Last month, we lost our three dogs to sickness. We only have three and my mom is keeping them as her company (she is a widow). Upon confirming that they are dead, she locked herself in her room. My brothers and sister asked me why she was acting weird.
To lose a pet is an overwhelming experience â what more if you lose three? However, most of our families and friends wouldnât understand the grief that losing a pet can give. Most people donât recognize it as a painful experience because a pet is considered as irreplaceable. However, like my mom, she has been with our dogs for the last 7 or 8 years and when I asked why sheâs crying, she said no longer have someone sitting next to her while sheâs drinking her coffee in the morning!
For my mom, her dogs were not just dogs that she feeds every day. They were her family. For us to sympathize, we told her to get a new dog or two if she wants. What we donât know is, asking her to do such doesnât help. Here are some things that you might want to consider in sympathizing with a friend or a loved one who lost a pet.
When sending a sympathy card or a simple text message to a friend who lost a pet, remember the following tips to make the message feels sincere and personal.
A petâs death is emotionally devastating. We might not see how it affects the grieving person physically, but we can tell by their action if they are affected with it emotionally. For this time, use your discerning power if it is okay to send funny sympathy messages. Funny sympathy messages can help to lighten up someoneâs mood while at the same time feeling your concern.
In fact, I tried it with my mom last month. I sent her a message via text telling her that if she misses Bogart, one her dogs, she can have me from time to time. She replied and said that I am no dog and that Bogart doesnât ask her to cook special recipes. If you decide to send such message, be sensitive to your friend or relativeâs feeling. If you think they will take your funny message the wrong, do not send it.
For someone who doesnât own any animal or pet, sympathizing with someone who just lost a pet is not easy. If you cannot sympathize, at least know the basic words that you canât just say to someone who lost a furry friend. Here are some words that you shouldnât just blurt out:
Above all, do not give someone who is grieving a pep talk on how to act after losing a pet. If you cannot sympathize, then it is best to observe proper grieving etiquette and let your grieving family member or friend be.
You have been identified as spam. Your internet provider has blocked your access to this website. Please contact them for assistance.