Today, September 12th, is a good day to remember and bring closure to a beloved pet. The second Sunday of September has been proclaimed National Pet Memorial Day by the IAOPCC (International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories). Losing a pet can be devastating so it is important to share your loss with supportive friends who understand and share your grief. As we should when losing anyone, we must grieve and then move on. However, each person is different and there is no set time for mourning your loss.
There are many ways you can honor the memory of your pet. This would be a good time to donate to your local animal shelter. If you are unable to donate money, please consider a donation of your time, whether that is once a week or once a month. You may want to plant a small tree or memorial garden or put up a special picture in a prominent place in the livingroom. Upload a video of your pet to Facebook or other social networking group you may be on. Write a poem, a story, or create a photo album.
If you haven’t yet put up a headstone, you can purchase one or get creative and make your own. Click here to see how (by Cathy Mclellan, EHow contributor). You also may want to donate your pets’ supplies (collars, cage, remaining food…) to a friend with the same type of pet or to your local animal rescue shelter. While you are still grieving is not the time to rush out and get a new pet or give everything away because you don’t want to “go through this again”. You may want to keep the supplies (other than food) in case you decide in the future to get a new pet.
Do not forget that other pets may also be grieving over the loss so be understanding and patient with them. When I lost my black lab, Cash (named after Johnny Cash, “the Man in Black), a friend helped me to bury him and we planted a small tree in his honor. His dog promptly laid on top of the grave when we were done as if to protect him. When my daughter visited with her dog, Riley, he immediately went to the grave and started to dig Cash up. It helped me when I wrote a small poem about it called, Doggie Friendship. I still miss you, Casharoni!