Coping in the Early Days of Pet Loss: What Helped Me & What I Now Share with My Clients | By Professional Ambassador, Emma Yoxall

I did not expect to feel physically ill after losing my dog.

When I lost Buster in 2020, I knew it would be hard and I knew I would be devastated. What I wasn’t prepared for was how it affected my body. I couldn’t eat properly. I couldn’t sleep or think straight or hold a conversation without my mind drifting back to him. Getting through a normal day felt like wading through something thick and heavy. I remember lying on the sofa feeling like I couldn't breathe properly. I wasn’t functioning so for a while I stopped trying to pretend I was.

I’m sharing this because I think it matters for other professionals to understand that pet loss grief is not just emotional, it is physical. The body goes into a kind of shock and until you address that first, very little else helps.

A Guide to Volunteering with Gracie’s Way

 

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not becaus
e they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”

Sherry Anderson

A short while ago, I (Aimee, Project Lead) published two Volunteer vacancies on Reach Volunteering (Gracie's Way | Reach Volunteering) and shared information about them on Instagram (@GraciesWayUK). In all honesty, there hasn’t been as much interest as I had hoped for, so, my communications and marketing brain has been trying to figure out why. I can only think of two possible reasons: the first being that the roles just aren’t publicised widely enough and the project hasn’t been heard of enough (which I’ve tried to change via my BBC radio appearance – which you can listen to: youtube.com/@aimes_wilson/videos), and the second reason is that perhaps I haven’t provided enough information about the positions. With the BBC appearance done, I’ve chosen to conquer the second reason with this content which will not only include more details on each of the roles – which has become even more vital as we’re now recruiting five roles – but also, reasons why Volunteers are so important, what you can gain by volunteering, and advice on applying. So, read on to feel more encouraged and informed in deciding to apply to join the Gracie’s Way team…

A Mid-Year Review of Gracie’s Way

“Reflection turns routine into learning and tasks into practice for a better tomorrow.”

Omar Bennett

Having discovered a love for reviews via my mental health blog (www.imnotdisordered.co.uk) and from creating yearly re-caps on social media, when I realised that June/July brought the opportunity to do a bit of a mid-year review for Gracie’s Way and its first six months, I didn’t have to think twice on deciding to create an article for it! I had a lot of fun putting this together and in looking back over these first six months of Gracie’s Way, and the lessons I’ve learned and the realisations I’ve had from doing this Review, I’d like to say the biggest thank you to all the readers and followers and literally just anyone who has mentioned the project to others! It wouldn’t be the amazing position it is now if it weren’t for you, so thank you and I hope you’ll continue to support and interact with the project. Now, let’s kick things off with a look at all the first decisions related to the creation of Gracie’s Way…

Q&A Insight Into Upcoming BBC Radio Appearance with Project Lead

The Reality of Finding Your Pet Dead

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

In all honesty, I’ve recently found my grief becoming more challenging and causing different thoughts and feelings. I’ve come to recognise that a huge reason why my grief is becoming so substantial – more so than I feel it has ever been with the loss of a pet – is because unlike my previous three pets (Dolly, Pixie, and Emmy), Gracie wasn’t euthanised. In fact, she didn’t even make it to the Vets because I found her dead in my sitting room just hours before her appointment. I feel – and so many important people in my life have validated this and actually, they’ve even suggested it themselves – that finding her like that was a trauma. Now, in creating Gracie’s Way, I’m discovering that I’m not alone in this experience and as sad and heart-breaking as that is, it’s also reassuring to know I’m not completely alone in this. So, I wanted to do this article to not only reassure those people that their thoughts and feelings etc are absolutely understandable but also, to provide their professionals and their loved ones with insight into what they may be experiencing and how to better help and support them more effectively…