Most of us have been through it before -- the death of a pet is just like losing a relative or friend. But there are ways to cope.
When I was about 8 years old, my mom had to put down her beloved basset hound, Beulah. She was the first dog I knew and loved. I remember how Beulah's death affected my mom. She had her before me and she was heartbroken. Years later, a beautiful yellow lab came into my family's life. We only had Auggie for 3 years, but sadly, we had to put him down on Christmas Eve.
Losing a pet is incredibly difficult. Dogs and cats provide not only companionship, but unconditional love. They listen to us, they play with us and they depend on us for their survival. When it's time to say goodbye, it's emotionally draining.
LaDona and I talked to an expert about dealing with the loss of a pet and he had some amazing insight.
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