Dignity Pets logo
Dignity Pets logo
01252 844572
  • Latest News
  • Vet Portal
  • Checkout
  • Shop Log in
  • About
    • Why Choose Us
    • History
    • Supporting Charities
    • Meet The Team
    • Video Testimonials & Photos
    • Our Brochure
  • Services
    • Arranging Your Pet’s Cremation
    • Pre-Payment Plan
    • Pre-cremation Wishes
    • Getting Your Pet To Dignity
    • Other Services
      • Scattering or Burying Ashes
      • Equine Cremations
      • Remembrance Walkway
      • Pet Exhumation
      • Celebrant Pet Funeral Service
    • Search By Pet Type
      • Cat Cremations
      • Dog Cremations
      • Small Animal Cremations
      • Horse Cremations
    • Our Prices
    • Pet Caskets and Urns
  • Euthanasia with Dignity
    • Euthanasia at Dignity
    • Home Euthanasia
  • Client Journeys
  • Bereavement Support
    • Pet Bereavement Counselling
    • Poetry and Books
    • Ways To Remember Your Pet
  • Shop
    • Caskets, Urns & Coffins
      • Caskets & Urns
        • Indoor Caskets & Urns
        • Burial Caskets
        • Scatter Containers
        • Eco-Friendly Urns
        • For Cats
        • For Dogs
        • For Small Animals
        • For Horses
      • Porcelain Urn
      • Home Burial
      • Photo Frames
      • Engraving (Caskets & Urns)
    • Pet Keepsakes
      • Paw Print
        • Personalised Paw Print Impression
        • Paw Print Jewellery
      • Pet Memorial Jewellery
        • Alba Rose Ashes Jewellery
        • See You Memorial Jewellery
        • Silvertips Paw and Nose Print Jewellery
        • Necklaces
        • Bracelets
        • Chains
        • Earrings
        • Rings
        • Pendants
        • Charms
        • Cufflinks
        • Dog Tag
        • Horsehair Jewellery
        • Pet Urn Jewellery
      • Keyrings
      • Horseshoe Print Jewellery
    • Memorials, Tributes & Markers
      • Memorial Stones & Slates
        • Pet Gravestones
      • Pet Memorial Candles
      • Sword Markers
      • Plaques
    • Books
      • Pet Bereavement Books
    • Charity
    • Christmas
    • Vouchers
  • Contact
    • How To Find Us
    • Join Our Team
    • FAQs
    • Feedback Form
Home Latest News Coping With The 5 Stages of Grief After Losing a Pet
Grieving the loss of a pet

Coping With The 5 Stages of Grief After Losing a Pet

Uncategorised

04/03/2020

Whether you have suffered a recent bereavement or you are still grieving for a pet lost some time ago, there are things you can do to help yourself or others around you. In this blog post we’re going to look at coping with the 5 stages of grief after losing a pet. These tips won’t be right for everyone, and if you are struggling to cope with the loss of a pet we urge you to contact a pet bereavement support service – scroll to the bottom of this blog post to find contact details.

What is grief

Grief is the emotional response we feel when something or someone we love is taken away. There are many different forms of grief, and no two people will grieve in the same way. As pet owners, we often hear responses such as “it was only a pet” or

What are the 5 stages of grief

The concept of the 5 stages of grief was first published by a Swiss-American psychologist called Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969. Her research actually involved terminally ill patients, who she argued go through these five stages when accepting their imminent death. Many medical professionals realised that these 5 stages apply to all types of grief, and so the Kübler-Ross model became the generally accepted standard.

  1. Denial
  2. Anger
  3. Bargaining
  4. Depression
  5. Acceptance

Everyone grieves differently, and there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to experiencing the different stages. In fact, there’s no guarantee you will experience them in this order or that will go through every one of these stages. We like to use the ‘grief curve’ to visualise the journey – it’s important to note that you often end up higher on the curve having gone through the grieving process than when you started.

Grief curve pet loss

How to cope with grief after losing a pet

Remember, there’s no time scale on grief and everyone will experience these stages differently – or not at all.

Denial

The first reaction many of us have following a bereavement is denial. The feeling that this can’t possibly be happening. It’s important to understand that this is a natural response, and while the loss may not seem real at first we will eventually come to terms with it. Kübler-Ross says “Denial and shock help us to cope and make survival possible. Denial helps us to pace our feelings of grief. As you accept the reality of the loss and start to ask yourself questions, you are unknowingly beginning the healing process.”

Anger

During the anger phase of the grieving process it’s common to look for someone to blame, whether that is others or yourself. Guilt is a common feeling during this stage, wondering if you have made the right decision or if there was anything you could have done differently. Be open about how you are feeling and those around you will understand your feelings of anger and lashing out. Don’t bottle your anger up, but channel it into something like exercise.

Bargaining

The bargaining stage provides us with a temporary escape from our grief and is an important part of the process. You might need to remind yourself that there’s nothing you can do to bring your pet back. Talking to family & friends or a support group can help you accept your loss and adjust to the reality of the situation.

Depression

Depression is one of the most visible stages of the grieving process, and it usually occurs once the reality sinks in. Sadness, loss of motivation, difficulty sleeping and a loss of appetite are all common during depression. During this stage it’s really important to talk to someone; that could be someone close to you, a medical professional or one of the support services below. No one will judge you for the way you are feeling. You should give yourself permission to feel how you need to feel – but avoid negative behaviour that may be harmful to yourself.

Acceptance

Once you begin to accept the reality of the loss you may feel the depression lifting. Just because you have reached the acceptance stage does not mean you have forgotten your pet, or that you are ‘over’ the loss. It simple means that you have accepted the situation and can begin to move on. Be patient with yourself and find ways to pay tribute to your pet, this may help give you positive reminders of the time you spent together.

Are you struggling with coping with the 5 stages of grief after losing a pet? If you need to speak to someone about the loss of your pet please use one of the below services.

Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service

  • Website bluecross.org.uk
  • Phone number 0800 096 6606
  • Email pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
  • Online contact form

Cats Protection Paws to Listen Service

  • Website cats.org.uk
  • Phone number 0800 024 9494
  • Online contact form

The Ralph Site

  • Website theralphsite.com
PREV

NEW Alba Rose Ashes Paw Print Necklaces

NEXT

We're a Finalist in the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards

Services

  • Arranging Your Pet’s Cremation
  • Bereavement Support
  • Getting Your Pet To Dignity
  • Other Services
  • Our Prices

Help & Information

  • About
  • Stories
  • Latest News
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • Pet Keepsakes
  • Pet Memorial Jewellery
  • Paw Print
  • Caskets, Urns and Coffins
  • Memorials, Tributes & Markers

Legal

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Shop Terms & Conditions
  • The Meadow Room Terms & Conditions
  • Code of Practice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
Dignity Pets logo

Follow us:

Get in touch

Get in touch

  • Dignity Pet Crematorium, Odiham Road
    Winchfield, Hook
    Hampshire
    RG27 8BU
  • 01252 844572
  • enquiries@dignitypetcrem.co.uk
  We plant trees with Ecologi

Opening Hours

Please find our opening hours below.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9:00AM – 5:30PM
Phones open: 9:00AM – 4:30PM

Wednesday: 9:00AM – 6:30PM
Phones open: 9:15AM – 4:30PM

Saturday: 9:00AM – 5:30PM
Phones open: 9:00AM – 4:30PM

Sunday & Bank Holidays: Emergency service only, please contact us for details

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter to stay in the loop.

Sign up today

© 2025 Dignity Pet Crematorium All Rights Reserved|Website by blue bee