10 Tips For Expressing Sympathy For The Loss Of A Dog

As mentioned above, dogs are an excellent resource for support and love, and they are naturally equipped with powerful health benefits and the ability to relieve stress. In nearly 40,000 years of living as domesticated animals, dogs have evolved to become exceptionally attuned to our emotional state and can understand how to respond the best way they know. Considering this, when someone loses something so dear to them, they will need a lot of support to help them move forward. 

So when you're feeling down from a stressful day or significant life event, dogs are often an excellent remedy to calming your nerves and recalibrating your mental state to a more reasonable condition.

Understandably, this can be devastating to anyone who lives alone and has no other household members to rely on.   If your loved one lives alone and recently lost their dog, take the time to express your sympathy, so they have someone to lean on during a very lonely time in their life. 

In many cases, people require service dogs to support and assist them in their life. This means when their dog passes; they are faced with grief from the loss of their companion and dealing with the loss of a life aid, further compounding the challenges of the situation.

Compassion dogs are trained to offer support in one specific area, and they go through behavioral training to ensure they provide the loving support their caretaker will also need. If you have a loved one who lost their support dog, this should not be treated differently from the loss of a pet dog. 

In fact, your loved one may require additional support through their loss as they may require guidance on how to go about replacing their dog to ensure their needs are not neglected. 

Support dogs work in a variety of capacities, including the following. 

• Allergy Detection Dogs. They are trained to detect the smell of odors related to allergens, including peanuts, eggs, gluten, and so on. There are no restrictions on who they are paired with, but it is often with children since they may not have the ability to determine which foods they cannot eat.
• Diabetic Alert Dogs. These dogs are trained to alert other household members or set off an alarm if their caretaker requires immediate medical care. They learn this skill through intense training, which teaches them how to identify potentially-deadly blood sugar highs and lows accurately. They are often paired with elder caretakers who live alone with no one to support them with their medical needs. 
• Autism Service Dogs. These dogs are trained to help their caretakers navigate social settings and life in general. They are often paired with children. The service dogs accompany them everywhere, including school and extracurricular activities. They act as a guide and help the child with confidence. They are also trained to ensure the children don't get lost or run away and have the ability to interpret potentially harmful situations. The loss of an autism service dog can be especially difficult for children as their dog plays a significant part in their young lives.
• Hearing Dogs. These dogs are trained to assist their human caretaker who is deaf or hard of hearing. When they hear or sense something, they will notify their caretaker by leading them toward the noise. This could be a walk signal at a crosswalk, a phone ringing, or a doorbell. These dogs are paired with people of all ages so long as they meet the special needs requirement.
• Guide Dogs. These are among the more popular service dogs and can be recognized as the dogs who wear a vest or special harness. They are paired with people who are blind or who have impaired vision. They are specially trained to help them safely navigate the world by acting as their eyes. 
• Mobility Assistance Dogs. These dogs are trained to help their caretakers with reduced mobility due to neuromuscular disease or any other organic impairment. They are paired with people of all ages, most of whom rely on a wheelchair to be mobile. They help by retrieving objects and transferring them out of their wheelchair.
• Psychiatric Service Dogs. This type of service dog is trained to help people who suffer from psychiatric disorders or impairments such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. Not only do they offer psychological and emotional comfort, but they are also trained to identify changes in mood and behavior and attend to their caretaker to help calm their episode or mood change. A loss of this type of service dog can be devastating to their caretaker since they offer emotional support that enables them to navigate the world rationally and with confidence. 

As is displayed above, dogs serve in more capacities than merely a family pet. Their companionship can be the bridge someone requires to acquire a level of normalcy in their life. Remember to be patient and kind to a friend or family member who lost their service dog because they are likely going through a unique type of grief and stress due to their loss, thus needing extra support. 

A 1988 study conducted for the Journal of Mental Health Counseling concluded that 38% of subjects studied consider their dog closer to them than their closest human family member. Considering this, there is no doubt that losing a pet dog is very stressful for many people. 

It is always best to offer your condolences when someone is dealing with a painful loss, but do so at the most appropriate time. Also, you need to recognize that it is absolutely normal for your loved one to feel sad and overwhelmed with emotions; therefore, rushing them to feel better can only prolong the grief. Be sure that when you reach out to offer support, ask them if the timing is okay or if they would like to reschedule. 

