Most dog lovers see their animals as a member of the family, someone to bring them joy, make them laugh and quite possibly as a major stress reliever. Although it might be misunderstood by people that have never had a dog, the loss of your best friend by natural causes or by an accident may turn you and your family's world upside down. The emotions may be in line with those felt by someone losing a human family member but with a lot less support from those around you. How do you cope when this furry member of your family dies?

As with all sad things which come to pass in your life, there is a grieving process and this very closely relates to the loss of an animal. At first you may experience extreme sadness because after all, most dog lovers have a very special relationship with their animal. They are a part of your everyday lives and it may feel like a big part of your home is missing when you expect the canine to be around the house and he is no longer there.

You've probably heard before that "time heals all wounds" and there is no greater truth than when you lose a pet dog. You cannot will yourself to feel better, less depressed or happy because it will take quite a while for most people. The best you can do for yourself and your family is to try to remember the animal fondly and to keep yourself busy. It is helpful when you have children to spend time talking about what a great dog your pet was and perhaps make a special scrapbook honoring how much the animal brought to each of your lives. Some people have a designated place in their homes, such as a shelf, where precious pictures of the dog and his favorite things are displayed. Many pet stores have special memoriam items that can be purchased to celebrate the dog.

If you are still having a hard time dealing with the loss, many local humane societies have pet loss support groups that meet weekly or monthly. There are certified people that can help guide you through this difficult time and give you tips on how to overcome the emotions that you are feeling. Sometimes this is a very helpful activity because you are with other people that are experiencing the same things that you are. When other people in your lives may not be understanding you are sure to get the support you need from other group members.

The loss of a dog is an extremely traumatic life event to the people that love and miss them. Each person deals with the sadness differently and all forms of grief should be honored in a legitimate way. The best thing you can do in this time period is to find your own unique way to honor your beloved pet, deal with the individual grief of each family member the best way you can and celebrate the life of your animal.