Dog

　　When a pet in the home leaves us, as owners, we certainly feel very sad. If there is a child growing up together in the household, this moment becomes the best opportunity for education. Pets have become an indispensable member of the family nowadays. No matter how the dog leaves us, adjusting your own emotions and welcoming the future is even more important. Here, the editor will tell you what owners should do after their pet passes away.
　　1. The Grieving Process After Pet Death
　　1. Focus of Life Changes:
　　After your pet passes away, feeling sad and grieving is a natural and normal emotional reaction. The grieving process includes accepting the fact that your pet has gone, then experiencing the pain caused by their departure, and finally adapting to a new life without them.
　　2. Emotional Impact:
　　Emotionally, mild feelings include sadness, sorrow, or loss; severe reactions can feel like losing a family member, being unable to accept it, or even causing emotional issues.
　　3. Appearance of Anger:
　　When facing a pet’s death, you might first deny that your pet was seriously ill, followed by feelings of anger that may be taken out on family members or veterinarians, and then blame yourself or others for not noticing or taking proper care sooner, causing harm to the pet.
　　4. Turning to Self-Blame:
　　Some people may turn to blaming themselves, questioning whether they neglected their beloved pet, which can potentially trigger depression. According to past cases, some patients show psychological and physical reactions due to excessive mourning or sadness.
　　5. Grieving Varies by Person:
　　The grieving process varies by individual; some may need longer time to calm down. Grief involves many stages, but not everyone experiences all stages or in a set order.
　　2. Handling Grief After Pet Death
　　1. Educational Opportunity for Children:
　　Children often have a special bond with pets. Avoiding discussions about pet death out of fear of triggering their sadness only makes it harder for them to heal. Provide direct, honest, and simple answers to help them prepare mentally; kids usually can accept pet death.
　　2. Family Grieving Together:
　　Pets are part of the family. When one passes, family members will be sad. Facing grief and spending time together as a family is a very good way to overcome loss.
　　3. Shifting Attention:
　　Immersing yourself in work or meaningful activities, or assisting stray dogs, donating to care for strays, can reduce feelings of grief.
　　4. Trying to Adopt a New Pet:
　　The death of a pet impacts you and your family’s emotions. Some may decide, "I will never have a pet again," but sometimes a new pet can help you recover from loss faster.
　　5. Seeking Professional Help:
　　If you or your family find it hard to accept the pet’s death and can’t handle the grief properly, you will need to consult professionals trained in grief processes, such as social workers, doctors, psychologists, or clergy.
　　3. Follow-up Handling After Pet Death
　　1. Cremation is Preferable:
　　After a pet passes away, cremation is the best way to handle the remains. It complies with hygiene standards and respects the animal. You can choose to personally take your pet to a public cremation facility.
　　2. Veterinary Hospital Services:
　　Currently, these services are only available to Taipei residents. Residents of other counties or cities should inquire at local animal disease prevention offices. Or ask your veterinarian to handle it for you; most veterinary hospitals provide this service and usually send pets to public crematories.
　　3. Visiting for Memorial Incense Offering:
　　Because it's collective cremation, individual ashes cannot be returned. The facility has an animal monument and incense burner if you wish to visit and offer incense.
　　4. Handling Ashes Personally:
　　You can also send your pet to a private crematorium for individual cremation and to obtain the ashes, but this is more expensive, and the ashes must be handled by yourself. If you want to place them in a pet cemetery, additional fees apply.