Pets bring so much joy into our world. Their love is unconditional and complete and their death creates a vacuum in our lives. All members of the family will need time to grieve and children can have an especially hard time coping with the loss of a family pet. 
 
Jennifer had her puppy for only a few short months when the puppy contracted Parvo. The two were never separated for more than a couple of hours, even traveling 200 miles to visit family members. The bonding between Shy and Jennifer was strong, “She was there for me.” Jennifer said, wiping a tear away. Jennifer had found Shy just a few short weeks before her husband moved out. Shy comforted Jennifer as nothing else could during those first few dark nights. 
 
When Shy passed on, Jennifer was devastated. It took several weeks for before she could even talk about Shy without tearing up. Jennifer memorialized Shy with a small engraved stone placed in the garden where Shy was buried.  “I still talk to her, almost daily.” Jennifer says as she pauses beside the small grave. “I loved her and she loved me.”
 
David watched Rafiki come into the world. His wife’s dog had the litter just a month after they married. While the rest of the puppies were quickly adopted, Rafiki seemed to know that he was destined to live with David. “Even as a little pup, he would stay right on my heels.” 
 
On the mantle of the fireplace, three framed photographs of David and his dog are grouped together. The pictures show the progression of newlywed and puppy, to playful dog, to finally, the adult and the wise old dog at his side. Rafiki developed arthritis in his later years. David faced the choice of either letting his buddy suffer, or letting him be put down. “It was the hardest decision I ever made.” His glance at the mantle indicated that he still wrestled with the life ending decision.   “I tried to do what was best for him.” The pictures provide a memorial to David’s longtime companion. 
 
Pets are never forgotten, and the pain of losing them is intense. As when you lose a family member, there is a grieving process that must be gone through. You have to go through the denial, the anger, and finally, the acceptance. By remembering the pet and the good times you had together, you know that their death was just another bridge they crossed and that, someday, you too will be crossing that bridge.