“Only my little dog could have got me so far out of my comfort zone that I went to see a Medium.”
This is how I introduce my story when I share about my journey to find Life Between Lives.
Grief and Pet Loss
I wrote this blog post after Mia passed in 2013. It still touches my heart. I know many of us on this spiritual journey have a special connection to our pets. We know that they are souls, just like we are. If you’ve experienced the loss of a beloved pet, I hope this brings you some healing and comfort too.
Here is our story…
I got Mia on Valentine’s Day during my divorce. She was exactly what I needed – a cute, fluffy, bundle of puppy love.
And, let’s just say – I had a lot of love to give.
One person told me that I was “codependent” with her. Another worried I would “kill her with kindness.” And someone else said that when she died she wanted to come back as my dog.
I was just trying so hard to do everything right.
I cooked for her because I heard it was the best. I read books that said I needed to socialize her so I took her everywhere those first few months. We completed three dog obedience classes together. I drove an hour to take her to the holistic vet. After a bad grooming experience, I took her to a special groomer. After she had a few teeth pulled, I started brushing her teeth.
Maybe I was a little overprotective. But, I just wanted to make her life as good as possible. I felt like it was my responsibility.
Mia was 5 years old when I met my now husband. I actually brought her on our third date – a hike up in the hills. I’m surprised he still wanted to kiss me afterward because I let her drink out of my water bottle cap which freaked him out a bit. He wasn’t really a dog-person yet. But, on the way back he carried her over a stream, muddy paws and all.
She hadn’t been around many men so he felt the need to be extra gentle and kind to win her over. Sometimes, it drove me crazy because he wouldn’t enforce all my rules. But, she sure did love him.
And he realized we were a package deal. In fact, he insisted we bring her along with us whenever we could. This usually meant more work for me. But, it also meant she got out quite a bit (and her pics around town are all over my Facebook page). He liked to say – we were a “pack.”
She never really slowed down like people said she would once she got older. Maybe it was all the natural stuff I did. That’s why it was a huge shock last month when we discovered she was really sick and would need to be put down soon.
I started worrying about losing her when she was just a puppy. But, that hasn’t made the grief any easier. I guess – the deeper the bond, the deeper the loss.
I am slowly returning to life. And I will get another puppy someday. But, for now, I’m walking through my pet loss grief and adjusting to a “new normal”.
Rainbow Bridge
People have told me about the Rainbow Bridge where pets are reunited with their owners. I believe there is something that comes after this life and that gives me some comfort. It also reminds me to focus on what’s really important in this life – sharing light and love and hope.
So, I wanted to share with you – I know love is a risk. But, it’s worth it.