Sadly, owning a pet must inevitably involve experiencing loss in some capacity. Losing a loved companion is a difficult and often unpredictable process; even for owners who know and are able to try to prepare themselves for it’s happening. And every individual will experience grief in different forms. In this blog we will talk about the different ways you can remember your dog after they are gone. And remind ourselves how it is important to acknowledge that processing and accepting your dog’s death will be a gradual and painful experience.
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Everyone and every dog is different
Firstly it is important to touch upon the fact that there are many different factors that will impact an individual’s reaction to loss of their pet. The nature of the relationship in question (for instance whether you saw your dog as a member of the family or if they were a working dog); the length of time you had with them; the circumstances surrounding the death itself; and the support network available to you will all play a role in how this loss impacts you compared with other people.
For that reason I think it is important to stress that you shouldn’t feel bad or wrong about the way this loss seems to be affecting you compared with other people you know who have also experienced loss of a pet. For some people, honouring their pet with small and simple gestures may help with the grieving process, at any stage that it feels right to do so. So here are some ideas for what you could do to remember your furry friend.
Keepsakes
If your dog has been euthanised at a vet practice then often the vet team, as part of their preparation of the body, take a clipping of fur or a pawprint impression. They will send this to you with a sympathy card as a sign of respect; and to add a nice touch to what they know is a very upsetting time. If this is the case then a lovely thing you could do with the fur clipping could be to place it in a nice locket or in a special box. In a similar way you could frame the pawprint impression or you or your children could make art out of it. For kids especially, encouraging an arts and crafts project in memory of your dog could be a very special way to help your kids understand what has happened.
Memory flowers
Another simple but meaningful gesture you could make would be to plant a flower in your garden or on your windowsill. Every time it blooms you can reflect about your dog with fondness. For instance, forget-me-nots are a very beautiful flower that could remind you of your pet every time you see it.
Burials and Memorials
If you choose either to cremate or bury your dog, both of these in their own ways can be very touching ways to remember your loved one. For instance, you could bury your dog in the garden with a plaque or stone. And visit it as often as you would like. With cremation, you could keep your dog’s ashes in an urn or scatter them in a special location; making what will become a nice memory out of a sad time.
There is also a variety of tasteful options for creating remembrance jewellery on Etsy, such as this one; which you can personalise with your dog’s name. If you know someone who is struggling with the recent loss of a pet, then something like this would mean a lot to them as a gift. This is because it shows that you have put thought and care into the idea.
Take time
Lastly, setting up small moments of reflection time into your daily routine can help with the grieving process due to the predictable nature of doing the same thing at the same time every day. It can help give you a focus. Especially as you may feel out of alignment now with the loss of your daily dog walk and feeding routines. For instance, continue going on your daily walk and spend this time to appreciate the beautiful things around you. In a similar way you could light a candle every evening and use this as reflection time.
Remember, everyone deals with loss differently, so don’t be hard on yourself. If you need help, there are plenty of pet bereavement services available. And your vet practice may be able to signpost others.
So there we have a variety of different ways you can remember your dog after they have passed. It is a difficult time, and you may go through waves of emotions. But remembering your dog with fondness and reflecting gratefully on the time you had together can be aided by these small and simple ideas.
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