CoUNSELING SERVICES
Best Friend Gone Project
The Best Friend Gone Project is a service offered by LSU Vet Med to help those are dealing with the loss of a pet. Grief is the emotional process that one experiences following a loss. It can be thought of as the process of letting go or saying goodbye. The emotions experienced during the grief process can be intense and seem overwhelming, and occasionally people may feel their emotions are "out of control." However, it is common for pet owners to feel:
- Numb
- Guilty
- Angry
- Lonely
- Hopeless
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Withdrawn
- Fatigued
Grief Process
The nature and duration of the grief process is unique to everyone. With the loss of a beloved pet, grief may last from a few days to a few years. Many times, sleep or appetite disturbances accompany grief, too. Veterinarians and mental health professionals recognize and agree that there is a legitimate grief response to animal loss. Grief is normal.
Children who are grieving a pet's death may be unable or unwilling to verbalize their feelings. Bereaved adults may feel they lost a companion who was more constant and significant than any human in their daily live.
Too often, however, grief resulting from a pet's death is unrecognized or unsanctioned by society, and sometimes even by those closest to us. People may encounter those who innocently hurt them with remarks such as "Just get another..." or "It was just a dog/cat/horse/bunny...". Owners may even be ridiculed about the amount of time or money spent on treatment and/or memorialization. Sympathy and support are often unavailable or not offered to bereaved pet owners yet understanding is helpful in making a healthy recovery.
