Articles Of Interest
August 22, 2024
Grieving the Loss of a Pet
Pets are such a special source of friendship, joy, unconditional love and companionship.
By Patti Anewalt, Grief Counselor, Pathways Center for Grief & Loss
As a grief counselor, I’ve listened to many people grieving the death of their pet. Sometimes the loss of a pet is your last connection to your loved one who also died. Perhaps the companionship of your pet helped offset loneliness after the death of a loved one.
Often a lot of guilt is associated with deciding to euthanize a pet. Others don’t understand and might encourage you to get another pet, long before you feel ready. In a survey conducted by Honest Paws, a manufacturer of holistic pet products, 68% of respondents said grieving the loss of their pet was more difficult than the death of a family member or friend. Another 17% said pet loss was equal to that of a family member or friend.
Consider some of the following suggestions:
- Know and accept that your functioning won’t be up to par – you have lost an important, integral part of your life.
- Consider having a small ceremony in memory of your pet. Invite family and friends and share favorite memories.
- Keep a journal or perhaps write out your feelings of loss in a letter to your pet.
- Keep some mementos in your home or yard as a place you can visit to think about your pet.
- Maintain your routines - if your pet was a dog that you walked regularly, keep up that routine and reflect on the walks you shared.
- Recognize your feelings as they arise and seek out others who are sympathetic and willing to listen.
The love your pet had for you was unconditional. That’s something precious and difficult to find. Pets are such a special source of friendship, joy, unconditional love and companionship. Jon Katz, author of Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die believes a pet’s legacy and purpose is to help us be better human beings. You won’t ever forget a pet who gave you so much to remember. Treasure that gift!
The Pathways Center for Grief & Loss offers many grief programs, including Pet Loss Workshops. To learn more visit - https://www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org/grief-and-loss/.
Give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind by pre-planning your funeral.
Choosing the right funeral service is a personal journey, and understanding your options can help you craft a heartfelt tribute to your loved one.
Struggling to find the right words when sending a sympathy card?
Most people don’t give much thought to death certificates until they have a death in the family. A death certificate is the permanent legal record needed to prove that a person has actually died.
Bring their memory to the table Serve up a tasty reminder by preparing some of your loved one’s favorite recipes. Give a Thanksgiving toast or prayer that acknowledges the role that they played in your family’s lives. Consider creating a centerpiece made up of mementos from their life for the table. Or go around the table and ask each person to share something they are grateful for about the person who has died. Do something together to honor their memory There are many Thanksgiving Day events that your family can participate in to honor your loved one’s memory. Sign up for a turkey trot or charity walk. Watch one of their favorite movies together. Attend a remembrance service. Donate food or money in their name. Help to serve a Thanksgiving meal to families in need. Continue to share your memories Every family has their favorite stories and memories that they tell that highlight the unique personalities of each member. Be sure to continue sharing your memories and reminisce about those that you have lost. Whether it’s at the dinner table or during the football game, simply talking about your loved one is often what we need most after a loss. Accept that this Thanksgiving will be different. Try to find the balance between moments of grief and moments of joy. Listen to your intuition and only do what you can manage. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. Grief is hard and tiring. Get plenty of sleep and give yourself permission to let in some joy this Thanksgiving.
Who can be a beneficiary? In most cases, people name their spouse, children or someone who financially depends on them as beneficiaries. A beneficiary can also be a sibling, other family member, friend, charity or trust. There are two types of beneficiaries: primary and contingent. If the primary beneficiary is deceased, then the asset goes to the contingent beneficiary. Why is it important to designate beneficiaries? Beneficiary designations take effect immediately after death. Because of this, they override any instructions that may be in a will regarding the distribution of assets. Having beneficiaries named on an account circumvents the probate process and helps ensure that assets can be transferred to heirs without delay. Even if you write a legal will leaving the assets to another person, whoever is listed as the beneficiary on your accounts is the person who will inherit. Matching beneficiary designations with provisions in your will can ensure that your wishes are followed properly. Retirement account beneficiaries Even changing your job can necessitate updating your beneficiary. If you roll over your retirement account, make sure that the account lists the correct beneficiaries. Previous beneficiary designations generally will not automatically move with your assets. Provisions for beneficiaries vary from plan to plan and state law — some of which automatically eliminate former spouses as beneficiaries. However, for many employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, these laws do not apply. A cautionary tale Suppose you married in your twenties, had two children and set up a life insurance policy, naming your then-spouse as beneficiary. Fifteen years later, you have divorced and remarried, and now, you have a child with your new partner. If you never updated your beneficiaries on your life insurance policy, your ex-spouse would inherit, leaving no proceeds for your current spouse or any of your three children. Take the time now to check that beneficiary information on your accounts is accurate and up to date. Updating your beneficiaries is simple, usually requiring filling out paperwork or making changes online. DISCLAIMER: Individual circumstances and state laws vary. Only undertake estate planning with the help and assistance of an attorney licensed in your state. If you need advice about designating your beneficiaries, talk to an attorney or estate planner to help ensure your final wishes are carried out.
You can preplan from the comfort of your home
One of the more common physical symptoms of grief is “brain fog.” Brain fog happens because your body interprets grief as trauma and begins to shut down to protect itself.
Preplanning is not complicated. It usually takes about an hour of your time. There are several components to making funeral arrangements.
Consoling a member of your family or close friends over the loss of a loved one can be difficult, but figuring out how to acknowledge that same kind of loss to a coworker or employee adds another layer of complexity. With family and friends whom you have a close relationship, you have the benefit of knowing that person and how you might help them manage their grief. You may not have that same level of familiarity with coworkers. A first step for managers or supervisors of someone who has experienced a loss is to make sure that your employee is aware of how the company (and you) can support them during their time of grief. Make sure that they know about the company's bereavement policy and any human resources support that are in place. In addition, let them know that you are aware that grief can have an impact on their ability to think clearly and perform their job duties. Flexibility is key to helping them. Everyone has struggled to manage the demands of work at one time or another. On average, U.S. employees receive four days of paid leave. Returning to work in such a short period of time can be challenging. Considering that the very real physical symptoms of grief, including ‘brain fog’ and loss of energy can decrease work productivity, coworkers can help by offering to assist them with some of their duties. Coworkers can also support grieving people by acknowledging their loss in person, with a note, or email. Whatever method you chose, it’s important to acknowledge their loss in some way. Remember to keep it simple. Avoid cliches about ‘being in a better place’ or giving advice. If you talk with them, don’t ask about details of the death, which can be upsetting. Simply listening is the best thing you can do. Don’t be tempted to share your stories of loss. Now is not the time to focus on your experience. It’s time to support someone else along their journey. If you don’t know your coworker well, be observant and take your cues from them. Judging as best you can when they are open to talking or when they prefer privacy. Most importantly, give them the time they need to deal with their loss. Grief doesn’t just magically disappear in few weeks or month. It ebbs and flows for a long time, sometimes even years. So, remember to periodically check back in with your coworker to see how they are managing their grief.
