Knowing what to say to someone grieving the loss of a pet can be a bit tricky. What you think might be the right thing to say might not be.
For lots of people losing a pet can be harder than losing a person. Animals know us better than most people, they never judge us, and they love us unconditionally. This is why losing a pet is such a heartbreaking experience.
For me it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Thankfully I was surrounded by a community of people who said wonderful things that meant the world to me.
If you are looking for the right words to say look no further, I have you coved.
9 Things To Say To Someone Who Is Grieving The Loss Of A Pet
1) “I’m sorry for your loss.” or “My condolences.” – When in doubt or if it is someone you don’t know very well, stick with one of these.
2) “I don’t know what to say” – It is ok to acknowledge this.
3) “I can’t imagine how you feel” – Sooooo much better than I know how you feel. Bring up your own experience of pet loss can make the person feel like you are belittling their pain or trying to make it into a grief competition.
4) “Your feelings are normal” – Sometimes grief can make you feel like really odd. Just having someone validate your feeling as normal can be very comforting.
5) “Take all the time you need” – Everyone grieves on their own timeline and this lets the person know it is ok to take their time.
6) “It is so hard to say goodbye to a pet. I’m here for you” – It feels good to know that someone gets that you are going through a hard time and is offering to be there for you.
7) “I wish I could say something to take your pain away, but I know I can’t.” – This acknowledges their pain and lets the other person know you wish you could fix it but know you can’t.
8) “I’m here to talk whenever you need.” – Some people find it hard to talk about the loss of a pet right away while other people might need someone to talk to more immediately. This lets the person know you will be there for them when they need you.
9) Remind the owner that they gave the pet a great life – Domesticated pets are completely dependent on their owner for survival. When a pet dies an owner can feel a level of guilt that they didn’t do enough. This is especially true if they had to put their pet to sleep.
Going The Extra Mile For A Friend Who Has Lost A Pet
1) Share a favorite photo or memory of the pet. Nothing is sweeter than posting a cute photo of the pet on social media with a nice message attached. This reminds the person of the good times and also makes them feel good that their pet had a positive impact on others.
2) Make a donation in the pet’s name to an animal-related organization.
3) Send a sympathy card or flowers.
4) Bring the person a meal, just like you would do if they had lost a human.
5) Send them a memorial gift. You can check out some of our favorites to give here.
These are some of the best things you can say and do for someone who is grieving the loss of their pet.
There are also 13 things you should never say, and you can check those out here.
Just remember grief is the normal response to loss and there is nothing wrong with it. When someone you know is grieving, they don’t need to be fixed. They need to be listened to without analysis, criticism, or judgment.
