Hawn says grieving as a family can help children better process the loss, and she suggests activities in which each family member can participate as they feel the need. “It’s better to embrace grief through action rather than ignore it.” “I suggest taking on memorial projects to focus your grief, and your kids’ grief, in productive ways,” Hawn says. She points out there are a variety of ways parents and adults can help kids through the grieving process. Roxanne Hawn, author of “ Heart Dog: Surviving the Loss of Your Canine Soul Mate,” understands that children are especially vulnerable to misunderstanding and grief following the death of a pet. Afterward, there was so much quiet in her absence.”Ĭarson’s memories of Sandy are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, especially for those who’ve personally experienced similar loss at a young age. ![]() It was the first time I’d ever lost someone I loved. “When I was about 11-years old, Sandy got cancer and we had to put her to sleep. I remember playing in the snow, hiking, and Sandy following me to my room when I came home from school,” Carson says. “We grew up together and she did everything with our family. It was a gentle Golden Retriever mix named Sandy. Leah Carson, now a young adult, remembers her first pet. The loss of a cherished pet can be every bit as difficult as losing a person - or in some cases, even worse. She was admitted to the ER where doctors diagnosed her with takotsubo cardiomyopathy - otherwise known as “ broken-heart syndrome” - a condition with symptoms that mimic a heart attack.Īfter being treated with medications she eventually recovered, but the death of her Yorkshire terrier literally broke her heart. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine reports one 61-year-old woman began experiencing severe chest pains following the death of her dog. Numerous studies have shown evidence that pets not only provide companionship and bring joy, they can also help people recover or better cope with a wide range of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and mental health disorders.Īnd when a pet dies, it can be an emotionally devastating experience that can have a negative impact on our both our mental and physical health. They may not have certificates or wear special vests that give them upgraded seating status on airplanes, but they greatly enhance our lives in a number of ways. ![]() In a way, nearly every treasured pet is a therapy animal. If you’ve ever lost a beloved pet, you know just how true that old adage is.įrom dogs to cats to canaries to lizards, we humans form unbreakable bonds with our furry, feathered, and scaled friends. Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend never owned a dog.
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