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(NAPSI)-A 24-hour pet loss support hotline helps people cope with the loss of their pets-an important focus at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine's hospital for small animals. Experiencing the death of a pet can be as profound as losing a close friend or even a family member. Dr. Antony Moore, head of the veterinary school's oncology program, explains that pets sometimes serve as a single person's only extended family, or as an elderly person's remaining link to a spouse who has previously died. "The death of the animal can mean the last link is gone, and some people feel like they can't go on," says Moore. How people cope with their grief over losing a furry companion can depend on the type of support system at home or in the workplace. One of the problems people experience is that society fails to legitimize a person's sorrow over a pet. Tufts University's 24-hour Pet Loss Support Hotline is staffed by trained veterinary-student volunteers. "Most of our callers say they don't have anyone they can talk to who understands the depth and intensity of their feelings," says Erika Bruner, a veterinary student who manages the hotline. "Hotlines can be a great way to talk to someone a little more anonymously-you are a little more free to express yourself and show your feelings." Most people call within a few days of a pet's death, but Bruner has also heard from people two years after losing a pet. "They have been fine for a while, but for some reason it has hit them again. Their surge of grief has come back," she said. Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine provides answers to questions that include: It is very normal to feel very sad, find yourself crying, and experience loss of appetite, trouble sleeping and lapses in concentration. If these symptoms worsen over a period of weeks or months and inhibit daily life, you may need professional support. Feelings of sadness can persist over a long period of time. The pet was a part of your life and a very integral part of the family, and it may be a while before memories of happiness about your pet can surface and replace the sadness. If you choose to bury your animal in your backyard, check with local regulators for guidance. If you choose cremation, the best person for information and arrangements is your veterinarian. Most people find it helpful to do something special in the pet's memory, such as a donation to an animal shelter, school or hospital in your pet's name. It can also be rewarding to put together a special photo album or scrapbook of your memories. Children's conception of death varies at different ages and developmental stages. Be aware that at almost any age, the death of a pet can have an impact, and it is important to be sensitive to ways your child may be experiencing the loss. An older child may be able to speak about it, but a younger child may have trouble sleeping or show increased irritability. Find a way to describe the events that have happened in language they can understand. When and if you get a new pet is a very personal decision. Something to consider is whether you have the energy to take on the training and responsibility of a new, younger pet, which can be quite different from caring for the older animal you just lost. Make sure you are ready to see a new pet as its own individual being. Some hotline callers have not yet lost their pet, but instead are agonizing over whether to put their pet to sleep. When an animal's illness is incurable and it's no longer enjoying life, pet owners have the option of euthanasia, but making the decision can be difficult. "People feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility and guilt about not giving their animal a chance, but on the other hand, they don't want to make their pet suffer," according to Bruner. "It's a really hard choice. We're there to help people feel comfortable and work through these issues." Occasionally, the loss of a pet can cause long-lasting and seemingly unresolvable grief. If a caller is still struggling a year or two later, unable to go home to an empty house or to go into the backyard where the pet is buried, the hotline supporters may refer them to more professional help. It is important for people to respect their own process through grief which can involve shock, confusion, and anger in varying degrees, and to use services like Tufts' hotline for help along the way, according to clinical psychologist Lori Rios from the Tufts University Counseling Center who trains the student volunteers. "It's about finding some comfort and being able to share with someone who understands," she said. Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine is New England's only veterinary school. It has the largest residency training program in veterinary emergency and critical care in the United States. The school's Center for Animals and Public Policy offers the country's only graduate degree in the field of human/animal relationships and related public policies. Its other signature programs include wildlife medicine and international veterinary medicine. - |
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