When They Leave …

That’s me with my Tucker Gordon. He was so good from the get go. The last of the litter, we got him at 3 months. We were told that people thought he was too big and moving out of the “perfect puppy” stage. I’m convinced an extra month with the security of his mom had something to do with his calm and noble nature.

I could spend hours sharing what he brought into my life. My partner in procrastination when I was working through school, “you need another walk?”. My exercise trainer, “let’s go for a hike”. My heating pad. Is there a better feeling than having a dog curled up in the crook of your leg, breathing deeply? My disciplinarian, bringing structure to my day. These are just a few roles this beautiful boy served.

I share all of this with you to let you know that our pets, our animals, the non-human beings in our lives really matter and when they leave, it can be devastating. Pet Bereavement it can be called officially. It is grief and it is loss and it can be complicated. It is unique, meaning only you know the intimacy and intricacies of your life with your animal companion.

Comfort and love and joy and health is what Tucker brought to me.

Where the animal experience sometimes differs from the human end of life experience is that we are often faced with the choice of euthanasia. A humane death when an animal is suffering. It is a gift and a terrible burden. Who am I to make such a choice?

I offer this musing to you to encourage you to bring any emotions around the animals in your life into the therapy space. There is a sweet and familiar quote that says, “be the person your dog thinks you are”. Alluding to the unconditional love they offer us, they see us as good and loyal and trustworthy. What a gift. They cut right through any feelings of low self-worth, shame and regret.

Don’t be nervous to share what your animals mean to you.

I get it.