The Rainbow Bridge

By Katherine

In our lifetime, we meet a variety of people and develop numerous friendships as well as develop close bonds with our family members. However, some of us adopt a pet of some sort that becomes a part of our family. Big or small, these lovable animals develop a bond with us and we connect with them as well. Why do people form such strong attachments to an animal living in their home? Becoming more than a cute companion, pets offer us something challenging to come by, unconditional love. The constant admiration that our pets give us can bring us a peace of mind as well as reassurance. Pets are always pleased to see us and greet us with admiration and love the moment we come home after a day of school or work. Although it may seem odd to those who have never had a pet, losing a pet can be one of the most heart wrenching obstacles that a pet owner can face. For some, losing a pet can be just as significant as losing a person.

    A pet becomes a loved one and we develop close ties with our pets, spending more time with them and in doing so, they become a more constant aspect of our lives. When losing a pet, a great change is made that leads to grief. With any significant change, there is a sense of confusion as we abandon our old patterns. Similar to when anyone in our life passes away, we experience a great amount of sadness and loss. Some may go through a depressive episode when losing a pet and oftentimes society seems to undermine that. Society tends to make losing a pet a casual affair and in doing so, invalidates the feelings of those who do struggle with the loss. Pets never expect anything more from us than love and care, they will never hurt or betray us and will stick with us through the most trying times. Although all pet owners realize the day will come when they must say goodbye, it is never something you can truly prepare for.

    I lost my dog Mickey at the age of five to cancer in the summer of 2018. I had had him since he was a few months old and was closer to him than anyone else. He was always there for me and had such a positive energy all the time, he was protective, intelligent, and there for me when no one else was. I was devastated when he was diagnosed but treasured every moment with him until his heart stopped. My other dog Ally was diagnosed with osteosarcoma the following February and was heartbroken to learn that I would lose my first dog so soon after losing Mickey. She lived until that December, peacefully passing away. I had had Ally for about six years, she was kind and loving and wanted to spend as much time with people as possible. I grew up with them, they were a part of my family and I heavily struggled with losing them.

    Losing a pet is much more challenging than people without pets may realize and can be a heavy burden to carry. It’s valuable to know that although they are gone, they will remain in your heart forever. Pets desire to make their owners happy and love them so it’s important to value the time you do have with them even though it may seem too short. Keeping their memory alive and reminiscing on the joyful memories shared with them can be bittersweet but a key aspect of dealing with loss. It’s healthy to feel pain from such a loss and to grieve but it is valuable to know that although we don’t spend our entire lives with them, we are their entire life and as pet owners, we strive to make that time as enjoyable as possible and for many it can be the best time of their life. Losing a pet is a struggle that all pet owners eventually face so we must treasure the times we share with our pets so we can reminisce and realize that we do all we can for our pets. Regardless of how long we spend with our pet, they are a life-long friend.