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PrintProtecting Your Pet: Losing a Pet
If you've ever loved and lost a pet you know how devastating it can be. For some it's too much to bear alone so they turn to support groups to help ease the pain. Here's health specialist Marilyn Mitzel with today's "protecting your pet."
WSVN -- Many people consider pets family members.
That's why losing them can be devastating, grief is a very personal thing.
Some people come to the cemetery to grieve for their animals alone, but bereavement counselors say some just can't get over their pain, unless they share it with others.
They can do that at pet loss support meetings.
Bereavement Specialist Carmela Carlyle: "There's a value of being in a group where everybody understands what you're going through so that you don't feel like a freak and you don't feel like it's not normal."
They assure each other it's normal to feel so much sadness. This where the healing begins.
Group Member Barbara Kallen: "I haven't really been able to look at pictures of her, but because of the group, I sat down and I went through things."
They're encouraged to talk about their loss, to keep journals and put up pictures.
Group member Marcia Arsenault: "Well, believe it or not, I'm crying less this week than the last two weeks."
It's a safe place where they can come to laugh or cry and not feel ashamed - while learning to live without their four legged friends.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: mmitzel@wsvn.com
Pet Grieving and Loss Support Group
Judith Tobin
305-975-1933
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
www.aplb.org