The love for an animal is one of the most beautiful things one can experience in life, and conversely, its loss is one of the most painful. Unfortunately, grief over the loss of pets is still largely misunderstood, even a taboo subject , and people who experience the loss of their pets face the added difficulty of social incomprehension when processing their grief.
A dog, a cat, a bird, a hamster, a rabbit, a turtle… they aren't just animals; they're part of the family, so diminishing their loss doesn't help at all. Fortunately, another part of society is sensitive to this, which is why we want to help you cope with the pain of losing your pet with a list of "beautiful farewell messages for my pet."
A misunderstood duel
Not all people are capable of establishing a genuine bond with their pets, but those who do know very well what it means to experience such a loss.
The loss of a pet truly hurts , it hurts a lot, and this is confirmed by scientific studies such as the one carried out by the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaii (United States), according to which, “ 30% of owners feel pain for six months or more after the loss of their pet ,” while “ for 12 % it represents a very traumatic event in their lives.” In this regard, Dr. Thelma Duffey (2005) from the University of Texas (San Antonio) also affirms that “ the loss of a pet is generally experienced as a painful experience.”
Therefore, once we understand that this is a form of grief, just as painful as the loss of a person (sometimes even more so, according to some accounts), the task remains to raise awareness about the pain experienced by those who lose much more than just an animal. It is important to eradicate the social taboo surrounding the grief of losing pets and avoid phrases like: "What does it matter, it was just an animal," "Are you really upset about losing a dog?", "Just adopt another one ," etc. These are hurtful and insensitive phrases that, far from helping the person grieving, only make things worse by invalidating their pain.
No one would ever say at a funeral, "Why are you crying? He's just a parent... adopt another one ," or to a mother who has lost her baby, "Don't cry, you'll have another one ." The person who passes away is irreplaceable in the heart of the one forced to say goodbye. The mother who loses her baby won't heal her pain by having another, at least not immediately; the child who loses a parent can't replace them, and so on. It's necessary to integrate that loss by going through all the stages of grief , and only then will it be time to decide whether to have another baby, another pet... Some decide not to have any more animals, while others, with time, find themselves able to fill their lives with love with a new animal companion... that will be a very personal decision.
Nice goodbye phrases to my pet
Saying goodbye out of obligation and not by choice is very painful: when our pet dies, all the moments spent with her go away with her.
Animals are noble and innocent creatures that offer unconditional love to their owners, and such a display of generosity is worthy of being reciprocated with the best of care and affection. Therefore, when they leave, they leave a great void in our hearts.
Sometimes, journaling can be cathartic, or simply reading empathetic phrases that resonate with the pain you're experiencing can be comforting. That's why, at Postposmo, we want to help you through these difficult times with a list of "beautiful goodbye quotes for my pet":
- Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
- Here rest the remains of a creature that was beautiful without vanity, strong without insolence, brave without ferocity and had all the virtues of man and none of his defects.
- Now that you are no longer by my side, I can only hope that, wherever you are, you feel the warmth of my love. Well, it will always last.
- Do you know why I miss you so much? You were my friend since I was born, we grew up together. I will always have you in my heart.
- The greatest lesson in love was given to me by someone who did not speak the same language as me.
- No one like you will ever know how to transform sorrows into joys so easily.
- There was not a single day by your side in which tears did not turn into smiles.
- You were always by my side through thick and thin, you never judged me. So much for thanking you and you are no longer here.
- When I grow up I want to be like you: kind, loving and optimistic.
- They say that there is no love like that of a dog to its master. However, my love for you was just as intense and deep.
- I'm sorry if one day I couldn't dedicate the time you needed or for not having given you much love, today that you're gone I realize how valuable you were to me.
- I will miss waking up with your nose in my face; the best sign that it would be a good day.
- This is not a goodbye forever, because you will always be in my heart.
- You were, are and always will be my best friend.
- Thank you for teaching me to enjoy life. You have been my best teacher.
- Even when you had no strength left, you always did everything for me.
- You have always been worth more than most people I know. I hope you never forget it.
- We played together, we did sports almost every day and once in a while we did more than one mischief. You don't know how sad I feel because you're gone, however, I learned to be humble and compassionate thanks to you.
- Angels don't always look like humans; sometimes they are 4-legged. Today I know that you are one of them, friend.
- Meditate at sunset, looking at the stars and petting your dog. It is an infallible remedy.
- Nobody said that I would lose you so soon, I miss you so much friend.
- It doesn't matter if an animal can reason. We know they can suffer, and for that alone we should already consider them our neighbors.
- Dogs may not be your whole life, but they make your life complete.
- I know that you are in a place where you no longer suffer from that disease that took you away from us, we miss you very much.
- If I had to choose someone to trust... I would choose my dog. Until now, he's the only one who hasn't told anyone my secrets.
- I send you a kiss to heaven, because I know that from there you are still my best companion.
- A true friend leaves a mark on your heart.
- All knowledge, all questions and answers... are found in a dog.
An inspiring poem: Pablo Neruda's beautiful verses to his deceased dog
If anyone was capable of writing beautiful farewell phrases to my pet with great mastery, it was Pablo Neruda, who dedicated a beautiful poem to his dog after its passing. We couldn't say goodbye without sharing this moving tribute with you; we hope you enjoy it:
My dog died.
I buried him in the garden
next to an old rusty machine.
There, not below,
nor higher,
Will he meet me sometime?
Now he already left with his fur,
his rudeness, his cold nose.
And I, a materialist who does not believe
in the heavenly promised sky
for no human,
for this dog or for all dogs
I believe in heaven, yes I believe in a heaven
where I will not enter, but he waits for me
waving its fan tail
so that when I arrive I have friends.
Oh I will not say the sadness on earth
of no longer having him as a companion
that for me was never a server.
He had the friendship of a hedgehog towards me
who retained his sovereignty,
the friendship of an independent star
with no more privacy than necessary,
no exaggerations:
did not climb on my wardrobe
filling me with hair or scabies,
it didn't rub against my knee
like other sexually obsessed dogs.
No, my dog was looking at me giving me the necessary attention
the necessary attention
to make a vain understand
that being a dog he,
with those eyes, purer than mine,
he wasted time, but he looked at me
with the look that reserved for me
all her sweet, her furry life,
his silent life,
close to me, never bothering me,
and without asking me for anything.
Oh how many times I wanted to have a tail
walking with him along the shores of the sea,
in the winter of Isla Negra,
in the great solitude: up the air
trespassing of glacial birds
and my dog jumping, shaggy,
full of moving marine voltage:
my stray and sniffing dog
hoisting his golden tail
facing the ocean and its foam.
merry, merry, merry
as dogs know how to be happy,
with nothing else,
with the absolutism of shameless nature.
There is no goodbye to my dog that has died.
And there is no lie between us.
He already left and I buried him, and that was it.