When
you’ve been a professional pet sitter for as long as I have been, you have to
say goodbye to a lot of pets. Most of us, as pet owners, say goodbye to only a
handful of animals over our lifetime. When I became a business manager for a
pet sitting company, I said goodbye to even more. Naturally, when you have over
200 clients, there are bound to be a few that are getting up there in age. It’s
something I didn’t really think about when I took the job. It just is, as many
things, a fact of life. It doesn’t make it any easier.
Sitters
have a special bond with pets. We’re often the first ones to discover something
is wrong. Since most of us see our pet clients daily, we notice the little
things. Many of us have been in a pet’s life since the first week they were
brought home. We share their firsts, wait patiently through their teething,
help with the potty training and see them through to adulthood. When a pet
client passes away, we experience the loss just as much as the owners. We may
not be the pet parent, but we are their best friends. Anyone who loses a close
friend knows their heart hurts very deeply.
You
don’t have to suffer in silence though. I know it may seem hard to reach out to
others when you’re feeling down, but sharing memories of your pet is a great
way to talk through it. Pet sitters or family members are a great place to
start. Not only do we know your pet, we can empathize immediately with the
situation. We probably have some great photos or stories about your pet that
might make you laugh.
We’ve
all heard the old adage that “time heals all wounds.” I don’t think it’s time
alone, but rather what you do with your time that counts. Remember, the goal is
not getting over your loss, but rather adapting to life without your pet. After
giving yourself a chance to grieve, it’s probably best to go back to your
routine. It may be a good opportunity to start a new hobby. When you’re ready
you might be able to memorialize your pet in some way. I’ve heard of clients
doing a pet’s biography. They not only write out their pet’s life story, but
they include photos and mementos, sort of like a scrapbook. Pet sitters can
probably add a few stories or share some candid photos. I realize not all of us
are crafty like that, but the important thing is to talk about it or share your
work with others because you are not alone. Whether we came into your pet’s
life at a young age or during their golden years, we shared a chapter or two of
their journey.
I never forget how each pet has
touched me in some way. I like to think of animals as a great way to bring
people together. To this day, I remain friends with a number of former clients
who don’t even have the same pet I cared for. Their indelible footprints on our
lives were the starting point for something unexpected, but equally rewarding.
I know not all pet owners are close with their sitters. That’s OK. After all,
we come and go when you’re not there. Many of us hardly ever see each other,
but the important thing is your pet saw us almost every day. I like to think
that connects us, regardless if we feel connected.
Mary C.
Devoted Fetch Petsitter
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