How long can you grieve the loss of a pet?

Some might think true grief is reserved for our fellow humans, but the loss of a pet prompts real mourning.

After the loss of a loved one, prolonged mourning and visible grief is considered normal for the loss of a family member or a close friend.

But what about our pets?

A writer who just lost his feline companion of 15 years, said:

“I sat in the first floor room in which I work, watching my neighbours go about their lives, amazed and furious that they were behaving as if it was a normal day,” he wrote.  “Stop all the clocks. My Felix is gone.”

Our animal companions provoke strong feelings.

For anybody who has had a pet in their life, they form a unique and very special member of the family and remain so.

In terms of that very special bond that individuals share it’s like any bond, once it’s broken, individuals feel that loss. That is expressed as grief.

RELATED: Time off to mourn the loss of a pet

Our cat isn’t just a “pet” it is family so we want our kitty treated with the same dignity accorded to any member of the family.

Most people take the day off but most tend to tell a lie for fear of ridicule or that the boss won’t understand.

They take a day of sick leave rather than admit to being off because of pet bereavement.

Many of those facing up to such sadness want spiritual reassurance; some people believe in an afterlife.

RELATED: Gabby, a story of everlasting love

In the world of pet bereavement, this is often referred to as “Rainbow Bridge”, based on a prose poem written by an anonymous author in the 1980s. “Rainbow Bridge” is mythical pet heaven.

RELATED: Toldo visits his late owner’s grave, everyday.

The spiritual side of pet bereavement is powerful.

And of course, there is something near unique about pet bereavement – the issue of having to decide when to let go (PTS). Many pet owners have had to make a decision that only tiny numbers ever have to make about a human relative – the decision to put your furbaby to sleep, with all the guilt that such thing entails.

RELATED: Is it time to let go?

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