LIGHT OF LIFE

The tumultuous and complicated feelings of having lost an important part of your life and being deprived because of the passing of a furkid or feathered child can profoundly affect and devastate most involved. 

 

Although grief responses differ from one person to another, research has shown many predictable and expected ways of grieving [1]. 

 

Many of us are often overwhelmed by and cannot cope with our own grief due to our emotional attachment to our pets. 

 

Learning how to be comfortable with open (and sometimes dramatic) expressions of grief becomes very important for our staff, as well as owners alike, to cope with compassion fatigue, depression and general sadness [1]. 

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By understanding the grieving process, one can be better at comforting everyone, including oneself, during very distressing situation such as this. 

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There is actually no 'Right' or 'Wrong' way to grief.  The grieving process, including physical,  mental, emotional, social, and spiritual expressions, is a well documented cycle that should not be avoided or suppressed or scheduled [1]. 

 

Grief, is a necessary process, so do it for as long as you want and do not be ashamed about how you feel.

 

If you feel that these emotions are too overwhelming, you may need to talk to someone close to you or a trained psychological counsellor to verbalize your pain which can help you release the tension and other emotions.