Sallie Gregory-Hammett of Greenville, SC, had a dog named Charlie as her first pet. Sallie and Charlie were inseparable and went on many adventures together. Everyone in town knew how much she adored him, and he adored everyone too, especially David, Sallie’s husband.
Interestingly enough, it was the way David interacted with the dog that made Sallie fall in love with him. He was a lively golden retriever who enjoyed going on walks and hunting squirrels. However, Charlie, the dog that Sallie loved and cherished, died of cancer.
As a way to vent her grief, Sallie wrote an obituary that contained the dog’s unique personality as well as the love she had for him. It is hard to know what grief feels like unless you’ve gone through it. Sometimes, grief twists the heart and makes it feel like a burden.
It may make you feel lonely or sad. The sorrow sometimes seems unbearable, and there may be none to help with the burden except for one’s self. Many people feel sad for months or even years after a pet dies.
When pets pass away, the grief is particularly difficult on owners who were very close to them. Fortunately, there are ways to help deal with the loss of a pet. Many owners find comfort in talking about their pets with friends and family members.
Others should talk to a professional counselor who can offer more advice on coping with the loss of a pet. The more one tries to think about the loss, the harder it will be to cope with it. But by accepting that things have to move on, we can somehow get over the grief.
Accepting that a pet is gone does not mean that he or she has to forget all their memories and the times they have spent together. They can keep their pets’ belongings, such as collars, toys, or even food items, that they used while they were still alive.
Credit: Sallie Hammett and salliegregoryhammett