When you finally get the time to talk with them and offer your condolences, remember to follow up to check on their progress. You can do this by sending them a follow-up text or calling them for a quick chat. This is an excellent way to show the extent of your sympathy and to show you care. 

If you notice after some time that your friend is still struggling to accept the death of their dog, offering them resources can be impactful. If are looking for a resource to offer them, here is an excellent article that offers proven strategies to help with grieving the loss of a pet. 

Sending a sympathy card can seem like the least intrusive way to show your condolences, especially when you feel afraid of invading someone's space during a difficult time. You can send digital cards and notes if you prefer, saving you time and making it easy if your loved one lives a great distance from you. 

Ideas for what type of message to write on the card or note.

"Losing a loyal and faithful friend isn't easy." "They will always be by your side, watching over you." "I can't imagine the loss that you feel."

"You were a fantastic pet mom/dad." "It was so obvious how much you cared for and loved (dog's name), and they clearly loved you back. You and (pet's name) are in my thoughts and prayers." 

"You gave (pet's name) the best life. They were fortunate to have you as their parent. I'm here for you if and when you need anything or someone to talk to." 

"It's hard to believe (pet's name) is gone, and I miss them dearly. They left a lasting imprint on many lives, including mine." 

Offer to help with basic needs or any arrangements they may need. It can make a world of difference to offer help with basic needs. If it fits your schedule, offer to take the kids to school. Suppose your loved one has other dogs in the home and is struggling to leave for daily walks; offer to walk the dogs. This will help alleviate the guilt they may have for unintentionally neglecting the exercise needs of their other pets.

Below is a list of thoughtful ideas to get you started. 

• Pawprint jewelry.
• Pet cremation jewelry or keepsake jewelry that can hold a lock of the dog's fur.
• Photo engraved pet pendant- A favorite photo of the dog or dog and owner etched into the front with a special text engraving on the back.
• Memorial portrait of dog - painting or sketch.

If gifting your loved one pet memorial jewelry is something you are interested in doing, here is a list of diverse options to get you started. In addition, here is an excellent resource that will guide you on how to choose pet memorial jewelry and the meaning behind them. 

When we lose something or someone we love, we tend to go into a state of shock and even temporary emotional or mental paralysis. It can feel impossible to get done with the simplest tasks, including taking the time to prepare food and eating regularly. Grief has a way of overtaking our abilities and making an already tricky situation unbearable. 

For anyone who lives far from their loved one, you can have food delivered via a catering company, Uber Eats, or Skip The Dishes. Furthermore, if you prefer not to have prepared food dropped off, you can always order a gift basket of packaged items such as cheese, crackers, and chocolate. The options are endless, and this is a real winner that will not let you down. 

As mentioned above, dogs have been incorporated into the family unit for thousands of years, yet, society still downplays the gravity of what it feels like to lose one. Some of the more common responses to losing our furry friend are;

"It was only a dog; don't worry, you can always get a new one."

"Don't be so sensitive; it was only a dog."

Moreover, it is essential that people properly process their grief; otherwise, it will become dormant and never be resolved. Therefore, if someone is told they are being hypersensitive and should move on, they might just ignore their feelings and forcefully go about their life as usual.

With that said, you always want to be mindful of someone's grief and let them know that how they are feeling is valid and has merit. Never gaslight someone into doubting the validity of their feelings. 

You don't need to do something extravagant. Something as simple as grabbing a coffee and walking in the park can make a big difference in how they feel. If they agree on a date, ask them if they have anything, in particular, they would prefer. If not, you can decide on something peaceful and straightforward without too much noise.

Remember, however; you might want to consider avoiding places known to be busy with dogs, such as dog parks or public parks popular with dog owners. 

Below are a few ideas if you are unsure how to pick a spot.

• In or beside the dog's favorite park. If the park is on private property, find a nearby location open to the public but ensure it is in a secluded spot. 
• In a trail that the dog frequented and loved. You can plant it off the main route to keep it private and safe from being destroyed by a passerby or other animals. 
• Near a riverway close to where the dog enjoyed swimming.
• Ask your loved one if they are okay with you planting one in their yard. This is an excellent way to keep them close to their dog, and it makes it easier to visit whenever they want.