Comments on: Coping With the Loss of a Pet http://www.otrib.com/plan/2006/12/13/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet/ plan, notify, honor Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:42:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dale Carter http://www.otrib.com/plan/2006/12/13/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Dale Carter Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:12:34 +0000 http://www.otrib.com/plan/?p=6#comment-1032 I too want to say thank you very much for the posting. Our Australian Shepherd died right before Thanksgiving in 2006. We had to have him put down due to medical reasons. Our vet did it in such a compassionate way. She put a blanket down on the floor and my husband and I both held Caleb in our arms as she gave him the shot. My husband sobbed uncontrollably for a very long time in that office. He had not cried like that at the deaths of his parents. This alarmed me at first but it was just part of his grieving. They let us stay and say our good-byes. We decided to have him cremated; and they spread his ashes on a rose garden. This gave us a lot of comfort. Also, friends sent us beautiful cards and notes. My husband had pretty much decided not to get another dog. Then one day that next March, our vet called and said they had found an Australian Shepherd puppy roaming the streets and would we like to come and see him. My daughter and I went to meet him; the vet offered for us to keep him just for the weekend; my husband said ok. My husband bonded with that little puppy immediately. Zeus has been with us now for 5 years and is much loved. As the comments state above, everyone's situation and reaction is unique. I too want to say thank you very much for the posting. Our Australian Shepherd died right before Thanksgiving in 2006. We had to have him put down due to medical reasons.

Our vet did it in such a compassionate way. She put a blanket down on the floor and my husband and I both held Caleb in our arms as she gave him the shot. My husband sobbed uncontrollably for a very long time in that office. He had not cried like that at the deaths of his parents. This alarmed me at first but it was just part of his grieving. They let us stay and say our good-byes.
We decided to have him cremated; and they spread his ashes on a rose garden. This gave us a lot of comfort. Also, friends sent us beautiful cards and notes.

My husband had pretty much decided not to get another dog. Then one day that next March, our vet called and said they had found an Australian Shepherd puppy roaming the streets and would we like to come and see him. My daughter and I went to meet him; the vet offered for us to keep him just for the weekend; my husband said ok. My husband bonded with that little puppy immediately. Zeus has been with us now for 5 years and is much loved.

As the comments state above, everyone’s situation and reaction is unique.

]]> By: Animal Chaplain Nancy Cronk http://www.otrib.com/plan/2006/12/13/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Animal Chaplain Nancy Cronk Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:31:18 +0000 http://www.otrib.com/plan/?p=6#comment-124 Dear Friends, As the Chair of the Interfaith Association of Animal Chaplains, I am grateful for your article post, as well as the last comment. I think both are accurate. For many families, waiting to allow time for the normal grief process to occur, is very healing. Of course there are times when a family or individual may wish to adopt another animal after a beloved pet's death. Why? There are simply too many unwanted pets in the world, and adopting a new pet is a good deed. I think this decision will vary with each person or family, and only they know what is best for them. It is widely reported, however, that grieving pet owners find suggestions to adopt a new pet right away as insensitive. Please keep this in mind when consoling a friend or relative. Opening our hearts and loving is never the wrong thing to do. Each person will do so on his or her own time, and should not be rushed. To anyone who reads this who may be suffering from the pain of the loss of a beloved animal friend, please stop by and visit AnimalChaplains.com. We have many grief support resources available to you. Yours in peace and loving friendship, Nancy Cronk, Animal Chaplain AnimalChaplains.com Dear Friends,

As the Chair of the Interfaith Association of Animal Chaplains, I am grateful for your article post, as well as the last comment. I think both are accurate. For many families, waiting to allow time for the normal grief process to occur, is very healing. Of course there are times when a family or individual may wish to adopt another animal after a beloved pet’s death. Why? There are simply too many unwanted pets in the world, and adopting a new pet is a good deed. I think this decision will vary with each person or family, and only they know what is best for them.

It is widely reported, however, that grieving pet owners find suggestions to adopt a new pet right away as insensitive. Please keep this in mind when consoling a friend or relative.

Opening our hearts and loving is never the wrong thing to do. Each person will do so on his or her own time, and should not be rushed.

To anyone who reads this who may be suffering from the pain of the loss of a beloved animal friend, please stop by and visit AnimalChaplains.com. We have many grief support resources available to you.

Yours in peace and loving friendship,
Nancy Cronk, Animal Chaplain
AnimalChaplains.com

]]> By: Rolinda http://www.otrib.com/plan/2006/12/13/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Rolinda Wed, 27 Dec 2006 05:43:57 +0000 http://www.otrib.com/plan/?p=6#comment-2 I need a copy of a memorial service for a pet. I need a copy of a memorial service for a pet.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.otrib.com/plan/2006/12/13/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-1 Lisa Tue, 26 Dec 2006 13:48:31 +0000 http://www.otrib.com/plan/?p=6#comment-1 I can understand the wisdom of waiting to get a new pet, but my personal experience was that the act of getting a new kitten the day after our beloved cat Hobo was killed by a car was the best thing our family could do. In our grief, we were able to welcome a tiny kitten into our home... an adorable reminder of the beauty of our first cat and a clear example of the circle of life. Our joy at the new kitten's antics and cuteness in no way diminished our love or memories for Hobo, but rather helped us deal with our grief in a way that worked for all of us. Barbu outlived Hobo by 11 years. I would say that Hobo would have been happy for us. I can understand the wisdom of waiting to get a new pet, but my personal experience was that the act of getting a new kitten the day after our beloved cat Hobo was killed by a car was the best thing our family could do. In our grief, we were able to welcome a tiny kitten into our home… an adorable reminder of the beauty of our first cat and a clear example of the circle of life. Our joy at the new kitten’s antics and cuteness in no way diminished our love or memories for Hobo, but rather helped us deal with our grief in a way that worked for all of us. Barbu outlived Hobo by 11 years. I would say that Hobo would have been happy for us.

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