My family's dog is very sick and in the veterinary
hospital. Things are looking like we're going to have to put her down soon.
We've had her since I was 7, and I'm gonna miss her so much. Do you have any
ideas on how I can cope?
I’m so sorry, girlie! Losing a family member is so tough—and
that’s exactly what a pet is. There aren’t any quick fixes, but here are a
couple of ways to make sure you don’t forget her (like that could ever happen!)
without getting bogged down by grief.
Set aside a few keepsakes
I’m sure you have some fab pics of you and your pup from way
back when…maybe even from just a few weeks ago. Place them in a box along with
some her favorite things: a collar, a leash, a plush toy. Now you’ll have her
with you forever in spirit.
Here’s the hard part: Put ‘em away
Once you’ve moved on, you’ll be able to look at these
memories and recall the good times. But for now, it’ll be difficult to glance
at these reminders every day without getting emotional. Put them aside and give
yourself a chance to heal.
Get closure
If you don’t want to be at the vet’s office when your
parents have to put her down, that’s totally fine. When my first pooch passed,
I couldn’t be there, either. But if you do
decide to bring her back home—and you should have a choice—whether to bury her
in the backyard or to scatter her ashes, doing so can make moving on easier.
Another sweet idea is to make a donation in your dog’s name to a local animal
shelter or the ASPCA.
Find a new love
Eventually, you’ll being to long for another dog. You’ll
miss the companionship, the confidences, the playtime and the unconditional
love. Feel like you’re cheating on your No. 1 pet? Don’t, girlie, ‘cause it’s
not true. You could never replace your doggie, but you can give another pup a
great life with you and your fam.
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BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 1/12/2011 12:12:00 PM
POSTED IN pets, dealing with death