We Grieve Because We Love
Mary Ann Bumbera • Grief Support for Animal Loss
What my heart knows:
We are all helpless in the face of death.
Loss is universal.
Grief is never simple.
Grief for our animal companions is mostly dismissed and overlooked, which is known as disenfranchised grief.
Grieving the Loss of our Animal Companions is Devastating
Animal companions provide a safe haven with their unequivocal, steadfast love. They quell our loneliness, soothe our souls and offer emotional support. Because our culture doesn’t typically honor their lives with obituaries or funerals (and very few employers offer bereavement leave for them), when they die, they’re just….gone. We’re left staggering in grief without the emotional lifeline they gave us. Those whose lives has been shattered by the loss of an animal companion know that grief is not species specific. Love is love.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
— A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
How one-on-one support can help
Sharing can be deeply healing in a time of loss. I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental presence to assist you in navigating your grief, be it a recent loss, a loss from long ago or an animal currently in hospice. At your pace I will gently companion you through whatever emotions grief inevitably brings - guilt, regret, anger, shame, anxiety, loneliness or relief. Allowing the ebb and flow of these emotions quiets them and in turn, self compassion gently emerges. When self compassion grows, we find peace within ourselves even though the pain of absence remains. With increased self compassion, it is easier to reconnect with the unbroken bond of love we share with our animals, even in death. Your love story matters and I would be honored to hear it.
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom.”
-Rumi
If you are more comfortable processing grief in other ways or want additional help, there are many resources available - books, podcasts, grief yoga, group support, breathwork, writing and art. In the overwhelm of grief, deciphering your best refuge can feel hopeless. Let me help you tailor resources to best sustain you on your healing journey. I offer a 30 minute consultation for this.
“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. ”
— Rabindranath Tagore
Whatever You’re Feeling is Normal
We are all helpless in the face of death. It is a mystery that we have no means to make sense of. Both death and grief are uncomfortably painful topics mostly avoided by our society - especially when it comes to animals. The grief we feel for them is often overlooked or dismissed. Your grief matters and you don’t have to navigate this alone.