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Friday July 30,2010

How faith can ease the pain of a loss of a pet.

by Kitty Walker, LMSW-ACP

Dear Friend:

I just read your letter, in which you wrote:

I had to put my collie of 11 years to sleep Friday. He was my best friend. We have no children so he and our other three pets became our surrogate children. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do but I held his head in my lap and pet him as he went to sleep. The thing that has helped me the most is my Christian faith that I will see him again. Several of my friends agree with me, as does my pastor. I come from a fundamentalist family that believes otherwise. Now, I have to visit them for the holidays and I don't want their beliefs clouding mine. Can you help me?

Answer:

First, please accept my condolences for the loss of your collie. You did a very courageous thing to be there with him at the end, although it was the hardest thing you have ever done.

Unfortunately, I did not get to your letter in time to answer it before Christmas. I trust you made it through the family visit with your beliefs intact, but wanted to say a few words about the subject anyway.

Know that your beliefs about the afterlife of your dearly departed collie are sacred to you, and let no one else tell you differently. There has been a great deal written about this subject recently, from clergy representing a variety of religions, and the consensus is: Who is anyone to say that there is no afterlife for the animal kingdom? Your fundamentalist family members have a right to their beliefs; however, they have no right to judge what you believe.

Take Care,

Kitty

Ask Kitty is a psychotherapist specializing in grief and loss issues which humans encounter when their pets die. She has worked in this area for a number of years, providing counseling to people at this special time of need. She also provides consultation and education to employees of veterinary clinics in her area.