5 Ways To Cope With The Death Of A Pet

5 Ways To Cope With The Death Of A Pet

The loss of a pet can bring as much grief as the loss of some human friends and family members.

This makes sense when you consider the role our animal companions play in our everyday lives. You cared for your pet’s every need and, because they could not speak, you learned to communicate in other ways. Such caring builds intimacy similar to that found between a parent and their infant; love without conflict, jealousy, or any of the other complications found in most relationships. So when a pet dies, the depth of your grief reflects your loss of a special relationship. 

 “When we lose a pet, we lose a relationship unlike any other,” says Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio (www.greengateleadership.com), a family therapist and author of The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice From Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups. 

 “Many of us love our pets the way we love our children. But in the immediate aftermath of this unique loss, too often family members and friends say things like, ‘Just get another one.’ Instead of devaluing your grief over the loss of this important relationship, as others may advise, embrace your sorrow. Your grief is important, for it will lead you to healing and teach you important things about what matters most in life.” 

Dolan-Del Vecchio offers these tips for those grieving the loss of a pet:

• Share your grief with empathetic friends. Spend time with people who understand your closeness with your pet. Even some friends may be insensitive, so be careful to avoid “get over it” types of people. “Unfortunately, many people see animals as if they were non-living objects,” Dolan-Del Vecchio says.

• Attend a pet loss support group. Pet loss groups provide a concentrated dose of social support. Meeting with others who also grieve and share similar emotions can boost one’s healing greatly.

• Keep moving. Exercise is a healer. It boosts feelings of well-being and calm, improves sleep and brightens your mood.

• Be creative. Whether you lean toward writing, scrapbooking, ceramics, photography or making collages, creative projects may contribute to healing.

• Spend time in nature. Nothing quiets the mind and soul like a stroll through a park, nature preserve, or by the seashore. “The natural world brings special benefits when your heart has been torn by grief,” Dolan-Del Vecchio says. “The sights, sounds, and smells of nature connect us to eternal, circular stories of life and death in ways that go beyond our usual thoughts and feelings, and this experience brings solace to many people.”

“It’s important to care for yourself when you’re grieving your pet,” Dolan-Del Vecchio says. “This requires some planning and acts of will, as grief can diminish energy and motivation. You can lessen your distress through self-care. Above all else, be gentle with yourself.”  

About Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio 

Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio (www.greengateleadership.com) is an author, speaker, family therapist, and leadership and life skills consultant. His books include Simple Habits of Exceptional (But Not Perfect) Parents, The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice From Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups, and Making Love: Playing Power: Men, Women, and the Rewards of Intimate Justice. Ken founded GreenGate Leadership® after retiring from his role as Vice President, Health and Wellness, at Prudential, where he was responsible for behavioral health services for the company’s 20,000 U.S. employees.
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Press Release: Wendy Van de Poll Releases New Book for Pet Professionals with Step-By-Step Guidelines for Providing Pet Grief Support

Wendy Van de Poll Releases New Book for Pet Professionals with Step-By-Step Guidelines for Providing Pet Grief Support

 

The Pet Professional’s Guide to Pet Loss: How to Prevent Burnout, Support Clients, and Manage the Business of Grief available on Amazon.com

Concord, NH –
Wendy Van de Poll, an international bestselling author of pet grief books for pet owners, as well as a speaker and Certified End of Life and Pet Loss Grief Coach, has released a comprehensive book for pet care professionals: The Pet Professional’s Guide to Pet Loss: How to Prevent Burnout, Support Clients, and Manage the Business of Grief.  Available on Amazon.com, the book helps veterinarians, pet sitters, groomers, dog trainers and other pet care professionals support their clients through grief, loss, and self-care without experiencing professional burnout.

Van de Poll’s life crumbled in 2013 when she received the news that Marley, her beloved Samoyed, had cancer. She, like all pet owners, was devastated to lose her best friend. During her last ten months with Marley, she did everything in her power to keep her comfortable.

“Marley taught me how to stand on my own and live a joyful life,” Van de Poll said. “This loss, and its impact on my life, inspired me to create the Center for Pet Loss Grief to help pet owners get through loss like I did.”

The Center serves pet owners going through the grieving process. It is a supportive, online community and resource for comfort, a better understanding of pet loss, and professional support for pet owners in all stages, from grief to funeral discussions and arrangements.

Van de Poll is a bestselling author who has written six books that assist pet owners with difficult emotions and transitions that come with pet loss. These books include supportive tools and compassionate guidance to help pet owners deal with their overwhelming grief. “I realized,” said Van de Poll, “that pet care professionals are key to helping pet owners during this difficult time, and the new book is intended to help those professionals.”

"Dealing with euthanasia, sudden death, dying issues, the loss of pets, and your own grief can upset the balance in your personal and professional life," explained Van de Poll. “This is why I sought to write a book that helps professionals to not only effectively support their clients within their practice through a compassionate approach but also to deal with their own grief.”

