Loss of Beloved Animal or Human, Grief is Grief is Grief
As BrightHaven’s Gail Pope wrote in “The Art of Dying—What Animals Teach Us” article that recently appeared in the Natural Transitions online magazine:
“The death of a beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult things we as animal lovers ever face. In my experience, sometimes this loss is more difficult than that of a human family member due to the unconditional love that animals bring into our lives. It is hard to replace the love that is given so freely by beings whose whole purpose is to make us the center of their lives and to teach us about all aspects of life, including death.”
The guidelines for hospice care for humans that have been very carefully created over many years form the foundation for animal hospice. Barbara Karnes is an award-winning author, end-of-life educator and human hospice nurse whose perspectives on end-of-life issues, death and dying are very similar to those of BrightHaven.
In a recent blog post, Barbara provides excellent information about experiencing grief, releasing guilt and practicing good self care. We feel that her perspectives directly apply to those grieving the lost of a beloved animal companion.
Click here to read Barbara Karnes’ helpful article titled “Be Gentle With Yourself~Grief and Guilt” >>>
“Grief is like the ocean:
it comes on waves, ebbing and flowing.
Sometimes the water is calm
And sometimes it is overwhelming.
All we can do is learn to swim”
~Vicki Harrison
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Thank you for spending this time with us. We hope this piece brought you comfort, insight, or a moment of reflection on your journey with your beloved companion. If you’d like to continue receiving thoughtful resources, stories, and guidance, you’re always welcome to stay connected with our BrightHaven community.
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