How to Cope With Pet Loss grief: 9 Gentle Ways to Get Through the Grief

Losing an animal can feel like your whole world has been turned upside down.

One day they’re part of your everyday life, and the next… everything feels empty. You might feel heartbroken, confused, lonely, or even like no one really understands how much pet loss grief hurts.

If that’s where you are right now, I want you to hear this first:

What you’re feeling is normal.

Your grief is real. And it deserves space, care, and understanding.

In this post, I want to share nine gentle ways to help you cope with the loss of your animal. These are things I’ve learned through my own experiences of losing animals I love, through my work as a grief educator, and through messages animals have shared with their humans from the other side.

You don’t have to do all of these. Just take what feels right for you.

Create a Moment to Say Goodbye

When people we love pass away, we usually hold a funeral or memorial. But when an animal dies, this step is often skipped.

Creating a small burial or memorial can be incredibly healing. It gives you a moment to slow down, honour your animal, and say goodbye in your own way.

This doesn’t have to be formal. It can be lighting a candle, saying a few words, planting something in the garden, or gathering with people who loved your animal too.

This moment isn’t really for your animal, it’s for you. It helps your heart begin to accept what’s happened, with love instead of shock.

Put Their Belongings Away (For Now)

In the early days of grief, everything can be a trigger. The food bowl. The toys. The leash. The empty bed.

Putting these things away doesn’t mean you’re forgetting your animal. That’s not possible. Love doesn’t work like that.

What it does mean is that you’re giving yourself a little break. You’re reducing the constant reminders while the grief is still so raw.

You can always bring these things back later, when they feel comforting instead of painful.

Let Yourself Feel What You’re Feeling

Grief can feel overwhelming, so it’s natural to want to push it down or distract yourself from it.

But healing happens when we allow ourselves to feel.

Grief isn’t just emotional, it affects your body, your energy, your thoughts. And while it can feel unbearable at times, something interesting often happens when you let yourself fully feel it.

You may notice waves—moments of deep sadness, followed by moments of calm or numbness. That’s your body protecting you.

And sometimes, in those heavy moments, people feel a sudden sense of peace or love. If that’s happened to you, it may have been your animal letting you know they’re still with you, supporting you.

Don’t Minimise Your Grief

Pet loss grief is often misunderstood. Many people are expected to “be okay” within days.

You might find yourself wondering:

Am I being too sensitive?

Should I be over this by now?

Am I grieving wrong?

You’re not!

When you love an animal deeply, losing them hurts deeply. There’s no timeline. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Your experience is valid, exactly as it is.

Don’t Go Through This Alone

Grief can make you want to pull away from the world. You might feel disconnected from people or like no one really understands.

But support matters.

That might be one person who checks in on you. A friend you can text. Or a group of people who’ve also lost animals and truly get it.

You don’t have to explain yourself there. You’re simply understood. And that can make a big difference.

Let Go of the Guilt

Guilt is incredibly common after losing an animal.

What animals often share from the other side is this: they don’t want you to feel guilty.

They knew they were loved. They knew it was their time. And if you could have done more, you would have.

A simple exercise that can help:

Write down what you feel guilty about. Then respond to each point as if your animal were speaking to you, with love, kindness, and reassurance.

The love between you didn’t end. It’s still there.

Wait for the right time to Get Another Pet

When we’re hurting, it’s natural to want something that makes us feel better.

Sometimes that shows up as the idea of getting another animal quickly. While this can help temporarily, it can also push grief aside rather than letting it move through.

Before welcoming another animal, gently ask yourself:

Is my heart open?

Can I love this animal for who they are, not as a replacement?

If the answer is yes, then invite another bundle of joy into your life.

Take Care of the Small Things

Grief is exhausting. That’s why the small things matter so much.

Try to eat regular meals, even if food doesn’t taste the same. Rest when you can. Go for short walks. Breathe.

If possible, invite someone to walk with you, whether you talk or stay quiet.

Animals often share that they don’t want their humans to stay home alone in grief. Living your life again, gently and slowly, is one way to honour them.

You Can Still Connect With Your Animal

Losing your animal doesn’t mean losing your connection.

You can still feel them around you. You can ask for signs from your pets in the afterlife. You can invite them into your dreams, our animals love visiting during pet visitations. You can also use meditations to open up your coneection to the other side or explore animal communication if that feels right for you.

Many people find that reconnecting brings comfort, peace, and reassurance, and helps soften the grief over time.

If you’d like to learn more, you’rwhere I share more about animal communication and stories from other pet parents.

A Final Thought

If you’re dealing with pet loss grief, please know this:

You’re not weak. You’re not doing this wrong. And you’re not alone.

Your grief exists because love existed first, and that love is still with you.

Take gentle care of yourself,

Many people reading this are walking a similar path. If you want to, you can leave a comment below and be part of this shared space of understanding.