The book is available in softcover for $14.99 and Kindle for $7.99 on Amazon.com. The purchase of the book includes a free downloadable Pet Loss Grief Resource Packet with 10 Daily Loving Reminder Tips.

About Wendy Van de Poll

Wendy Van de Poll is a pioneering leader in the field of pet loss grief support. She is dedicated to providing a safe place for her clients to express their grief over the loss of their pets. A best selling author, speaker, animal communicator, and the founder of the Center for Pet Loss Grief, Van de Poll is also a Certified End-of-Life and Grief Coach, Pet Funeral Celebrant, Licensed Massage Therapist for humans and animals, and animal medium. She has a deep appreciation for animals and human interaction. Her previous books, available here, assist pet owners with the difficult emotions and transitions that come with pet loss. She also offers online courses through the Center for Pet Loss Grief on subjects including coping skills. Her latest book, The Pet Professional’s Guide to Pet Loss: How to Prevent Burnout, Support Clients, and Manage the Business of Grief, offers veterinarians, pet sitters, groomers, dog trainers and other pet care professionals the help they need to navigate times of grief with their own clients and to learn the importance of self-care in order to prevent professional burnout.

About the Center for Pet Loss Grief

The Center for Pet Loss Grief offers comprehensive support for pet owners and pet care specialists dealing with pet loss and grief. Established by Wendy Van de Poll in 2000, the online Center supports pet owners and pet professionals during the grieving process through an encouraging and compassionate community. For more information, please visit centerforpetlossgrief.com or connect with the Center for Pet Loss Grief on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

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Press Release: Equitable Crowdfunding For The Ultimate Animal Lover

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Product Review: Paw Pods

Paw Pods

Losing a pet is a very hard thing to do.  For most of us, our pets are family.  If only there were an affordable way to bury our little furry family with dignity and proper respect. 

Well, now there is.  The people over at PawPods have developed a biodegradable pet coffin designed to inter our loved ones in a way that is affordable and dignified. These pet coffins range from about $100-150 on Amazon.com.

No one wants to think about the time when our little family member will no longer be with us.  However, having a biodegradable way to protect them from other animals and the elements for a while is very comforting.  I wish we had one of these when we had to bury little Xerxes. It would have been much more comforting had we already had one on hand at the time. 

Paw Pods are made out of bamboo and rice and come with a sympathy card and seed packet as a way to remember our little fur babies. 

We were sent a complimentary Paw Pod.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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Guest Post: Paw Pods Make It Easier to Say Goodbye to a Beloved Pet

Paw Pods Make It Easier to Say Goodbye to a Beloved Pet

Paw Pods are bio-degradable pods allowing owners to bury their pets at home with a dignified, beautiful memorial. The pods can be decorated with paints, markers or stickers giving children and adults a way to express their grief in an expressive and therapeutic form. A seeded leaf of perennial flowers is included with every pod. Its annual blooms create a living memorial to a treasured friend.

Paw Pods recognizes that beyond the unconditional, pure loyal love and joy pets give us, their carbon footprint on our planet is next to none, so their afterlife should follow suit. All pods and urns are eco-friendly and made of bamboo powder, rice husk, and corn starch, designed to respectively degrade in 3-5 years after being introduced to the environment. Additionally, pet owners sometimes mistakenly flush what they believe is a dead fish down the toilet, when it’s in fact, very much alive. Those fish often wind up in lakes and rivers where they can introduce diseases to native fish and water sources. Paw Pods’ Fish Pod offers a safer way to lay pet fish to rest.

Paw Pods are extremely affordable, ranging in price from $9.99 to $149.99, a fraction of what traditional pet caskets cost.

Paw Pods Come in a Variety of Sizes:

Fish Pod – The loss of a fish may be a child’s first experience with death. These small fish shaped pods can help them avoid the trauma of seeing a pet flushed down the toilet. This also may serve as an important teaching tool for parents, death can be very difficult to explain, let alone comprehend for young children, make them a part of the process.

Medium-Sized Pod – Accommodates medium-sized pets including rabbits, cats and smaller dogs. This size pod is the most commonly used.

 

Additional Sizes - They love all animals, from a tiny hermit crab to a majestic Great Dane,  Paw Pods offers sizes for almost all pets.

Heart Shaped Urn – When burial space is limited or cremation is preferred, the heart shaped urn is a lovely option and can also be used as a display. 

Anyone that has ever owned a pet, sought out on that adventure for companionship, to expand their homes and to open their hearts, find solace in knowing you are reciprocating that unequivocal love and friendship.  

A bit about Paw Pods – Paw Pods is a company of pet owners and pet lovers dedicated to helping other pet owners navigate the painful experience of losing a treasured animal friend. It was started as a way to help its founder deal with his own grief after losing two of his cherished dogs and being severely disappointed in the way in which they were returned to him.  

You may not need them right now; but they want to be there when you do. Visit http://pawpods.com/ for more information.

Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
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A New Bridge Resident

Rest in peace, Bagel Bites. We'll sure miss you. :(

Bagel Bites - April 2013 - December 2016

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