How to Console a Friend Who's Losing Her Pet

It's so hard to loose a pet and hard to watch someone loose one too! I had a client call me 2 weeks ago asking if I could meet her at the Vet because she had to put her 14 year old Corgi to sleep - it's sad but for him it was necessary. For me, my part, was to just rub her back, hug her and tell her how sorry I was. I also, because of my personality, would joke about funny things Clint did or some quirks about him :) We laughed through tears at some memories and it helped both of us a little. When the time came to actually put him to sleep I stepped back and let her have her time with him alone while the Vet administered the medicine that would put him to sleep.

Hope this helps!

There is a very sweet little memory set for the loss of a pet at Imagine Designs in Frisco Texas. They are located in the shopping center directly across from the Frisco Post Office at Preston and Stonebrook/Rolater.

If you want to talk to the owner to make sure she still has some left and to get more details, the store telephone number is ###-###-####.

Could you take some family/pet photos with the dog if the pet is strong enough to do so? Maybe some professional portraits to celebrate their life with the dog would be appreciated. That was my first thought when I read your "A little bit about me" blurb...

A friend of mine knew her dog was dying & she went to a potty place & painted a portrait of her dog on a plate & hung it up in the house. You could take a picture of the dog, have it pasted on the plate & you could paint around it....just to show how much you care.

Sorry just now writing, I was out-of-town and unable to check e-mails. However, I have some input on the subject of losing a pet, as I lost mine 5 years ago (after having my yorkie for 18 years), my dear friend lost hers last year and so did my parents. Anyway, I wanted to first recommend a book called "Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates"...which gave me great comfort to read during my grieving. Also, I usually take a picture of the pet and make something special with it to give to the owner. And, if they bury the pet in their backyard, we always make a little cross to mark it or an angel. A group of us even gave a beautiful dried heart wreath to a friend that lost a dog. Any and all of these special acts of love will mean so much. It is so hard to lose a pet, and the grieving is the same as it is with a person. Hope these quick notes help. Many Blessings - L.

I know how she feels. My 14.5 year old cat, Selina, died unexpectedly in less than a week last year. Went from healthy to very sick. I thought I would never get through it after she was gone. I am sending you a copy of the "Rainbow Bridge" Poem which is beautiful. The SPCA also offers Pet Grief Counseling once a month where she can talk to others who are going through the same thing. Give her lots of support and let her grieve. That will help her through this. My prayers are with her, her dog and you of course.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver.Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, faster
and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you
look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

*Author Unknown*

i don't know what her plans are for afterwards, but when my 14 year old cat died my husband got a beautiful engraved plaque that we placed in our yard by her gravesite. you could also do a stepping stone with the dog's photo on it. i often just go out to our yard and think about the wonderful times i had with my cat. a family portrait with the dog would also be a fantastic remembrance.

I'm so sorry to hear of anyone losing a pet. It's a hard time! If she opts to put it to sleep, I have a wonderful poem that talks about the life shared with the dog, all of the things the dog does and feels for the owner, and in return the short list of things the dog asks for - like a warm place to sleep and pat on the head, a fresh bowl of water, and then in the end a loving hold while skillful hands put it to sleep ending suffering. I can email it to you, but can't copy here due to format. It is really a wonderful poem for someone making the decision to end pet suffering. I can't do it justice in a short description. Send me a private msg with your email if you would like a copy.

As hard as it is for you to see her so upset she is going to have to go through the grieving process. You could buy her the book called The Rainbow Bridge. My vet gave it to me when my dog died several years ago and it was a little helpful. Other than that just being there for her and listening to her is what she needs most. You will probably find that she will want to talk about the dog alot at first and slowly it will get better. I volunteer with the cocker spaniel rescue in the Dallas area and on our web page we have a memorial tribute area. For a 20$ donation we will put the dogs picture up with a nice write up about the dog. You could also do something like that. Best of luck during the tough time. Pam