What is your name
and Ambassador role?
I’m Emma Yoxall, a Gracie’s Way Professional Ambassador.
What drew you to the project?
I decided to become involved in this project because I firmly believe it is necessary to raise awareness of pet loss as being a valid form of grief and I could see that the aim of Gracie’s Way was to get people talking openly about loss, reducing the shame linked to admitting you are struggling with pet grief and provide resources to both individuals and professionals working in this space.
What is your
personal connection to animals?
I currently share my life with two rescue dogs, Toffee and Toby, both adopted in Spain. I help at my families’ animal sanctuaries in Spain and have developed connections to many of the animals we care for, not just domestic pets but sheep, goats, donkeys, birds and many others. It is a fulfilling role which has some wonderful rescue stories but also comes with its fair share of sadness.
What is your relevant
lived or professional experience?
I’ve loved and lost a number of animals in my life and with some the loss has been especially difficult. I lost my dog Buster when he was 18 ½ in 2020 and due to our special long-standing bond, this loss really affected me in a way I was not prepared for.
What is your
understanding of pet bereavement?
I have experienced real trauma through animal loss and struggled at times to find my way through it with no real support available. I’ve seen how dismissive people can be after the initial few days have passed and how we are expected to just “move on” because it feels at times as though our animals are less important than humans. This is especially true in the workplace where I personally felt I couldn’t express how I was feeling and just had to “get on with it”. In relation to anticipatory grief/caring for an old or very sick pet there seemed to be no compassion or flexibility to manage this.
What do you hope
people experience when reading Gracie's Way and viewing the content, and what
you've experienced through it too?
My hope for anyone interacting with Gracie’s Way is that they feel understood and that their feelings are valid and important. The resources and content shared provides a virtual listening supportive ear alongside really useful information for people to read and use at their own pace.
What are your values
as an Ambassador?
My values as an Ambassador are inclusivity because the loss of a pet can affect anyone, not judging anyone for how they express their grief, and being compassionate and kind to everyone I come into contact with.
Who do you feel
especially called to support?
I feel especially called to support people who are dealing with the loss, or anticipated loss, of a pet not always seen as important by society. Such as exotic animals and farm animals. I’d also like to support people who may feel support isn’t available to them by making it as easy as possible to access support.
How will
you contribute to the project’s mission?
I will contribute to the project’s mission by sharing Gracie’s Way content to raise awareness around pet loss, by telling my own story and sharing my experiences, and by offering information and tools that have helped others who have been affected by pet loss.
What is one belief
or truth you hold about grief?
I believe that there is no right or wrong way
to feel after losing a pet, everyone is different and reacts differently.
So many factors can affect how we grieve, including our own personal situations
at the time. This is why everyone who
needs it should be entitled to compassion and understanding and tailored
support if they want and need it.
