Happiness is a new puppy we named Sunny…After our 4 year old golden retriever, “Shiloh“ passed away unexpectedly, and after four months of searching the entire Southeast, we finally found a new male puppy.
How Do You Know When It‘s Time To Add A Family Member
Building a special bond with an animal brings much happiness and love to a person’s life, but unfortunately this special relationship, like all others, does come with an expiration date.
Losing a pet is like losing a family member; it’s extremely tough and involves its own difficult grieving process. However, eventually some people become ready to love again and bring a new member into their family. So, how do you know when you’re ready to do this? How do you ensure you’re ready to move on?
Some people really struggle with losing their pet, especially in the case of pets that provide emotional support to their owners. Sometimes in order to move on, another pet may assist with the grieving process.
While some people may argue it’s too soon or that a new pet can only act as a replacement, a new fur baby can provide a new outlet for love and can help refocus a person’s life and give them something to look forward to.
That being said, it’s important to take some time to process the loss of your previous pet before embarking on getting a new one.
However, no one can stipulate how much time you need; it could be weeks, or months, or days, depending on the owner. At the end of the day, you have to do what’s right for you and your household.
Many people need closure to move on and help them close the previous chapter on their life. This process can involve different things for different people.
For some, it could be creating a photo album or small trinket in the name of their pet, and for others, it might involve something slightly larger like a funeral. Pet funerals are a very real thing these days and can be as quaint or extravagant as the owner wishes.
From a memorial, to a cremation, private burial, and more, pet funerals involve a range of services provided to allow grieving owners to say goodbye to their beloved animals in a thoughtful and respectable way.
Did you know that dogs also grieve? If you’re considering getting a new pet, it’s a good idea to make sure all of your other pets are okay. So, how do you know if they’re struggling?
Most owners have a good sense of their pet’s personality and behaviour and can tell when something’s off. Sometimes their behaviour can change and they might be more withdrawn than usual or just not as lively.
Also, if there’s any loss of appetite, that’s a good indication of a grieving pet. To support them, try to play with them and keep up their usual routine. This will not only help your pet, but will help you as well.
Everyone is different and grieving the loss of a pet is an incredibly personal experience. First and foremost, you need to be ready to accept that you’re about to enter into a serious role once again with an entirely different animal to the one you previously had.
You also need to be aware that this role cannot (well, should not) be taken lightly – returning animals is extremely taxing on the animal, the owners, and all involved.
Make sure you’re ready for a commitment.I know we are ready…
