What's Up Doc? Loss of a Pet Can Be Very Real
By Randall Freeman, PhD Kids and pets go hand-in-hand. A family who is blessed with the opportunity to provide a loving home for a dog or ...
http://www.menifee247.com/2015/10/whats-up-doc-loss-of-a-pet-can-be-very-real.html
Kids and pets go hand-in-hand. A family who is blessed with the opportunity to provide a loving home for a dog or cat will never regret having done so. These pets become an ingrained and integral part of the family unit.
Raising a dog or cat provides children of all ages with the opportunity to experience love that is all-giving. The warmth and love of a pet is a wonderful experience for all members of a close-knit family.
Losing a pet is difficult for everybody in the family. Even when a precious pet is reaching an advanced age and is not in great health, the loss is tremendous. This loss teaches children and parents how to grieve when the loss of a pet happens.
If you read my biographical information at the bottom of this column, you will learn that we have many animal members of our family. One of our pets, Mikko, passed away in his sleep this past week. He didn’t suffer, which helps us to deal with his loss.
Despite the knowledge that all creatures read the end of life’s journey at some point in time, despite the fact that the passing may even be expected, the actual passing is a very difficult time for those who loved the pet. Mikko was loved by all, human and canine. His loss has been felt by all of us. Even Max and Scruffy sense that something is wrong and are acting somewhat subdued.
Our daughters are facing death more and more as they grow. Both grandfathers, an uncle, but this is the first time they have been old enough to experience the grief of loss of a loved one and to understand what it means.
Mikko will be missed. I realize that, except for Max, who has yet to reach the age of 3, we will be experiencing loss again in the near future. Scruffy is 12 and Hunter is 17. For me, the latter will be the hardest to deal with. I rescued Hunter when she was but a year old. I have been her human for more than 16 years. Even knowing that it will happen doesn’t make it easier to accept.
Rest in Peace, Mikko.
Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home.
The loss of our beloved dog Dustin has affected my wife and me tremendously. It has also affected his twin brother and litter mate as well. It has now been over a year and we still cry daily. It is hard sometimes for people to understand just how emotionally attached we get with our pets and in some cases the loss is even harder than the loss of a human family member. We lost both my father and my wife's mother within 45 days 6 years ago. While difficult, it was much easier to deal with than with the loss of our dog. My mom put it this way. We raise our children to become adults and they go off and raise a family of their own. We may talk to one another and see each other often. However, a pet is not raised like a child to become an adult and go off and raise a family of their own. Our pets are our constant companions and provide unconditional love 24/7. When they are gone we notice it immediately and are reminded of it constantly. In our case, our dogs are our companions 24/7 since we are disabled and home with them all the time. We never leave them and take them with us everywhere. They are our therapy dogs as well.
ReplyDelete