If you’re a dog owner, you know the loss of a dog is heartbreaking.
Yet, for many pet owners, the death of a much-loved dog can be more challenging than losing a human friend or relative.
Unconditional love
Dogs give unwavering, unconditional love and affection therefore, it hardly surprises that the owner-pet bond exceeds that of many human relationships.
Even if it was only five minutes ago, a dog expresses delight in seeing its owner.
In a dog’s eyes their owner is perfect thus there is no judgement, just acceptance and unfaltering loyalty.
Few people can say that about their human companions.
Grief and dog loss
When a much-loved dog dies, the physical bond severs. As a result, the owner’s connection with unconditional love, acceptance and companionship ends abruptly.
No longer is there a wagging tail or a flurry of happy barks to greet them at the door. Nor is there a cold nose nudging a hand insisting its walk time.
For these reasons and many more, a much-loved dog’s death creates a physical and emotional void into which loneliness, grief and heartache flood.
What to say when a pet dog dies
As a supportive friend, loving family member or compassionate coworker, wanting to offer your condolences is only natural.
Yet, choosing the right words to comfort a bereaved pet owner can be challenging.
If you find yourself lost for words of sympathy, try expressing your support with a dog loss quote.
KEY POINTS
Inspirational pet loss quotes offer:
• well-expressed wisdom to ease heartache,
• the motivation to use the pain of loss to fuel grief recovery, and
• validation that pet grief feelings are legitimate.
Loss of dog quotes
There are so many supportive ways to express your pet sympathy using quotes.
You could send a quote as a caring text message, write the words in a pet sympathy card, or speak them.
Either way, anyone grieving the loss of their dog will feel loved and understood.
The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be.
Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes.
Gene Hill
If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me.
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a dog’s love.
A pet is never truly forgotten until it is no longer remembered.
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains un-awakened.
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families. And love us. And make our lives a little brighter. And they don’t waste time being afraid of tomorrow.
To call him a dog hardly seems to do him justice, though inasmuch as he had four legs, a tail, and barked, I admit he was, to all outward appearances. But to those who knew him well, he was a perfect gentleman.
The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.
If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I know will go to heaven and very few people.
A person who has never owned a dog has missed a wonderful part of life.
A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way.
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.
If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and, prospectively, to equally profound sadness.
Pet loss grief recovery
Making a healthy grief recovery after the death of a much-loved dog takes time and courage.
Accordingly, the following quotes focus on finding strength in the pain of pet loss.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.
No dog ever really dies because it took the time to leave many hearts with fond memories.
Although it’s difficult today to see beyond your sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
Conclusion
Whether you use pet loss quotes or make up your own, offering kind words and showing compassion is the best way to encourage healthy pet grief recovery.
Further reading
How to deal with pet loss grief. Sympathy Gift Series.
What to say when someone’s pet dog dies. Sympathy Gift Series.
Why we need to take dog loss seriously? Scientific America.
Coping with the loss of a pet. American Veterinarian Medical Association.
