Help other pets

One way of processing your grief and paying tribute to your pet could be giving care and attention to other pets in need. Either at a shelter or if you’re ready, by fostering. With over 112 thousand animals taken in by RSPCA Australia between 2019-2020, shelters are always requiring an extra pair of hands on deck. If you’re wondering what volunteering at a shelter could entail, this could consist of dog walking, cuddling, crate cleanings and even administrative work. 

When you volunteer, you get the sense you’re a part of something bigger. Your help won’t go unnoticed and you’ll know that as a volunteer, you’re working with animals so they can become adoptable in the future. You’ll also see how far your love and care goes towards helping those animals.

Every time you interact with the animal, you are teaching it trust and valuable socialisation skills. Over time, their personality will shine, and there’s no better reward than knowing you’ve helped an animal come out of its shell.

Be consistent with self-care

A part of taking time to grieve is to make sure you’re practising self-care. Not showering, cleaning your home and choosing to not leave your house are all symptoms of depression. It’s important to continue taking care of yourself, especially during difficult times like now. You can even incorporate self relieving activities like walking in nature, reading a book or taking a bath. So try to be consistent with taking care of yourself. Your body and mind will appreciate it in the long run. If you think you may need help, speaking to someone you trust or a professional can be beneficial.

Seek professional help 

During periods of grief and intense loss, we can without a doubt benefit from the help of a trained professional. What prevents people from accessing professional help is typically the feelings of shame and the stigma surrounding seeking help. Rember, there is nothing shameful about reaching out for help. These services are there to help, and make a fundamental impact in helping people manage and improve their emotions and trauma. When searching for a therapist who’s a good fit for you, look for a psychotherapist who’s experienced in pet loss.  

Reach out to others who understand

We naturally gravitate towards others who have shared similar life experiences to us. Sharing lived experiences has also been recognised professionally as being an important part of mental health treatment and recovery. After losing a pet, it may help if you spend more time with friends or family members who have also lost a pet. Around these people, you realise you're not the only one who has felt this and feel a sense of acceptance and a level of authentic empathy. 

  When a pet passes, it’s normal to feel racked by grief and loss. In fact, it would be a little abnormal if we didn’t bat an eyelid. Like the other losses we’ve encountered through life, pet bereavement will lessen and get easier over time. The most important thing to remember is there are coping mechanisms to help you along the way. Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally, seeking a professional therapist and surrounding yourself with people who have experienced the same are just some of the things we can do while we heal. 

If you’ve recently lost a pet and are wanting to commemorate their life, Patch and Purr are here to make the process of your pet's aftercare as easy as possible. We provide various pet aftercare options, so you can be assured there is something to suit you and your families memorial preferences. 

The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice.