Like many people, I’ve always loved animals. As far back as I can remember, pets were something more than animals living in my house. They were furry, four legged healers that seemed to know just what to do to make me feel better on my worst days.
That’s why it hurt so much when I lost my dog, Max.
I remember how quiet it was after he passed. No more joyful pups bounding up to greet me whenever I walked through the door. No more tail wagging or licking faces. I didn’t have to clean up after him, but I missed seeing him roam from room to room keeping me company.
I cried pretty much every day for weeks. Sometimes it would sneak up on me, too. I’d see his toy on the ground, stumble across one of our old pictures, or walk by where he used to sleep. All of a sudden, I would feel that grief creep up my chest and take over.
My healing journey was kind of hilarious because it wasn’t linear at all. Some days I felt like I was on top of the world. Other days it felt like I took zero steps forward. However, healing did happen. It’s not that I forgot about Max. Healing happened because I finally learned how to hold on to all the love without getting swallowed whole by grief. If you’ve ever had a beloved pet pass away, I hope these ten things help you start feeling better too.
10 Things That Helped Me Start Healing After Loss of Pet
1. Allowing Myself to Grieve Without Feeling Embarrassed
I’ll never forget when I realized that the first mistake I made was telling myself I shouldn’t feel this bad.
“He was just a dog,” I would say to myself. “You can get another puppy anytime.”
But it wasn’t true. Max was my furry companion for years. He was there through hard days at work, birthdays, moments when I just needed someone to sit beside me and listen. He was my dog. Losing him was heartbreaking.
The day I stopped apologizing for my pain is the day that I truly began healing from pet loss. If you’ve lost your best friend, allow yourself to grieve. Don’t feel embarrassed about spending a few extra minutes cuddling with their blanket or talking to them like they can still hear you. Your love was unconditional, so your pain is valid.
Read also: 58 Healing From a Narcissistic Relationship Quotes
2. Looking at Old Photos Instead of Avoiding Them
I couldn’t stand looking at pictures of Max at first. Every time I would see his smiling face, it felt like my heart would rip in two.
Looking at old pictures actually made me feel worse for a while. Then one night, I realized that maybe I was making things harder on myself by avoiding them.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through picture after picture. Instead of thinking about how he was gone, I reminisced about all the fun times we spent together.
The tears still came, but they were happy tears. Looking at old photos and celebrating your memories can be very healing.
Read also: 15 Tips on How to Journal for Healing
3. Talking About Him With Other People
I kept my sorrow private for quite some time. I didn’t want anyone to tell me it would be okay or that “he was just a pet.”
Then I started opening up to others about Max and realized that almost everyone I knew had lost a pet at some point. Once I broke the ice, friends and family loved sharing stories about their beloved pets with me!
Talking about my pup helped me feel less alone. It also helped keep his memory alive by recounting stories.
Read also: 15 Essential Steps to Start Your Healing Journey
4. Creating a Small Tribute in His Memory
I’ll never forget creating a small memorial for Max to help me grieve.
I took one of his photos and placed it in a frame. Next to it, I put his collar and one of his favorite toys. Now I had a special spot that I could go to when I wanted to remember him.
Creating pet memorial ideas and grief rituals like this one helped me heal. I know not everyone wants to create physical reminders, but finding a way to honor your pet can be very meaningful.
5. Understanding That Grief Has No Timeline
If I learned anything throughout this whole experience, it’s that grief does not have a timetable.
I kept telling myself that I should be over it by now. “Why am I still crying over my dog?” I would ask myself.
Well, sweet lady, there is no telling your body when it’s okay to feel sadness. Some days will be better than others. That’s just fine.
6. Writing Down My Feelings
This one really helped me! I found it difficult to vocalize everything I was feeling about losing my dog.
But one day I opened up my notebook and began writing to Max. I poured my heart out onto those pages until I had no more tears left to cry.
Writing can be very therapeutic when you’re grieving. Don’t be afraid to let your feelings out on paper.
7. Letting Go of Guilt
Before I had even realized it, I began blaming myself for things that were out of my control.
“What if I had noticed sooner?” “Should I have taken him to the vet more often?”
These types of questions will eat away at you if you let them. What helped me was practicing self compassion and emotional healing.
I had done everything I could for Max while he was here, and that’s all anyone can ask of their pet parents.
8. Spending Time in Nature
I don’t know about you, but some of my best healing took place outside.
I loved going on walks at the park and lying under a big old tree just thinking about life. Nature has a funny way of making you feel at peace when you need it most.
Allowing myself time outside to heal helped me feel ready to smile again.
9. Accepting That Missing Them Is Part of Love
If there’s one thing I had to realize, it was that healing doesn’t mean you won’t feel sad anymore.
I thought once I got “over it,” I wouldn’t have these horrible pangs of sadness when I thought about Max. But that’s not how it works!
I would still find myself missing him from time to time, but it didn’t hurt as bad as it used to. It’s okay to still miss your pet.
10. Focusing on Gratitude for the Time We Had
When I first began grieving, I could only think about all the things I would never get to do with Max again.
But as time went on, I shifted my focus. Instead of thinking about everything we lost, I thought about everything we had.
Oh boy, did we have an amazing time together! Focusing on the good times helped me regain perspective. I would always remember Max because of the incredible memories we made.
Final Thoughts
Losing a pet can break your heart into a million pieces. If you’re reading this, you know how painful it can feel when your furry companion is gone. They’re not just animals in your house. They become your daily routines, your treasure chest of happy memories, and your loyal family members.
Healing from pet loss takes time, and there is no right way to grieve. Some days will feel great, while others you may take three steps backward. It’s all part of the process.
What truly helped me was realizing that healing doesn’t mean forgetting about your pet. Instead, healing means learning how to let their memory live somewhere else in your heart.
You will always love your pet, but that hurt will start to heal as you thank them for the time you had together.
Save the pin for later
