Let’s be honest, losing a pet feels like losing a family member. As a student, losing a pet may seem almost inconvenient while juggling school and work. Grieving has no set date and time, some people still grieve their pets long after they’re gone.

“I had a dachshund named Mayer and he died 6 months ago. My family had him for about 10 years before that and he was a pretty good dog, it was hilarious to see him try to be the alpha in our house or with our other dogs,” said Alex McKeon (sophomore, History). “When he died I felt sadness, but it didn’t destroy me, my brother or my mom though were devastated by his passing because they were deeply attached to it. I felt like I  had to be the person that made sure things didn’t get even worse, I acted strong and was the shoulder everyone cried on.” 

McKeon said his brother took it harder than he did and was depressed for months.

“All I could be for him was be the voice of reason and be there for him, he always felt it was his fault that [Mayer] died, he always said he should have given him better food or attention, but ultimately it was because he was getting old and he got heart worms … after Mayer passed away my brother never came down, the only time I would see him was at 3 am in the morning when I would wake up in the middle of the night to get water, and he would always have that look that something dear was taken from him.”

Grieving can take many forms, sometimes it’s overeating, sometimes it’s not eating at all. Grieving can last only as long as you give yourself time to heal.

“I was sad when I lost my dog last semester, I still say we have 3 dogs,” said Sandra Castaneda (senior, Business).

She added that she ignored her feelings because she felt guilty about bringing it up around her mom. “I felt bad because my mom cried, I don’t like to cry so it was hard watching her grieve,” Castaneda said.

The loss of a pet can sometimes bring uneasy feelings of emptiness. After spending so much time with your pet, it can feel like standing in an empty room.

Adam Harker (junior, Music) said dealing with the loss of a pet, emotionally, affected his time at school and work.

“That sense of loss, it affects a person continuously, especially when you’re expecting your critter to come around the corner. My house felt empty,” said Harker.

He added that it took him time to come to terms with the loss of his dog. “A month later my parents adopted another dog, and seeing a bit of my dog in the new one really helped the healing process,” Harker said.
 Luckily, the pain doesn’t last forever, and sometimes, like Harker, adopting a new pet can help ease the pain of losing your furry friend. However giving yourself enough time to recover can be better than rushing into a new relationship.