Recent research has explored the psychological phenomenon of “continuing bonds” in pet loss grief and a resulting increase in depression. The study outlined a two-pronged approach to promote healing: support and memorialization. Grand Rapids pet parents are fortunate to have local resources for both!
“Sharing feelings in the safe space created by a support group can be the most powerful healing experience for people. It is healing to receive affirmation that others have experienced or are experiencing what you’re experiencing,” said Ginny Mikita, who leads the West Michigan Pet Loss Support Group.
Mikita’s life-long love of animals led her first to law school at Notre Dame where she sought to represent the interests of animals, and more recently, to animal ministry. She officiates Blessings of the Animals regularly throughout West Michigan in both religious and secular places.
Through the West Michigan Pet Loss Support Group, she aims to help pet parents process unexplored grief and understand that their behaviors and feelings are not unique. Whether someone is sleeping with his dog’s blanket, having vivid dreams or a spiritual sense of her companion animal’s presence, or purging the house of all reminders of their pet, they learn that such things are “normal” and examples of what Mikita calls “universal expressions of how people deal with grief.”
“One of the things that can happen in a group setting is there are often people at every stage of grieving, so it can help to see there is light at the end of the tunnel. Over time the impact lessens, but our hearts emerge a little more tender,” Mikita said.
Mikita feels many different acts of commemoration have therapeutic value. Here are a few ways to help the healing begin:
- Have a commemorative paw print or jewelry made
- Retrieve cremains in a commemorative urn or memorial items
- Create a photo album, scrapbook or video
- Take cremains to a special place such as a dog park where you had spent some time together (if you plan to spread the cremains, please secure permission from the municipality or other governing body or land owner)
- Plant a tree, donate a park bench, or otherwise make a contribution in memory of your pet or companion animal
- Have an intentional ceremony or ritual to formally acknowledge your loss
There is life on the other side of “the Rainbow Bridge.” We can honor our past bonds and prepare our hearts for new ones with the help of community support and memorialization.
The WMPLSG meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Heaven at Home Pet Hospice’s Comfort Center. To attend, please RSVP 616.460.0373 or ginny@animalblessings.love by noon on the day the group meets.