In hopes that it can help you through the loss of your beloved pet.

Goodbye,

My baby.

You came into my life and changed my world.

Through you,

I saw life differently.

My life is now forever changed because of you in it.

You taught me how to love completely and without limits.

You taught me how to be a parent and how to love and protect the ones I love.

You taught me how to be strong,

Even when I wanted to quit.

You gave me a reason to wake up every morning.

My love for you reaches far beyond the human world.

I know that you are still here with me and that you'll be the first one to greet me when it's time for me to go home.

But before then,

I pray that you will meet me in my dreams.

I will miss you every day and would do just about anything to hold you,

See you wag your cute little butt,

And have you give me kisses.

I pray that I was as good to you as you were to me.

Thank you for being my best friend,

My little spoon,

And my soulmate.

Lord,

Angels,

Thank you for bringing my baby into my life.

Thank you for allowing us to love and learn from one another.

Please accept her and help her cross over and connect with our loved ones.

Please fill her with so much love and gratitude for her life here.

Lord,

Please take care of her and keep her safe and reunite our souls when the time is right.

Thank you for blessing me with this earth angel and now my real angel.

Thank you.

Amen.

Reviews

Thank you. I miss my beautiful baby girl so much. She blessed me with 14 years of unconditional love. I pray that she meet me when it is my time. I pray she is running and playing and resting and eating all her favorite treats and playing tug of war.... ❤️💔 She was the best friend I ever had.

Thank you so much. Having just lost my beloved pet your words were such comfort and I cried in our shared grief ♥️

I lost my Sammy a few days ago. He was my beloved dog for 17 years. Thank you for doing this and sharing your heart with us here. This helped me so much. God bless you.

Thank you for inspiring me to write a eulogy for my sweet old man pup. He’ll be a crossing the rainbow bridge in a few hours and the grief is already unbearable.

Thank you. You are right about other people not understanding the loss we feel. I’m grateful you shared Tink’s eulogy. It was beautiful.

Yesterday my beloved whippet, Kohala, passed as I kissed his head and told him to run to his friends who preceded him. I never had children and so he WAS my son. It’s a shame that pet berievement isn’t respected, especially in the work world. It’s one of the most profound pains and deserves more acknowledgment. Thank you for your words. Your eulogy definitely mirrors my feelings about my baby boy.

Thank you so, so much. This talk and your beautiful eulogy were incredibly powerful and healing for me. My beautiful baby Beau (also 15 like your Tink) just left this earth and I am in so much pain. Your idea to write a eulogy is a great one that I will definitely follow. Your eulogy for Tink resonated with me so deeply, including the prayer at the end. Thank you so much for speaking about this topic and helping us who grieve.

Your letter to Tink is beautiful. Thank you for demonstrating how to honour my beloved pet, Cupcake.

Tears of sadness and joy all at the same time. Glad to know that my feelings are valid and I can still be grateful for all that he gave me. Beautifully put.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm grieving the loss of my beloved Podenco Keela whom I had to let go two and a half days ago now. I think I will write a eulogy for her too. 🖤🐾🐾

Thank you. Through tears your words became mine to my beautiful 17 year old Lily. I love you Lily, stay safe my baby ❤️

Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful meditation experience. It helped me in my own grieving process after losing my dear dog.. 🙏🕯️

Dr. T,
Thank you for your stunning prayer here-
it's helping me pen a letter of condolence
to my Sister Patty who just yesterday experienced the loss of her beloved dog Sassy.
A challenge to be joyful during
this Christmastime .
Blessings.

Christine
High Desert Sierra
Colorado

Thank you. I will share this with my kids to help us grieve the loss of our beautiful 13 year old groodle Max who just pasted away... 🙏😪.

That was so beautiful. Tears were streaming down my face. Have you ever read “a dogs eulogy?” Unknown author written from a dog’s point of view. It’s beautiful and a tear jerker.

Beautiful, raw, and I felt every word in my soul. Thank you! 🙏🏻

This is so helpful on Huey’s passing away. Love the eulogy, and your reading of it. Huey was … love. 💕🐶

I lost my dog Daisy today and I am grieving. I so much needed comforting words and you have done that. Thankyou. ❤

Thank you was much needed after my beloved cat 😻crossed the rainbow 🌈bridge today! 😭great tips too candle 🕯️lit 🙏

Thank you so much . Our beautiful girl went to rainbow bridge today. So hard to make that decision but my heart knew it was time though it didn’t want to agree. My Izzy girl♥️🌈 06/05/2009 - 03/22/2024