By Dr. Gloria Horsley

I was on my way to work on Friday when my son-in-law called to say the family dog, Tally, was hit and killed while chasing a squirrel across a busy highway. My son-in-law said he and my four grand-children needed me. I turned the car around and went back to the house. My daughter, son-in-law and the grand-kids were in tears. The kids were inconsolable. My twelve-year-old grandson felt angry because they had let the dog off leash.

Ok, I know that those of us who have lost family members get really upset if loss of a person is compared to loss of a pet. However, the family was very sad and I flashed back to my seven-teen year old son, Scott’s, death some years ago. I hated seeing John and Rebecca and the kids in so much pain! I was sad but being a pet lover it was not the first dog I had lost and probably won’t be the last.

?It has been three days now and they are recovering. Their eyes and noses are red and their nerves are frayed. Unlike loss of a person they are talking about replacing their pet. The children are involved in disagreement on what type of dog to get. All I can say is I know loss is part of life but losing still hurts.

My eight-year-old granddaughter said to her mother, “You talked about Uncle Scott but until now I didn’t know what it was like to lose something you loved. I guess this is what loss feels like.”

Heidi and I talk on the show about not comparing losses and respecting others losses and this week I saw a prime example.

Hit on comments and let me know what your thoughts are on pet loss and other losses.

Dr. Gloria

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