Honouring our deceased Pets
Penny was our Beautiful fluffy black and white Maltese-shitzu. She loved going for walks to her favourite park in Berwick and playing with her squeaky bone.
Penny helped my Husband and I move on from IVF and embrace change in remaining child-free. This month it will be 8 years since she passed away. When she died a part of me died too, but keeping her memory alive and honouring her life keeps her memory close to our hearts.
Five ways to consider in honouring your Companion Animal Memories:
1: Give yourself permission to grieve. Research shows that with the death of a loved one or the death of a treasured pet, the emotion is the same.
2: Acknowledge the feelings you have “are real” and it is important that you allow yourself time to process the past, present and future times you had and will no longer have.
3: Finding a meaningful way to honour and remember your animal companion will help with life transitions in moving forward. One example might be keeping a creative journal filled your pet’s photos and special words will keep the memory alive.
4: It is important to take time for self-care for meditation, art, nature and being kind to yourself.
5: It helps to talk to someone that will hear and value what is shared with no judgement or biased thoughts. Art Therapy can assist a couple, a family or an individual honour the life shared with an animal companion. This is because words can be hard to empress at times, whereas art can allow someone to see clarity, recognise emotions felt and explore new knowing.
It is never easy having to say goodbye to a well-loved animal companion that has always unconditionally loved you. Luckily when it is time to euthanise your terminally ill animal companion, nearly all Veterinary Clinics these days can advise on rituals that can be part of the farewell of your pet at the clinic or at home and referrals to someone like me as an “Art Therapist” who can go on this journey with you every step of the way throughout the grieving process.
Thank you Penny for all the love and wonderful times shared with Damian and I. You will continue to live in our hearts.
