The harrowing experience as you lay your pet in peace. There may be no other being in this living world that you ever have such a clear bond with, who knows all your deep and darkest secrets, can sniff out your tears from miles away. 

I can still remember the day I lost Harley (featured above with my dad in his beautiful 80's get up). I was 13 when Harley passed, he had been with us since I was born, 4 houses and yet, 35 years later, as I sit down to write this a tear still arises in my eye. I was walking home from school and as I turned the corner into the back alley my brother's bike came roaring around the corner and swooped past me like a bolt of lightning, his red face disheveled. I ran home and mum told me what happened. 

For people that don't understand how someone feel hopefully this article may give you a little insight into what some experiencing pet loss is going through, because they deserve empathy and compassion also.

A pets true love 

An unwavering love that you have with your pet is like none even that of your own mother. There is no judgment, no grudge or resentment and no expectations. It is a love that is pure, is forgiving, leans in on your time of despair.

Daily rituals with your pet

I know sometimes when you wake up it can feel like a drag to get your butt out of the comfort of your own home. But when that is suddenly stripped away it can feel like such a loss in your day. Or say be it the 3 o’clock dinner dance, like clockwork the poking, jumping, endless hours of unrest until that bowl of nourishment is engorged in only a few chaotic moments. It is these moments that we miss, the mundane yet special.

No words needed

To have the company of another with no need to talk. I know it comes inherently that animals cannot talk (although I beg to differ). They say that the ultimate form of comfortability is to be able to sit in silence with another. Inexplicably yourself with no awkwardness.

Unspoken language with your pet 

Some call it a sixth sense, this intuition that allows you to receive memories, feelings or associations through messages. A feeling in the heart or the gut and it is the nudge of an arm when you're feeling down, or a glance when you just hold each other in your gaze as an expression of ultimate love.

Unseen Grief

When a family or friend passes the grief is initially recognised by work (time of work to grief), condolences arise from all corners of the world and there are many resources to tap into, the same does not hold true for a pet. “It’s only an animal” is something that I have heard myself but after losing family dogs of my own, the pain of bereavement was overbearing but I felt so alone as it is kind of shunned to grief for anything other than a human.

In true honesty I believe now more than ever, you must do you, represent yourself as how you feel fit.