Death is not a subject many people feel comfortable discussing, whether it’s our own, that of someone we love, or that of an animal that has been part of our lives, but sooner or later it needs to be faced.

An added complication when a pet dies is that, as an owner, we worry that people will think that we’re over-reacting if we show our grief, and that the attitude ’But it was only an animal’ will prevail.

Locking away grief doesn’t make it go away.

Express it, and don’t hide your feelings in a misguided effort to appear strong and calm.

Don’t try to avoid it by not thinking about your pet; instead, reminisce about the good times.

This will help you understand what your pet’s loss actually means to you.

Coping strategies can include rearranging your schedule to fill in the times you would have spent with your pet; preparing a memorial such as a photo collage; and talking to others about your loss.

Working through your feelings with another person is one of the best ways to put them in perspective and find ways to handle them.

If you can, find someone you can talk to about how much your pet meant to you and how much you miss them.

bereavement

If you don’t have family or friends who understand, or if you need more help, the Isle of Man Samaritans take pet bereavement very seriously and they are there to help if you need them on 116123.

Losing a pet is often the first time that a child becomes aware of death.

It is usually better to be honest with a child and explain the truth as clearly as you can.

Be careful when you use the term ’put to sleep’ as a child may expect their pet to wake up again later.

Children may want time to say good-bye to their pet and seeing the body may help them understand what has happened.

Some people worry that their own death may occur before their pet’s, meaning that they leave their beloved animal behind, facing an uncertain future, and this can be a source of great anxiety.

The ManxSPCA runs a Pet Guardian Care Scheme, which tries to allay such concerns by giving pet owners peace of mind that their animal will be looked after should they die before them, or if they become incapacitated or move into a care home.

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By registering your pet, or pets, into our Care Scheme you will be able to provide details about their likes and dislikes, their health, their favourite food, etc. which will help the society place them with suitable, as well as loving, owners.

If you would like some more information about the Pet Guardian Care Scheme call Juana on 851672 or e-mail her on [email protected].

Onto happier matters, we have been re-homing rabbits and cats very successfully of late, and some of our longer-term stay dogs like Obi are out on trial, and so this week’s featured animals are ’new in’.

The first is the wonderfully named Lady Fluffington.

She is a young cat who has previously lived outdoors and so she may take some time to adjust to a home environment, but she is loving the warmth of her pen and she likes to snuggle into her bedding.

She is still a little nervous but once she gets to know you she enjoys being stroked and cuddled.

Our other ’cat of the week’ is a handsome tabby and white male we have called Dallas.

He came to us as a stray from Tromode Industrial Estate and we think he’s about three years old.

He’s a really friendly cat and so we’re surprised that no one has claimed him, but they haven’t and so he is looking for new owners who will give him a ’forever home’.

The Foxdale Road to/from the south is now open, and so it’s even easier to come and meet our animals at Ard Jerkyll, and so please come and visit.