How Dog Memorials Can Help in Time of Grief
If you’ve ever owned a dog and had the dog pass away, you probably realize that the grief can be just as intense as losing a relative. Dog owners understand this better than most, and realize how dog memorials can help in time of grief.
The bond between dog and human is one that sometimes baffles our minds, to the point thmat researchers now study the dynamic of that bond. In one respect, it seems unlikely, because the dog is a relative of the wolf, and carries many of the same instincts. Nevertheless, since the dog has been dosmesticated, it has been bred in such a way that it will feel comfortable in the presence of humans, act as a friend or companion, act as an assitant or aid, and even act as a defender in certain situations. The dog is truly man’s best friend, and this is why the bond between human and dog can be so strong. It also explains why it can be so painful when the bond is broken.
The guiding principle governing dog memorials is the same with the ones governing memorials dedicated to humans. These memorials give us the opportunity to pay tribute, to celebrate life, to give thanks, and to bid farewell. All these are needed in oder to properly process grief and help the person heal. Losing a dog is as painful as losing a loved and neither one is less important because the bond between two beings is the same. This is the reason why for some it is important to memorialize their pet.
Dog memorials can take many forms. A eulogy or a memorial service is one form of a memorial. It can be an object, such as a traditional grave marker or a personalized urn for the cremated ashes. However, there are those who would prefer a creative type of dog memorial that will serve as a keepsake. It might be a locket containing a clip of fur or the pet’s picture, or a piece of jewelry that contains some of the ashes, or a commissioned pet portrait. There are other options, also; one artist even creates special heart-themed abstract art pieces to memorialize dogs and other pets, including some of the ashes or fur of the dog in the final layer of the painting. What’s important in these cases is that the memorial be meaningful, a fitting tribute to the life of your dog.
If you have lost a dog, there is no shame whatsoever in wanting to memorialize that dog. In fact, the desire to set up dog memorials is natural, and can truly help with the healing process.
