The Road Ahead:
Dealing with the Loss of a Beloved Pet

My feisty little Tyke died just shortly before he turned 15. Tyke was a Pekingese, and an unrelentingly stubborn one at that; a fearless, tiny little munchkin of a dog with a huge attitude and a zest for life.

It took three of us to clip his nails. He'd rather starve then eat what he considered 'inferior' food. He refused to turn back on the same pathway on walks; we always had to do a loop or he'd dig in those tiny heels and refuse to budge. He would fearlessly approach the largest Great Dane. He snored - and I don't mean a gentle, cute snore - I mean a deep, gutteral rattle that started in his throat before it exploded through his nose in an ear-shattering rumble.

And when we finally helped him to the Rainbow Bridge after an illness, I was completely devastated. I missed work for several days and sunk into a terrible depression.

Because despite all his stubborn little traits, Tyke had so many great qualities. He was always thrilled to see me when I got home, whether I'd been gone 12 hours of 2 minutes. He calmly tolerated my constant attention - although when it got to be too much he'd crawl under the couch and fall asleep, snoring prodigiously. He'd sit quietly with me when I was sad. He'd perform ridiculous antics and make me laugh.

In short, Tyke was my friend, and for nearly 15 whole years of my life.

Every pet lover understands the terrible feelings of loss when a pet dies. You need time to grieve the loss of a beloved member of the family.

People without pets often don't understand at all. They may make callous remarks without meaning to, such as 'Oh, you can always get another cat' or 'He was just a dog; and now you don't have to complain about him shedding everywhere!' (someone actually said this to me).

While it's hurtful, people don't usually say these things to be nasty; they simply do not understand.

I found this to be the case in many ways. I had actually just started a new job when my little Tyke died; I tried to keep going to work because of a sense of obligation. It was no use - I couldn't concentrate, I was very weepy and prone to sudden and unexpected bouts of teariness.

Knowing that companies do not typically offer time off for the loss of a pet, I simply went to my boss and quietly stated that I'd just lost a good friend and needed to take a few days off. They gave it to me.

Everyone grieves in their own way. However, it may help you to talk to other pet lovers who have also suffered the loss of a beloved pet. These pet loss support groups are very supportive, and can help you through the difficult times ahead.

It's been five years now since Tyke journeyed to the Rainbow Bridge. Now instead of my heart constricting painfully every time I think of him, I can think back on his life with a smile.

Don't be afraid or ashamed to grieve for a pet. Regardless of what anyone else thinks, the loss of a pet is a very real loss and a very devastating one. Time does its part ... and instead of feeling sad over the loss of a friend, we can celebrate their life and the part they played in ours.