This (see bottom link) came up in my memories today and I wanted to share it again.
Pets grieve for their owners who have passed away.
But consider also…
If a pet has had to move home because of this, think about just what else they have lost, as well as their owner:
– their home
– possible other pets in the household (if they are being split up)
– their routine walking grounds
– the doggie buddies and people that they maybe saw on walks
– all the familiarities they knew in the home – the smells, the furniture (maybe the settee they used to sleep next to their Mum/Dad), the environment outside of the home, the garden, the list goes on.
Everything will seem strange even if they come with their bed, bowls and toys!
This applies to cats and other animals too, apart from the things specific to dogs, obviously!
Their new owner may have a different morning and evening routine.
They may have other focuses, whereas perhaps Mum or Dad just had them as their primary focus, companion and soulmate.
Those evening snuggles over a cuppa with Dad recounting his day and perhaps how he felt are now gone.
The morning chats over the fence where they used to speak to Auntie Barbara and she’d throw ball for them….
Their old home may have been very quiet whereas their new home has other pets, children and more noise and goings on to acclimatise to alongside grieving.
On top of all that…
They may not have got any closure by being able to say goodbye to their owner, or been able to prepare because what happened may have been very sudden.
They may also have witnessed their owner going through suffering before their death, traumatic, an accident, or otherwise, and therefore may also be having to work through seeing, hearing and feeling their loved one suffer.
There is a lot more to grieve than their owner, so just become aware of this if you take on a pet that has lost someone.
What Can I do to Help?
Be gentle with them. Sympathise, step into their shoes, and consider fully all they have lost, and all they have gone through. Just love them for where they are at, and get help if you can feel they need some therapy or emotional release.
Ask anyone that would have known this pet before, or the rescue centre if from there, about their background, try and find out what you can about their routines, where they loved to walk, their environment, anything special their owner used to do with them, it may just help the transition at the time. Did they get to say goodbye? It might not always be possible though, I get that too.
Talk to your new pet with empathy and compassion about what has happened, how they may be feeling, and even how you might feel.
Make it safe for them to grieve, no pressure. Allow them the time to come to terms with all their losses and get used to all that is new, and start integrating in their own time and pace. <3
Link to post: Pets Grieve: Barking, ‘Aggressive’ Lurcher Helps Grieving Spaniel – Ametrine Holistics
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