Learn about our pet memorial services in South Carolina. Call Stuhr Funeral for more information.

Posts

Pet Loss and Grieving the loss of your animal friend

5 Ways to Guide Your Child Through the Loss of a Family Pet

If you spend any time at all on Facebook, you’ll inevitably see a friend post about the passing of a beloved pet. Friends chime in with their condolences and their own stories of dealing with the death of a cat, dog, horse or even a lovable lizard, but this never truly softens the heartbreak.

Pets become such an important part of the family – they nap on the couch and sleep on the bed. We put their faces on our holiday cards and snap quick pictures of them patiently enduring a game of dress-up.

The loss of a pet runs deep within a family. And, for children, it can be a particularly profound loss. It’s not unusual for couples to have a dog or cat before they add any human children to their home. So, many children are introduced to the family pet the very day they come home from the hospital making them a large part of their childhood.

It’s important to help your children through this loss and understand how deeply it can impact them. Here are 5 ways to help guide your child in this time of grief and turn the loss of a beloved pet into a celebration of a special friend.

1. Organize a memorial service

This can be in your backyard or at a favorite dog park. It can be family only or you may want to invite some close friends. Give everyone – including the children – the opportunity to share a funny or happy story about the pet. Use the time to focus on the joy your pet brought to the family. Maybe even reminisce on your pets favorite toy or activity.

2. Honor your pet with a donation

Give to a local animal shelter, a rescue group or other cause in your pet’s memory. You could also dedicate a park bench at a place that was special for your family and deceased pet. This gives you and your children a place to visit and reflect on those happy memories. Another way to give back, when you’re ready, is by adopting a new pet that is in need of a loving home.

3. Be straightforward with your children and answer their questions

Young children, in particular, may have a difficult time understanding, but don’t sugarcoat the situation by using terms like “Fido ran away” or “Fluffy went to sleep.” Those can be confusing for little ones, so share with them as best you can the concept of death and then answer what’s sure to be several questions. Also, when they grow up the truth will most likely come out and this can result in some long earned resentment.

4. Give them permission to feel their emotions

For many children, the death of the family pet may be their first experience with death. This is an opportunity to let them know it’s OK to grieve. They may feel sad, angry or confused – all of which are normal. Allow them to express these emotions and do things to help keep their mind off the fact that their beloved family friend is no longer there.

5. Create a keepsake

Gather favorite photos of your child with the pet and create a photo book or framed collage to hang in their room. If you choose to have your pet cremated, a portion of the remains can be made into a piece of jewelry, a pendent or kept in a special vase on the families fire place. Family pet cremation is a wonderful way to honor that adored member.

Private cremation services should never burden anyone with that task given to them. For stress free planning the team at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Homes makes custom tailored recommendations to suit every family’s needs.

Grieving the loss of a pet is a full family experience. Pets are constant companions in the home and everyone feels their absence. The whole family will need time to adjust and work through the grieving process, but focusing on the many ways your pet made your family better can help ease the saddens for the children – and the parents.

Stuhr Funeral Home, a trusted name in funeral service for more than 150 years, is proudly partnered with Pet Rest Cremation Service to provide pet loss care to the Lowcountry community. Together, they’re dedicated to providing the best and most professional services possible to clients during their time of grieving and healing.

For more information about the benefits of advanced funeral planning, stop by one of our locations in the area or call (843) 723-2524.