On a personal note
Recently, I sensed some sadness in one of my relatives and gave her a call. I asked how she was and as I did not see the family’s furry friend at the last gathering, I asked about him. She told me in a breaking voice that he was experiencing difficulty breathing for a while and his breathing became more labored and so severe that a decision had to be made. There was an internal battle of wanting to hold on to him yet not wanting him in pain. The decision was made to relieve him of his suffering and he was euthanized.
Household members were not even aware until after the procedure had been done. I found out two weeks later. I would have liked to have known so I could have offered my support and be present to say goodbye to our faithful family companion of 15 years but I get it. Having to make the decision to euthanize is complicated and loaded with a gamut of emotions. The loss for many is like that of losing a family member yet different in that if the deceased were a human family member, we would have all been informed and would have been able to support each other in the grieving process and openly honor & memorialized our beloved.
Euthanasia, though an act of love, mercy and compassion, comes with a stigma. It’s painful, it comes with guilt, it comes with mixed emotions and it’s uncomfortable. Our little guy is no longer in pain and he rests in peace. We are grateful that he was a part of our lives.
How each of us grieves is personal and we really can’t say what we would do in a certain situation or what someone else should do in a certain situation. Sometimes we just don’t know how to feel or what to do until faced with having to make a decision right away. The loss of an animal companion is difficult and in order for there to be increased awareness, acceptance and understanding of pet bereavement and loss on a wider societal scale, some introspection and candor are warranted. One has the option to keep on grieving privately or to share with others who are also hurting. If your decision is to share, welcome to A Place for CHAMPS. You don’t have to grieve alone. This site was established with you in mind. It’s a safe place to Celebrate, Honor and Memorialize your Pets, animal companions or famimals as I call them.
Dr. LGN. (PsyD, MAEd in Counseling, PPSc. BSN, RN)