Shakespeare Animal Fund is proud to sponsor a pet loss support group for
those who have lost a dear pet, and need to have the support from others
to deal with the loss. Please pass this information on to anyone who can
use it. There is no cost.
Jennifer Webb remembers being devastated when her dog, Shakespeare,
died.
"I have my act together. I have friends and family and have lots of
outlets, but I still remember just grieving," Webb said.
She said the two months after her dog's death were almost unbearable.
"I didn't want any one to mention his name because it made me so upset,"
Webb said. She said she remembers going to her father's funeral and
being sad, but not like she was when she lost Shakespeare.
She said after having her dog put to sleep at a hospital in California,
she remembers driving back to Reno and being so distraught she couldn't
remember what exit she needed to get home.
Losing her pet is the reason Webb started the Shakespeare Animal Fund, a
nonprofit organization that helps people with their pets' emergency
medical care.
"It was completely selfish. I wanted to keep his name out there."
She also has started an animal-loss support group.
"When someone loses a pet, too often the response is to just get another
one," Webb said.
"Often, for the elderly or the disabled, pets are a lifeline," she said.
"I knew if I was completely suffering, then other people were going
through the same thing, too."
Here are 10 tips on dealing with the loss of a pet:
Don't feel bad for being upset. This is very normal. Experts say
losing a pet is like losing a family member, according to Joseph Galata,
a grief counselor.
"Don't devalue your own grief because it is about an animal," he said.
This was tough for Diane Brown of Reno who lost her dog more than four
months ago.
"I think sometimes people don't understand why I'm still so upset. Some
people don't want to talk to me about it because they know it makes me
upset," she said.
If you are suffering, don't be embarrassed to talk about it. Be aware of
the signs of depression after going through a loss. Also, look out for
friends or family members who might be suffering due to a pet's death.
Some people might need professional help.
Find a support group. Reno has its own animal-loss support group,
formed by Webb. The group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at
the Northwest Reno Library. Grieving owners of all types of pets, from
dogs and cats to horses and birds, are welcome to attend.
The University of California at Davis has a pet-loss support hotline
at 800-565-1526. It operates from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Volunteers are available to listen to grieving pet owners and
can put you in touch with local resources.
Put away the toys and personal items, such as your pet's leash and
collar. Storing the belongings of her dog, Ripley Sue, helped Amy
Anderson. Anderson, of Reno, lost her dog earlier this year, but knows
that having the items and looking at them again will be comforting
someday.
You may feel guilty, but eventually you will be ready for another
pet. According to Galata, you will know when to bring another pet into
your home. "You need time to grieve and another pet won't ease the
pain," he said.
"It is surprising how you make new and different memories with a new
dog," Anderson said.
Write down the memories you have of your pet. Make a list of some of
the things you did together. This is what Mark Easton, of Reno, did when
he lost his dog earlier this year. "I'm afraid to forget, so by writing
down things it helps," he said.
Experts say other pets at home may be feeling the loss, too. Pay
extra attention to pets who are still at home and may be grieving, too.
When your pet is facing a long illness, talk to your veterinarian
about options. Home hospice care and euthanasia are available.
"It's better for people, rather than having to make that last drive to
the clinic," said Renee Bufkin, owner of Vet to Pet, a mobile vet
service.
"People who have a dying pet don't want to sit in the waiting room
surrounded by puppies," she said. Bufkin can do quality-of-life
assessments and evaluate when it's the right time to put a sick pet to
sleep. For more information, contact Bufkin at 338-8500.
The library has several books on dealing with pet loss, and the
Internet is full of resources. "Journey Through Pet Loss," by Deborah Antinori is a highly recommended audio book. The book, "For Every Dog
and Angel," by Christine Davis also is recommended by Amazon.com
readers.
Consider making a donation in your pet's name to an animal charity.
By doing something positive you might find some comfort. "That is
exactly why I started the Shakespeare Animal Fund," said Webb. "I wanted
a way to keep his name out there."
You can make a donation here. The
organization will post your pet's name and a picture with each donation
on its Web site. Other options include donations to the Nevada Humane
Society and the SPCA.
