That’s where finding other “pet people” comes into play. If you’re going to open up about your grief, find someone who loves pets as much as you do. After all, you deserve to be able to discuss your feelings in an environment filled with love and support.

Try to find a friend who has been there and experienced exactly what you’re going through. And if you can’t find anyone you feel comfortable opening up to, consider talking to someone who specializes in this type of grief.

The University of Illinois has an excellent pet loss support hotline. In addition, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) offers chat rooms where you can connect with others who have lost pets.

So don’t be afraid to ask for advice. In truth, that one special thing you need to hear may be waiting in the wings. Just remember not to give out any personal information to those you meet in chat rooms. Keep the connection limited to a monitored environment.

Limit reminiscing to the good times.

It’s easy to get stuck on thoughts of sickness and the moment of your pet’s death. But what good does that do? It only makes the situation tougher to deal with.

To combat this, try to remember the good times. This is the greatest gift you can give yourself. That’s because when you change your focus from loss to love, the road to recovery gets easier. 

You can do this by making an effort to focus on the love you had (and still have) for your pet. When your mind wanders to thoughts of death, think about the good times. Recall happy situations like playing in the yard with your beloved dog or watching television with your cuddly (and sometimes crabby) kitty. This will take your mind to a more peaceful place.