It is often the first loss that kids growing up have to deal with. One day, they thought they would have their pet forever, and the next, they have to come to grips really quickly with the idea that nothing lasts forever. The shock of this loss can hit hard.
Losing a pet is hard on anybody in the world, but some young kids may not understand what happens to a pet when it their time to go. Many older people seem to understand it more, because they are more likely to have lived through it already, which may be the reason why kids are a lot more affected by losing a pet and be more distraught about it.
Whether you are young or old, losing a pet can be serious, even causing you to become depressed. It’s important to know that some people will take longer to get over a pet. It can take 2 months to 2 years, because when you have a pet for so long you grow really attached and have a bond with that animal.
Some kids will become very depressed to the point of needing therapy while others won’t want to have another pet for a long time, and some may even avoid that kind of animal to avoid the memories that may make them sad. There is no right way to grieve, so if this happens to you, give yourself permission to feel how you are feeling. But its important to encourage our friends or loved ones who may have lost a pet to go out to get their mind off of things while that may only be temporarily happiness it still little steps to feeling better.
There are resources that can help during this time. An article on Healthychilldren.org says that “How your child reacts to your pet’s death will depend on their age and developmental level.”
While teens and young adults may understand what happened any kids younger may not completely get it, so it’s also important to be patient and calm when explaining it to them.
The Ohio State University Veterinarian Program says that ” Each child is a unique individual, and your discussions will be based on a variety of factors, including age, development, personality, religion, and culture. Offer explanations or answer questions at the most basic level appropriate for your child.” It’s important to talk about death with your child or even explain it to them to help them understand why the furry friend is no longer around.
A lot of things may help someone get over losing a pet, but one of the most important is to just be there for them. This may help more than you may think. Be there with them, whether they need you to sit with them and talk about their pet, or whether they need to get out of the house. Thoughtful gestures like getting them their favorite food may be just what they need to know that they are loved and supported while they are going through a hard time. This will help their mental health, and while it won’t make them automatically better, it can help them to progress down the road of getting better.
Grieving takes time, and it’s a hard thing for people to do. To heal after losing something you love is very difficult and challenging. We love our pets so much, and because we give them so much room in our hearts, we are left with serious grief when they leave us.
