Sacramento Magazine
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Anyone who has experienced the death of a pet knows the grief is real. Just ask Shanie Bradley. “I still can’t look at her pictures without getting a big lump in my throat,” says Bradley, whose dog Ginger (Ginny) died unexpectedly this past summer. “Her ashes sit in a beautiful box on top of our entertainment center with her collar and tag on top, and her paw print is right next to it on a ceramic tile.”
Keeping collars, tags and other items associated with your pet is a healthy way to process the loss of a being that provided unconditional love, according to Florence Soares-Dabalos, client support and wellness professional at William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis. She also recommends employing rituals such as making a photo journal, writing a letter and holding a funeral, especially if children are involved. “Whatever you would do for a human loved one, why not do for your pet as well?” she says.