My dog passed away and this blog was born. A circle of life I did not see coming.
Grieving for someone significant in your life is an inevitable reality, one we hope occurs infrequently. Some may consider themselves fortunate to experience deep grief only once or twice, while others, like myself, have a full passport of grief journeys.
Being a “dog mom” or “cat mom” is a huge part of my identity (and wardrobe). I’ve loved many, I’ve lost many. And every time it’s as raw as the first time. You don’t “get good” at grief. Maybe familiarly numb, but not ‘good’.
My husband and I recently had to make the decision to help our senior chihuahua, Ace, peacefully make his transition. Though he had fought hard through old age illnesses for a few years, his little body had no more fight in it.
Life is rearranged. Quiet, different, heavy. Again.
Where one is in their life when catapulted into grief largely affects their path. And I’ve never been right here, right now, this version of me, grieving this perfect little guy.
Through a long, often tortuous, period of anticipatory grief, I knew one thing I would do ‘someday’ when I was grieving, was write. Write about this journey, write about love. And hopefully that writing would be a big part of my healing. Writing a piece turned into ‘I’ve got a lot to say’ and Voila! This blog was born.
If you’re reading this, if your heart is broken too, I’m sorry you’re here but I’m also glad you’re here. We’re in this together. Grief in the wake of pet loss is real, it’s devastating and we need to make more room for it in life and in society.
A little about me. I’m a dog and cat mom, a wife, a sister, a friend and a griever. I’ve said “goodbye for now” to six dogs, a cat and my mom, all in the last decade and I really hope to not have to update that number anytime soon.
Professionally, I am a Pet Loss Grief Specialist and a Certified Grief Educator. I have the privilege of walking with people on their grief journey and being a witness to incredible love and connection.
But the fact that I nearly live and breathe grief and healing as a profession does not make me immune to the deep pain of grief. If it does one thing, it’s remind me that I will be ok. Eventually.
