Pet Loss | Filed under Friends
We love our animals so much, and it’s so hard to let them go. The loss of any beloved pet has a drastic impact on our lives and is equal to losing a human family member. Losing a little one causes extreme anguish and sorrow. This is a natural reaction when you lose a loved one, whether human or animal; and the stages of mourning are the same. Grievers feel the identical shock and denial, anger and guilt, sorrow and depression.
Yes, it is okay to cry! It’s okay to grieve over your loss. You have the right to grieve because you’ve lost a loyal companion and a best friend. You’ve lost a family member who gave you unconditional love and acceptance. You’ve lost the one who loved you no matter what you did or didn’t do.
Anger and guilt are natural, but you must allow yourself to go through all the reaction stages of death: denial & disbelief, anger, guilt, depression, and finally, acceptance. There is no order to these stages.
My special friend, Walker lost Emme, his companion for many years. Emme passed away at the age of 20, a very full life she has lived. Sharing, loving and always being there. Look through the pictures you have of Emme and remember all the love and happy times you shared.
Weep Not for Me, In Memory of Emme
Weep not for me though I am gone into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long upon my soul’s sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed.
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife.
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.
July 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 am
Ohhh, Poor Walker, I know how he adored his little Emme. Ill go over and see him now! Thanks vick for your words of comfort and the lovely poem.
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:42 am
What a beautiful heartfelt poem Vickie. I’m glad Walker had you to talk to and I’m sure it helped him. He and Emme had such a special friendship, it has always touched me the way he talked about her on his blog. He was so tender towards her. I will miss her presence in Walker’s posts, they were some of my favourites.
July 2nd, 2007 at 6:12 am
You are such a good friend to Walker. I know he appreciates your beautiful words of comfort at this time of his great loss.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:23 am
That’s a wonderful poem. I’ll have to bookmark that for future use. Now excuse me, I’ve got to go to Walker’s place.
July 2nd, 2007 at 3:45 pm
It is very sad to lose a beloved pet. I can’t imagine life without Emme there. It is good that the last thing she felt was his touch. She knows she was loved and got to die peacefully.
What a beautful post you did on this, Vickie. You are special friend!
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I thank you on behalf of Emme and myself for your thoughts, the phone calls and just for being you.
Emme was very special to me because of how she was with me; I knew she loved me, IU saw it in her eyes until the end.
As hard as her loss is for me I have to wonder how some people especially the elderly deal with loosing a pet, maybe the only company they have left in the world, it can get lonely out there if life when you are getting old.
Our pets are family and feel what we feel, I see it in Frick who didn’t see Emme pass away and doesn’t know where she has gone but still looks for her.
Family is family no matter if they have four legs or two.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:45 pm
This was such a lovely and touching post. Losing a pet is like losing a family member.
My condolences to Walker.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
Very sorry for the loss. My heart goes out to Walker. The healing will begin now and she is in a better place.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:29 am
The poem was beautiful and the comments so true. A few years ago, my dear cat of 20 yrs had to move on to heaven and I still miss her daily….she was a member of my family and loved me when no one else in the world cared if I lived or died. Pets are surely a gift from God..
July 4th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I am so sorry to hear about Emme. My heart breaks for Walker. This was such a beautiful post!
July 5th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Pets were given us by God,
to gaze into our eyes with understanding,
to love us unconditionally,
when others cannot or will not do so for us.
I’ve not known truer, purer love than that my
pets, both dogs and cats, have shown me.
July 7th, 2007 at 11:32 am
a poem straight from the heart…
I still cry over losing my little Elvis, often
July 20th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I will be facing the grief of losing a pet in the very near future I am afraid. This poem would be a tremendous comfort when the time comes.
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