Dogs are some of the best pets due to their loving nature and loyal personality. Every dog owner knows how it feels to come home to a wagging tail and excited pup. When they say that a dog is a human’s best friend, they mean it literally.
Unfortunately, dogs can’t live forever. That’s why it breaks everyone’s heart when it comes time for a dog to move on to the afterlife. It may seem complicated to comfort a friend who has lost their beloved pet, but this article aims to help.
How to Express Your Empathy?
From an outsider’s perspective, it might be easy for you to think “it was just a dog” when someone has lost a pet. The thing about grief is that it always feels the same no matter what the person has lost. Therefore, it’s essential to show empathy in a time of loss.
If you’d like to, you could even give them a card to show your condolences. A person going through grief wants to know that the people they care about are available to comfort them in their time of need.
How to Behave around that Person?
It’s essential to listen to your friend’s needs. Be a shoulder for them to cry on and lend a listening ear when they need to talk. Don’t pity your friend, just be a support system for them in their fragile state.
Remember that your friend is grieving, but don’t stop inviting them out. If someone is in a depressive state, the last thing they need is to feel alone, so be sure to check in on them.
But, of course, let them be if they’re not in the mood to go out. Healing looks different for everyone.
How Can You Make them Feel Better?
Remember to be non judgemental and supportive. Try to celebrate their pet’s life instead of always mourning the loss. You can also give them ideas on how to memorialize their pet, such as getting a picture painted or getting an engraved necklace.
Also, it might help if you both have a deep conversation exploring the meaning of death. Talk about doggy heaven and how their pet is probably chasing birds and eating steaks while sleeping on a soft carpet. It’s comforting to know your pet is taken care of.
Things You Should Avoid Saying
There are some things you should avoid saying to them. If you say the wrong thing, you could set them into a fit of crying or make them angry.
Your job is to help them grieve, not trigger their emotional state. Below is a list of things you should not say to your grieving friend:
- “It was just a dog.”
A lot of people see their dogs as family members. So if you tell them it was just a dog, it implies that you think the dog is less than you.
- “It was God’s plan to take them.”
Some people take comfort in religion but telling someone that God decided that now was the time to take their pet might trigger a fight you don’t want.
- “Keep yourself busy so you don’t think about it.”
Your friend must work through their grief. It’s a bad habit to overbook your schedule to avoid thinking about your problems.
- “You have to be strong for others.”
Feeling like you have to be strong so that others can grieve is a considerable pressure that shouldn’t be placed on anyone. Everyone deserves to mourn their loss.
Things to Say that Can Help Them
If you’re wondering what you can specifically say to help your friend feel better, the answer is that it depends on who the person is. Everyone reacts differently to the things we say. However, below is a list of things you can say that might help the situation:
- “I’m here for you whenever you’re ready.”
This lets your grieving friend know you’re willing to listen and implies that it’s on their terms.
- “You and your family are in my prayers.”
A lot of people take comfort in religion when experiencing loss. So letting them know that they’re in your thoughts are prayers can turn into a comforting experience.
- “Do you want to talk about it?”
This lets your friend know you’re actively invested in helping them through their grief and opens up the discussion to talk.
- “If you need to cry, that’s okay.”
Crying can sometimes be seen as weak, so knowing it’s okay to cry can sometimes be more powerful than we know.
Final Thoughts on What to say When Someone’s Dog is Dying
It breaks everyone’s heart when it comes time for a dog to move on to the afterlife. When helping someone grieving over the loss of their pet, it’s essential to be empathetic. Listen to your friend’s needs and remember to be non judgemental; be a shoulder to cry on.
Avoid saying something like “you need to be strong for others,” as it can put a lot of pressure on the grieving person. Everyone deserves to grieve their loss. On the other hand, be sure to say “I’m here whenever you’re ready” to let them know you’re available on their terms.