Healthy Grieving

"I thought that I was prepared but nothing could have prepared me for the loss of Riker. The isolation I felt was overwhelming." Jo Ragen Riker 14.2.1997 – 30.5.2012 Healthy Grieving Humans and animals are biologically wired to connect. When death causes a physical break in the connection, grieving is at the heart of our healing. When grieving the loss of an animal relationship, people report that a lack of accepted practices to facilitate their grief impairs its resolution. In a study of adults who had lost an animal 100% Acknowledging experienced grief. and Accepting Grief At the death of an animal adults often struggle with what is the right thing to do, many choosing to do nothing. 53% were helped through grief by other companion animals. 37% reported being comforted by ritual or ceremonial Do something! burial of their animal. Only 6% reported that Conducting Rituals they had been comforted by humans other than a veterinarian. Acknowledge the animal relationship or Share in stories and reminisce Ceremonies Encourage meaningful ritual or ceremony The death of an Many described feeling animal is often devoid of "One benchmark of a completed grief reaction is when one is able to think of the deceased without pain. There is still a sense of sadness, but it is a different kind of sadness - it lacks the wrenching quality it previously ISOLATION rituals, with no accepted FEAR OF SHAME practices to facilitate the working through of grief. HUMILIATION Seeking had." Closure Dr W Worden The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT.com.au) and Blackdog Wear (Blackdog.net.au) Sources: "Worden, W. (2009). Grief Counielling and Gref Theropy *attp://nurturingparenting.com/images/cmsfiles/Hardwired to connect.pof - Bovolek S1. "http://d.do.org http://onlinelti encourage healthy grieving. (449708414419 - Morales, P.c. Produced by: Dayna veraguth Ja Ragen 4468-5884.2009 bstruct Attochmentbstween humars and dogs-Nagosowa.M.