Dogs aren’t just called our pets. Many dog owners will claim that they are part of the family. However, it is sad that a dog’s lifespan is shorter than a human’s. Depending on the breed, a dog can live for only 10 to 13 years on average, though there are dogs who can live up to 19 or 20 years at most.
Our beloved furbabies can’t be with us for long. When they pass away, it is just as hard as losing a family member, or another loved one. It is true! Almost all dog lovers who consider their pets as part of their family mourn over their deaths. Some people who are oblivious to how we feel try to console us with, “It’s just a dog.” or “You need to move on.”
Some people just don’t get it. Losing a dog you considered a part of your family will never be easy. Although it is inevitable, it is easier said than done. Starting over with another dog is harder than expected.
Research proves that a person’s feelings when a dog passes away are real pain, and it’s valid. Some dog owners find it more difficult to move on from the passing of a beloved dog than losing a human loved one. It sounds absurd, but it is one of the many aspects discovered from scientific research.
We normally bond with our beloved furbabies the same way we do with our family and friends. It is not hard to get emotionally attached when we spend time with a family member, a friend, or even an animal. With each passing day, our furbabies become dear to us. So, when the time comes, and they cross the rainbow bridge, the pain we feel is real and immeasurable.
The question is, “Why is it harder to overcome the loss of a pet compared to the passing of a human?”
Always remember that there is no “acceptable” way to mourn the loss of a beloved pet. However, there are ways to get over the loss of a loved one. We can resort to family members, close friends, or acquaintances to help us through the ordeal. People who have experienced the same loss could help us get over the pain. Slowly, we can move on.
Counseling or therapy can help with our grief when a human loved one passes. Talking to the therapist helps ease the pain we feel inside, and we are never judged for it. However, when a pet who is so dear to us passes away, we are expected to just “let go and forget.” Some people have no idea of the pain we are going through, the loss of a pet that we have created beautiful memories with. They do not understand the pain of loss we are undergoing just as much as we do not understand why it is so easy for them to say such things.
Additionally, we can’t delay things, postpone outings, cancel meetings, and be absent from work due to the loss of a cherished furry loved one. It would be a poor excuse. Since there are not many resources that could help you get through the pain, we have no other choice but to hide our feelings. Some people would mock our ordeal and ridicule our grief. All we have left is to conceal how we feel… unbearable damage within.
“When we lose a loved one, we also lose a source of comfort and unconditional love,” Psychologist Julie Axelrod said.
When they are no longer around, you feel the pain when you remember all the things you used to do with them. That hole in your heart is just unbearable! When we talk to family and friends about the things that we used to do with our furbabies, walking them outside, feeding them, cuddling with them, and even reading them a book, it makes us feel happy to reminisce. Once they cross the rainbow bridge, those daily routines are gone forever, and you can never ignore the sudden changes in your daily activities and the pang of pain you feel occasionally.
Do you also remember those movie or TV scenes that remind you of the existence of someone who’s already gone? It’s unbelievable but true. It happens in real-life situations, too. It is inevitable. The little details you see everywhere, even at home, will remind you of them almost every day.
It is normal to feel sad when you remember a beloved furbaby that has passed. Always remember that your feelings are valid, and it is okay to admit that you are ‘not okay’ when your feelings are real.
▼ Watch the video below to learn more details about how losing a cherished dog can be as painful as losing a human loved one:
Credits to: VOX/YouTube
Images credits: © PEXELS
