Updated December 5, 2021

Losing my first beloved dog

How to cope with the loss of a pet. There are many articles on the internet about coping with the loss of a pet. That’s because the loss of a dog, a beloved best friend is one of the most difficult times of a person’s life. I lost my first furry friend when I was four years old. Nicky was a Border Collie mix. Border Collies are intense athletic dogs that can drive you up the wall with obsessive and destructive behaviors if you don’t provide lots of exercise and creative outlets for their energy.

We had an adequate-sized yard for him to roam and play in. But because of his excessive energy and need for tons of exercise, he would dig under the fence and escape.

The animal control was very diligent in our neighborhood. Needless to say, poor Nicky was picked up many times and my mother would have to go rescue him and bring him back home. Each time it cost money to have him released. Back then, my mother and grandmother didn’t know how to cope with Nicky’s excessive energy or even the importance of exercise and the mental stimulation that dogs need.

I lived with my mother and grandmother at the time, just us three. The last time that Nicky decided to go check out the neighborhood my mother was short of funds. She called the shelter and asked if they would hold Nicky until payday, which was a week or so away. They agreed.

The devastating news — we had no idea how to cope with the loss

When my mother went to pick him up she was told that he had passed away. We had never had to cope with the loss of a pet. My mother and I were heartbroken and devastated. Neither one of us had experienced the loss of a dog, a beloved pet before. She was told that Nicky would not eat. Finally, they figured out that he would only eat if a female brought the food (there were no males in our house and he was used to being fed by one of us three females). But it was too late. No one knew that he would do that, but, my mother felt very guilty and responsible for Nicky’s death.

Of course, I now realize that a Border Collie was not the best dog breed for our situation. My mother worked and my grandmother was too old to make sure that Nicky had the exercise and mental stimulation that he needed to curb his need to go exploring. But, at the time we didn’t know.

There were no children my age in our neighborhood, so Nicky was just about my only playmate. I still remember all these years later the pain I felt at the loss of a dog, my beloved Nicky.

Some people just don’t get it

Because I was only four, I don’t remember exactly who it was, but I vividly remember an adult woman asking me what was wrong. When I told her, she said: “For heaven’s sake, it’s just a dog!” I still remember how I felt then. She made me feel that I was silly and stupid for caring so much. She had no sympathy for the loss of a dog, that to me was much more than a dog, he was my best friend.

Now as an adult I realize that not everyone “gets it”. Those that don’t have pets, or just aren’t “pet people” just can’t comprehend the deep attachment and love that one can feel for their beloved dog (or other pets).

My mother wanted to get another dog for me right away while my grandmother was determined that there would be no more pets.

Facing the inevitable and knowing how to cope with the loss of a pet

If you are a dog owner then you either have experienced the pain of losing one or it is inevitable that you will. Most of us have no idea how to cope with the loss of a pet. We recently lost our beloved Chico, my bambino, at the age of 17 (07-17-2020). So, grieving the loss of a beloved pet is not new to me. I think about Chico every single day.

Then, on August 30, 2021, we lost our precious Pebbles, my Princesa at the age of 14. Fourteen was too young, however, she had heart disease most of her life and was in heart failure for the last two years of her life. You can read more about both Chico and Pebbles by clicking on their names above.

That is why I am writing this to give you (and myself) some strategies to help you handle your grief. These strategies are from my book, “How to cope with the loss of a pet”. You can find it on Amazon. If you lose a beloved best friend, nothing will be exactly the same again, but, you have to start to pick up the pieces and find a new normal in your life at some stage.

6 Effective Strategies For How To Cope With The Loss Of A Pet

• Cut yourself some slack! Crying, and even sobbing is normal and can be therapeutic. Many people see their beloved dog as their child and someone they need to protect. So when a loss happens it can be intense grief that may take a long time to get past. There are several phases of grief and every individual goes through them differently and for different periods of time. Don’t expect your grief to progress exactly as someone else’s did.
• As I already mentioned, not everyone “gets it”, so don’t even attempt to share your grief or talk to someone that may not be sympathetic. If you have a friend that you know will be comforting, then, by all means, talk to them. It may also be helpful to write down your feelings. Start a journal and write down all the good times you had together and all the unique things that you loved about him or her. Remember that you provided a warm and loving home for a fur baby and that because of you, they had a good life.

• Get a beautiful urn to put your dog’s ashes in. Many people may want to feel that their pet is close to them, so an urn is a great option if that is the case for you. There are many options to choose from so take a look at what is available and make the choice that suits you best. Take your time making this decision and make sure that you find one that will help you to remember all the good times you had together each time you look at it. There are even several choices of jewelry and keepsakes to choose from, even some to keep your dog’s ashes in if that is something you want to do.

• Bury your beloved pet or their ashes in a special place in your garden. Do you have a pretty and peaceful place in your backyard? There are memorial stones and plaques, or buy a small shrub and dedicate the area to your beloved dog. Maybe under a favorite tree. Buy a bench you can put there as a place you can go to just sit and reflect or read a book. Make sure that you own the property and find out the rules in your area for burying an animal in your yard. Your veterinarian will know the laws in the area where you live.

• Make a scrapbook of your life together. Document their life in words and pictures by writing down your thoughts and then adding photos and other documents that relate to your beloved dog. This makes a special keepsake for those times that you can return to time and time again. It can bring you much comfort for those times that you are feeling low, just pick up the book and remember the wonderful life you had together.

• Make a donation to a shelter or rescue group in your pet’s name. Volunteer your time at a shelter or become a foster parent for a shelter or rescue group. They need all the help that they can get. This will not only help you it will help pets in need. There are Chihuahua rescue groups that I support. If you would like to make a donation just click below.

Pet Themed Scrapbook Album

• Pet themed Dog phrases cover measuring 13.5×12.5 Inches with a 3.5×3.5 Inch photo opening
• Includes ten 12×12 Inch top loading vinyl page protectors with 10 heavy white paper inserts
• Archival quality, acid-free pages with a 3 post bound construction for easy expansion
• Expandable with MCS Extra Page Sheets #899676
• Clear dust jacke

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

If you would like to know exactly what happens when a beloved Chihuahua is euthanized click the button below: