Pet loss is one of the worst things to happen to anyone. It’s not just losing an animal, it’s losing a pure soul that made your day every single time you saw them. They give you that joy and comfort no one else could, and once they’re gone, the joy and comfort you once felt perishes along with them. What can you do when your pet dies?
Unfortunately, there’s no way around this. It’s the cycle of life, and what’s come into this existence must also leave. That doesn’t make it any easier. So, here is a step-by-step guide on what to do when your pet dies.
#1 – Allow Yourself to Grieve
Let it all out. Cry until there are no tears left in your eyes. It’s okay. Releasing your emotions is incredibly important. Don’t repress them, and let them boil deep within you. Get it out.
When your pet dies, there are so many things running through your head. What you did, what you didn’t do, what you could’ve done. It can all be extremely overwhelming, and pushing it down will only make it worse. Let yourself go, and feel how overwhelmed you are with grief, frustration, sadness, and all the other emotions you may be feeling.
It may take a long time. It probably will. You can cry for weeks, and months, but that’s okay. There is no limit to the grief you should feel for losing your best friend, even if others tell you otherwise. Letting it all out is your first step to healing from this trauma.
#2 – Memorialize Your Pet
Your pet mattered deeply, and their love and presence were unique to your life. If keeping their memory alive in your heart helps you heal, then let memorializing them be your second step to take when your pet dies. Memorializing isn’t just about holding onto their memory—it’s about honoring the bond you shared and celebrating the joy they brought into your life.
This could take the form of keeping something tangible that holds special meaning, like their favorite toy, collar, or even their cozy blanket that still carries their scent. You might choose to keep their ashes in an urn, displayed in a spot where you can feel close to them. For some, planting a tree or flowers in their memory creates a living tribute—a symbol of growth and renewal even amidst loss.
You could also create a scrapbook or photo album filled with their pictures and the little stories that make you smile when you think of them. Write down your favorite memories: the silly quirks that made them unique, the times they comforted you when no one else could, or their funniest habits. These small acts of remembrance can help keep their essence alive in your heart, especially during the early days when it’s too painful to imagine life without them.
Memorializing your pet is a deeply personal act, so there’s no right or wrong way to do it. The goal is to create something that helps you feel connected to their spirit. By keeping their memory close, you’ll carry a piece of their love with you forever—even when they’re no longer by your side.
#3 – Talk to Someone
It’s always good to talk to someone about your feelings. When your pet dies, there are too many emotions for you to keep it all in. Besides, repressing your grief, and keeping it to yourself is incredibly damaging, and you should express your pain to others.
Talk to anyone. Your mom, your best friend, or your therapist if you have one. Make sure there is someone there who will understand what you’re going through, and will be there as your journey through your grief. These people truly care about, and will be more than willing to be your crutch throughout your journey out of this pain. They won’t disregard the agony you feel, and will understand how close you kept your pet to your heart.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone in your real life, you could try venting online forums and social media, like Reddit, or TikTok. There are numerous people online who would’ve gone through the same thing you are going through, and they can lend you their sympathies and advice. The people there don’t know you, and they don’t need to. You can connect on this shared experience, and heal along with them, without even sharing too much of yourself.
#4 – Practice Self-Care
It’s quite common for people to entirely disregard their personal health when grieving. Don’t let it happen to you. As much you may feel your purpose stripped from you when your pet dies, it is important to keep yourself healthy. You still have a life to live, and a memory to keep of your beloved pet. Here are some ways you should be practicing self-care during this time:
- Eating Healthy – Make sure you are eating good and healthy food that will nourish you. Junk food will only depress you more, with those consuming unhealthy foods being more likely to suffer from depression. and eating too much or not enough will further weaken you during your most vulnerable time.
- Practicing Hygiene – Make sure you are still cleaning your body, face, and treats, maintaining the hygienic practices you’ve had previous. Uncleanliness will leave you in a hole of spiraling depression, and you don’t want yourself left in a place beyond return.
- Exercising Regularly – Exercise is a great mood booster, stimulating your mind and body. Keeping your body healthy is very important when your mind is so fragile, and you have to make sure to stay active to avoid illness and injury, as depression is often linked to its physically detrimental symptoms.
Your health is important. It’s not “selfish” to take care of yourself because they are gone. You gave them love and security while they were alive, and they loved you for that. Your pet wouldn’t do anything more than for you to provide that to yourself while they’re gone. Take care of yourself, because you’re the one who will remember them.
#5 – Be Positive
Positivity is key in a time of such grief. It may seem like you can never be happy again, but it’s okay, because you can. At the end of the day, your life must move on, no matter how hard it may seem. Being positive is the best way to heal.
Instead of dwelling on the time of their passage, remember all the good memories with your pet. Remember the moment you got them, their first snow day, and the times they chewed your curtains. Remember how they made you smile and laugh, and how they were there to make you feel better when you were down. Keep their memory one of vibrant joy, not the dull despair of their passing.
There are multiple ways you can keep these memories. You could, of course, just think them out, but you could also preserve them in other ways. Journaling, for example, is an incredible way to preserve these happy memories. You can have everything written down just the way you remember it to look back and ponder on when you’re feeling lonely. Another option is creating an album or scrapbook for your pet, with pictures of all the best times you had with them.
You loved your pet, and they loved you. You gave them a wonderful life, which they enjoyed until the very end by your side. Just remember that.
#6 – Redirect Your Love
There’s an emptiness from the love you used to give your pet, which has nowhere else to go now. Don’t let it dwell, and rot away your heart. Find a different way to channel your love, so that you can be happy and fulfilled while honoring your pet.
This can mean many things to many people. Just think about what you can do, and what you would genuinely like to do. You could donate sweaters to animal hospitals, or volunteer at animal shelters. You could go to pet playtimes to help out with socialization or “babysit” the pets in your area.
The final option would be getting a new pet. A new animal deserving of the love and comfort you gave your last. There are numerous animals in rescue centers and shelters that are in desperate need for a better life and a loving home. If you are ready, find another animal to give your love and energy to.
Hey, if you’re not ready for this final option, it’s okay. You aren’t ready to replace your pet, and you may never be. That’s totally okay. Just know that you gave your animal an amazing life, and that love is not lost, just needs a different direction to move in. Take your time, and do everything only when you’re ready for it.
Conclusion
The loss of a pet is some of the worst pain anyone can go through. People may say it’s “just an animal”, but you know it’s not true. That was an animal full of love and joy, and a life that you valued so much. Losing that can feel like the end of the road, but it isn’t.
Know that their story ended happily. They had an amazing time with you, and you did everything to make them feel at home. Don’t be sad they aren’t here anymore. Be happy that they lived a life worth living, and that you did your best to help them to their very end.
