How to cope with loss of pet
 

Hi Pet Lovers,
On Thursday we had to put our cat Snickers to sleep.
He was a beautiful Maine Coon.
We are not doing well with our loss as we are trying to
sell our home to move to TV.
Want so much for Snickers to enjoy the hot Lanai
as he loved heat.

Mar/Bob

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure Snickers was one which was adorned with love and affection and was definitely one of the lucky ones. They steal our hearts and at the time they leave us, it is always hard to understand and say good bye. Thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

I'm so, so sorry for your loss. That much sadness tells me how much of a gift and a blessing she was in your lives.
Here is a site with very good poems and verses to comfort people who have lost a dear pet. And here is one verse from the site -
A Parting Prayer

Dear Lord, please open your gates
and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion
across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign her to a place of honor,
for she has been a faithful servant
and has always done her best to please me.

Bless the hands that send her to you,
for they are doing so in love and compassion,
freeing her from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss.
Help me remember the details of her life
with the love she has shown me.
And grant me the courage to honor her
by sharing those memories with others.

Let her remember me as well
and let her know that I will always love her.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise,
please allow her to accompany those
who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of her companionship
and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord,
for granting me the strength
to give her to you now.

Amen.

Rainbow Bridge
 

This is a help.

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Beautiful Quirky.

I agree that I can feel how much that kitty was loved and how she will be missed.

Sending prayers and love and every kind thought.

My eyes are filled with tears feeling your loss. Our "little ones" are such a big part of our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

God be with you. such a deep loss...
prayers for angel wings to lift you up.
remember the funny adorable things...
Kitty

Bless your heart. Fill the void ASAP.

Some people (moi) found that getting another dog or cat right away helped the healing process. Some feel that they need time and space. Whichever route you choose, there are plenty of adoptable dogs and cats at The pet supply stores on 441 in TV. I'm not allowed to go there...

I am so sorry for your loss.

Very sorry for your loss.

I have had to do that too many times.

Great story Z. Read it before and it still chokes me up.

I have usually gotten a dog (in my case) right away. After the last 2 that we had put down we took a break. Didn't matter - missed the two that were gone and got my next "Little Monster!"

:pray:

I know you loved Snickers so very much. It is always painful when we lose a loved one no matter what the circumstances. My heart goes out to you at this difficult time. He will be enjoying the wonderful lanai at the rainbow bridge from now on. So very sorry.

There are no words that can express your loss but The Rainbow Bridge site (rainbowbridge.com) does help. Maine Coons are a very special breed. I'm glad you had Snickers in your life and that she had you. She sounds like she was a very loved kitty. Many hugs.

There's no getting over losing a pet. I hope you find a solution that works for you. I am so sorry for your loss, as we've done that so much. Perhaps your next soul kitty is waiting for you at a rescue place. God bless.

Quirky, that's a beautiful verse. Mar/Bob, I hope that this beautiful offering from Quirky is of comfort to you. I am going to keep it handy because I find it comforting. I will always have pets, and I know I'll always have a broken heart when they pass over to the other side.

Mar/Bob, please accept my deepest sympathies. Losing a beloved family member is so painful. All of us who have loved and lost pets share your pain. I always find that creating a little "tribute" area helps me cope, usually with a picture, a candle, a collar or leash, perhaps a little statue, perhaps a copy of Quirky's verse. I just like to mark the passing in some way and honor my pet's memory.

Mar/Bob, so very sorry to hear of your loss. May I offer a poem(author unknown) from a dog's perspective that may provide some comfort. I sense that "Snickers" would think similar about you and Bob as the dog here in this poem:

"A Dog’s Last Will & Testament"

"Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, giving their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I’d ask…

To a poor and lonely stray I’d give my happy home; my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name.

I’d will to the sad, scared shelter cat the place I had in m human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and the pain is more than I can stand.”

Instead, go find an unloved cat, one whose life has held no joy or hope, andgive my place to him.

This is the only thing I can give…

The love I left behind."

Excellent poem Mainlander.

Gets the point across doesn't it?

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope your wonderful memories of Snickers can ease the hurt of losing him.

Thank you for sharing this, it brought tears to my eyes also having to put down 2 cats in my life so far...
Prayers and thoughts to OP...:pray::pray:

loved your reply mainlander. It's an individual decision but there are just so many animals in need. I found it best to not try to find one just like the one that passed...you can't replace the one you lost, but you can honor their memory by giving a good home to another when you are ready. so sorry for your loss.

Mary Ann, I am so sorry to hear about Snickers. Snickers will live forever in your heart. I know you are getting ready to sell your home and hopefully will be in TV soon, but once you get to TV, you may be ready to give another fur baby a new home.

I was in your shoes in early April having to put my almost 16 year old cat, Magic, to sleep. I still miss him, but just over 3 weeks ago after returning from my visit to TV, I adopted another wonderful kitty, Molly. She puts a smile on my face with her little meows. And Molly has inherited Magic's very healthy appetite. In fact Molly is less picky about her wet food than Magic was.

So as others have said, Snickers is waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. And when the time is right, consider adopting another fur baby. Until I started researching cats for adoption in early May, I had no idea of the number of pets out there needing a good home. Hugs to you.

Everyone grieves differently
Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. Some people find grief comes in stages, where they experience different feelings such as denial, anger, guilt, depression, and eventually acceptance and resolution. Others find that grief is more cyclical, coming in waves, or a series of highs and lows. The lows are likely to be deeper and longer at the beginning and then gradually become shorter and less intense as time goes by. Still, even years after a loss, a sight, a sound, or a special anniversary can spark memories that trigger a strong sense of grief.

The grieving process happens only gradually. It can’t be forced or hurried—and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.
Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal reaction to the loss of a beloved pet. Exhibiting these feelings doesn’t mean you are weak, so you shouldn’t feel ashamed.
Trying to ignore your pain or keep it from surfacing will only make it worse in the long run. For real healing, it is necessary to face your grief and actively deal with it. By expressing your grief, you’ll likely need less time to heal than if you withhold or “bottle up” your feelings. Write about your feelings and talk with others about them.

While what you say makes perfect sense, it's not the way it happened for me. Our first dog was 13 when he died. I could not stop grieving for this big furry friend. Finally after two months I decided that "facing my grief" would be a heckuva lot easier with another puppy running around. And it was. I finally stopped crying and could start remembering all the good times we shared with him.