Losing a furbaby

FURBABY: 

A beloved pet, can also be fur-less (think reptiles and birds).
Typically used as a term of endearment towards an animal. 

A friend of mine recently lost her furbaby Snickers, she was a majestic and sassy 17-year old apple head Chihuahua, an absolute queen. It hit me pretty hard too because Snickers was a part of my life as well for about 7 years. I got to know her inside and out and she even let me into her very secluded circle of love and trust, the day she smothered me in kisses is a day I'll never forget! I knew what the owner and Snickers had been through together - their bond was stronger than anyone could imagine. They lived for each other and you could tell. They were #bondinggoals

^ RIP PIPPER 1998 - 2016

I'm writing today because I live pretty far away from her. I wanted to comfort her more than anything, to mourn with her, to hug her before she could collapse and cry, and I couldn't. Thankfully she did have support with her.

But what do you do when someone you love loses their furbaby?

It's really simple actually. To be frank, there is absolutely nothing you can do to console that person. Their heart is broken, a part of their soul is furever gone, they've lost someone who meant more then them than words could describe. So there's nothing you can do to really help resolve the heart break, because it's one of those things only time can heal; but you can make the healing process easier on them.

I've learned a few thing after the loss of this furbaby and my own. I worked hand-and-hand with animals most my life and have experienced countless loses, all of which are forever in my heart.

So here is what I think you can do, based on my experiences:

BE THERE
She called me almost immediately after it had happened, I was in shock and clearly so was she. In this moment I learned that my role to play here was the rock. What that person needs is someone to talk to. After she filled me in on what happened, I just stayed on the phone with her. My job wasn't to say anything. It really wasn't the time to say anything. She just needed someone to be there with her.

PROVIDE SUPPORT
After the loss my job now was to make sure she was always aware someone was there for her and thinking about her and her furbaby. I sent her virtual hugs, tagged her in funny things on facebook, and gave her non-invasive responses to her upset messages. It still wasn't the time for me to try and console her. She just needed little moments to breathe and that's what I was providing her with. Just a 2 second time out.

REMINISCE
This will be harder, there is a 99% chance that this will evoke tears. I remember whenever I lost a furbaby the best thing anyone could do for me was tell me funny stories about that pet, or tell me how spoiled they were or the time when... in snickers case one of my favourite moments is anytime I had a freezee, slushie or popsicle she'd be all over me, obsessed with the fruity icy slush!

SEND THEM ALL YOUR PICTURES
If you have pictures of the pet, then send them to them! All they have now are the memories, make sure they have as many of them as possible. The more pictures they have to look at, the better.

"Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." 

- Unknown

Is there is something someone has done to help ease your pain? Comment below, I'd love to know!