Thinking of one's own death is a horrifying feeling and a feeling worse than that is thinking about the death of a loved one. Confronting the stress and burdens of making final arrangements for the funeral can be really trying and downright horrible, especially after going through the traumatic experience of losing a loved one such as a spouse or parent.

My aunt was a cat lover who lived with us up to the time when I was six years old. She brought in all the strays and tended to them in the spare room downstairs or inside the enclosed porch. I don't quite remember grieving over a pet at that early age, probably because--earlier at the age of three--I had had a fit and cried for days after witnessing a stray dog kill a baby chick. After that incident, my family became overly protective of me.

It is a fact of life that most pets have a much shorter lifespan than do their human guardians. Only parrots and tortoises, under ideal conditions, have lifespans similar to (or longer than) their caretakers.

Losing a pet to illness, injury, or old age - no matter how devastating and sad the loss - is 'normal.'

Many pets are 'members of the family.' They are significant companions, not only to their adult guardians, but also to children in the immediate family. They may also be important to children of 'extended' families - relatives, neighbors, and friends.

The death of a cherished animal companion often leaves pet owners feeling isolated or misunderstood in their grief. However, there are many resources available to help pet owners through this difficult time. Below is a listing of some of the support groups, hotlines, counselors, books, and websites that are locally available.

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

* Pet Loss Support Hotline: (800)565-1526 or (530)752-4200 Monday-Friday 6:30-9:30pm

* Grief Recovery Hotline: (800)445-4808

Companion Animal Loss Counselors

Copyright 2006 Cole's Poetic License

"Consider how much more often you suffer from your anger and grief than from those things for which you are angry and grieved." Marcus Antonius

Emotions are feelings in motion. You can let them move on.

Turner Classic Movies recently showed Tennessee Williams, "A Rose Tattoo." I watched as much as I could stand. The main character grieved for her dead husband for three years! She manufactured misery every day for herself and everyone around her.

You Have a Right to Your Feelings of Loss

Anyone who has had a beloved companion animal understands the profound feelings of loss when a pet dies or disappears. It is hard enough to cope with this loss, yet grieving individuals often have to face the insensitivity of those who do not understand the profound connection between people and their pets, making hurt feelings go even deeper. Sometimes, even when people are offering sympathy and condolences, they say things that shame us, especially when our emotions and expressed strongly.