Today, I’d like to share a touching story submitted by one of our customers about their experience with pet loss.
A Customer’s Story:
I’d like to talk about my own experience with pet loss.
When I was in college, the dog I had loved since childhood passed away.
At the time, my college life was going well. I was staying active and interacting normally with the people around me. Because of that, I didn’t tell anyone about my dog’s death. I convinced myself I was doing fine.
But over time, I began to feel drained — not quite sad, but like I’d lost my energy or motivation for things.
Then one day, a friend invited me out for drinks.
That night, he asked me gently,
“You haven’t seemed like yourself lately. Is everything okay?”
The moment he asked, memories of my dog came rushing back, and I suddenly burst into tears. I’m sure he was surprised.
I kept trying to downplay it, saying, “It’s nothing serious,” but the more I tried to explain, the more the tears came. I couldn’t stop crying.
Eventually, I told him the truth — that my dog had died.
It was the first time I had said it out loud to anyone.
My friend had never owned a pet, and he admitted that honestly.
“I’ve never had a pet,” he said, “but I’ve heard it’s like losing a family member.”
His words helped me feel understood.
Then he added:
“You can tell me anything.”
So I talked a little more about my dog. Just a little.
After that, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest. I was able to enjoy the rest of the evening, and we laughed and talked like we used to. It turned out to be a really good time.
What stayed with me most were two simple things he said:
“Is everything okay?”
and
“You can talk to me about anything.”
That moment made me so grateful to have a friend like him, and I felt like I could start smiling again.
How to Begin Healing from Pet Loss
[From the Blog Editor]
As this story shows, one of the first steps in healing from pet loss is talking to someone about it.
Sharing your grief — even just a little — can make a huge difference.
Keeping all that pain inside only prolongs the sadness. If you don’t have someone to talk to, consider writing in a journal or sharing your feelings in an online community.
You’re not alone, and it’s okay to seek support.
Other articles you might want to read:
Talking to someone about the painful feelings of losing a pet can help ease your feelings.
Return to “How I overcame the loss of my pet“