Saying Goodbye

Losing a dog for whatever reason can be heartbreaking. Robert and I had to say goodbye to our beloved dog Fred on the 23rd of August. Fred is the black and white Border Collie featured in this video. He taught me so much, and I shall always be grateful he was part of our lives. However, saying goodbye is always hard. It is now recognised that bonding with a dog and the consequent loss of the dog can impact a person as much as losing a close friend or family member. It is understood that a person might go through the five stages of grief in very much the same way. Pets have become part of the family, offering similar emotional support to the owner, and enlightened vet practices may be able to provide grief counselling to their clients. Whether you are going through these emotions at the loss of your pet, I would encourage you to share your story with someone. You can even email Lassie Talks if you need to connect. I believe telling our story is vital in processing our emotions of loss, as stories help our ability to process grief.