Creating A Dog Memorial In Memory Of Your Best Friend!

A dog memorial not only represents the love that we shared with our pet, but can also aid in the healing process.

The Loss

The loss of anything or anyone we love is overwhelming and we realize that just talking about it can be difficult. The loss of a pet is truly the hardest thing about owning a cat or dog.

I lost my first dog "Joe" to Parvo Virus when I was barely out of high school and for me this was my first encounter with death. That was thirty years ago and I remember how heart broken I felt. I felt a strong need to hold on to her memory and keep her close by. A homemade dog memorial was placed where we buried our girl "Joe". Although I really didn't want to find closure or to let go at all, I knew in my heart that it was necessary for me to move on.

Both me and my husband are avid dog lovers and we know all to well how difficult the process is of losing and grieving for a pet, a family member. We lost three of our dogs in eight years and for me it was nothing less than devastating. The same feeling that I had as a young girl losing her first old dog had resurfaced and it is still just as hard today as it was back then.

The Healing Process

Whether you lose a person or you lose a pet, part of the healing process must include talking about it and expressing your grief. It helps tremendously to talk with those that have gone through it, those that understand. This common denominator provides hope and security at a time when we're most vulnerable. Be gentle on yourself and allow yourself to grieve. Shy away from those that are critical of your feelings and surround yourself with those that understand how you feel.

Like I did as a young girl, don't confuse "closure" with "forgetting". Finding closure doesn't mean we forget, but instead, it allows us to remember and move on. Like others, a dog memorial helped me to come to terms with my loss and it still does today.

Should I Get Another Dog?

For many people the thought of getting another dog makes them feel that they are "replacing" their beloved friend. Yet for others it is critical to get another dog to fill the empty void.

For us, life has taught us the importance of grieving and surrendering to something we have no control over. Our dogs have taught us the importance of giving back, they have shown us how grateful a dog is to have someone love and care for them for all the days of their lives.

Losing something we love is the most difficult thing in life, on the other hand, gaining something we love is one of lifes treasures.

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