How can you help someone cope with a loss of a pet?

Question

Please No dumb jokes.
My aunt has a dog that is dieing of cancer. She does not have the money to spend to get him better and he is an old dog. She found out like a day ago and is planing to put him to sleep tomarrow. I have known him and loved him, for 14 years now. I know that things like this happen, but I was wondering If anyone can give suggestions on how i can help her cope?

Answer 1

i'm so sorry for your & your aunt's loss - it is devastating to lose a family member, especially so suddenly. when i was facing the loss of my 17 yr old dog, i found this website:
http://groups.msn.com/InMemoryofTigger/welcome1.msnw
and the support of everyone there was tremendous. there are links to ways of helping someone cope, poems, journals, stories, places to put pictures or you can just talk to someone else who's been there too.

if you're able to, go to the vet with her (or arrange for someone else to be there) so she doesn't have to go alone. overall your willingness to listen, talk about her baby & show that you understand her grief is what will help her get thru such a difficult time.

in my dog's final days, one of the things that was suggested to me was to take many many pictures. and then, when i thought i had enough, take some more. even though my dog was sick and didn't look as robust as when she was in her prime, when i look back on those photos i sit and stare at how beautiful she was. sick or not, she was my girl and any photo of her alive is precious. i also went to the craft store and bought a kit to make a small cement garden stone. it was easy to do, took very little time, and i was able to decorate it by putting her dog tag on it and pressing her paws into it for the pawprints. it sits out back where she is buried and when i feel particularly lonely for her company, i go back there and visit. maybe these are things that would be a comfort to your aunt.

peace to you & your aunt.

Answer 2

Just be there for her, allow her to talk about the dog. Reminisce about all the fun times with the dog, all the cute things it has done. Tell her the dog knows how much she loved it and that she is doing the right thing by not letting it suffer. Maybe in a few days or week(s) you might want to suggest another dog, it won't replace her beloved dog, however taking in another dog could bring her some joy. Especially if she rescues a dog who otherwise might not have a chance. But basically be there for her and don't deny the pain she is feeling (but since you are asking this question it is obvious you would not be doing that anyway.)

Answer 3

When you go to the vet, let the dog know that the vet is going to help him feel better. Explain the process to the dog a step ahead of the vet. Hold the dog and comfort him during the process. Wish him a good rest. Take him home and have a funeral for him just like you would any other family member. Talk about the great times you had together and how much you will miss him. Do this for as long as it takes.

Answer 4

If you have any pictures of her dog, put together a little picture album or picture board. Show it to her and start sharing stories about her dog. Relive old memories. Talk about the first day she got the dog, or any other memorable experiences. Just ignoring it or trying to get her mind off of her dog isn't going to help. Your aunt is going to be seriousley sad for awhile. When people have pets for that long, when they die, its almost like a part of them dies, too. My mom has a very close friend whose dog had to be put to sleep after 15 years. Her friend was devestated, and my mom was just there for her all through it. They talked about her dog and told stories about her. Talking about your aunts dog with her might help her, too. She'll want to remember her dog as being strong and healthy--not sick and dying. Maybe you could spend the night with your aunt on the night that her dog gets put down. You can just be there for her and tell her that her dog is in a better place. Tell her that her dog is watching over her and waiting for her. Now her dog doesn't have to suffer and I'm sure that's exactly what your aunt would want. Good luck & I'm so sorry about your aunt's dog!

Answer 5

I am so sorry for your aunt, for you and for the dog.

Just let her know how much the dog will be missed, and how you understand how devastating this is for her.

Keep telling her what a good life he had and what a great dog mom she was.

Other than that, there really isn't much you can do. She has to go through the grieving process.

Offer to go to the local animal shelters with her when she is ready to find a new doggy companion.

Answer 6

Be there for her and be supportive. Understand that this is going to be very emotional for her. Try to do things to take her mind off of it. Give her the poem called the Rainbow Bridge....Here it is:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Answer 7

One thing that really helped me was several of my friends made a donation in my pet's name to the local animal shelter. When I got the cards from the shelter notifying me, it made me feel really good that the death of my pet helped other unfortunate pets.
Another thing, my sister made me a candle with my cat's picture on it and her birth and death dates. That was really special.
One friend brought me a Gebera daisy plant in her memory.
All of these things helped a lot. But I guess the nicest thing was my next door neighbor. She sat with me in the yard for a long time the day after Whiskey died and just let me cry and talk.

Answer 8

COPING WITH THE LOS OF A PET IS ALMOST IF NOT LIKE LOSING A LOVED ONE AND BUYING A NEW PET DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK the best way that i have coped with the lose of a family pet is time and rembering the pet and all the fun i had with the pet

Answer 9

My sympathies. I just lost my 17 y.o. cat. Some things I found very helpful were sincere, genuine, phone calls or emails from people saying they heard and they were sorry for my loss. My cat sitter had heard and left towels with cats on them on my doorstep; that was a nice surprise. Sympathy cards for pets are sweet. Just let her know you are just as sad and you feel her pain.

Answer 10

Pray. My dog had a brain comba....But you really get over it. I know your thinking but I never well! It is SO hard! My dad had to put her asleep