I used to live in Japan and that is when I adopted Minnie. She was so tiny and that was around the time Chihuahuas were becoming really popular. Our family friend got Minnie from her sibling because they could no longer take care of her. Since our family friend already had a dog she decided to give Minnie to us. (Her original name was Megumi/Grace). A few years after we adopted her we decided to move to America so Minnie got to experience a plane ride! She was very relaxed and calm for a chihuahua and only barked if someone was at the door knocking. She passed away at the age of 12 in my apartment.
My second dog was named Marie. We bought her from a breeder one year after we moved to America. She had floppy ears and had a tail that would curl up. Still very calm for a chihuahua, but was playful too. While she was still a puppy (not even 2 yet) she got ran over by a car right in front of me. That was probably the worst day of my life and very traumatic.
So how did I deal with a loss of a pet? Here are some of my tips and hopefully it will help someone going through the grieving process.
1. Cry
I always feel a little better after crying. It still hurts that our beloved Minnie is gone, but crying really helps you to process your emotions and start healing emotionally.
2. Pick a song
When Minnie died I pulled out my iPad and started playing "See you again" by Wiz Khalifa. I just listened to the song and sobbed. This could be too emotional for some people, but when I hear the song now I think of all of the good memories with Minnie.
3. Talk about losing your pet
I called my mom and posted a picture of Minnie on Facebook when she passed away. It was nice to have family and friends talk about the memories they had with her. Pretty much all of my friends, family, and co-workers knew how much Minnie meant to me and most all of them even met her. They would post pictures that they had of Minnie and it was really neat to get them all in one place.
4. Put an album together
I gathered all of the pictures I had of Minnie and put them in an album. This way I can always look back and remember her. Another really good idea is to make a shadow box with a picture, favorite toy, paw print, and hang it in your home.
5. Save another furry friend
After Minnie died I wasn't planning on getting another dog. In two months or less my 1st born will arrive in the world and there was no way I could handle training a pup. Little did I know I would be saving a chug (now named Meeko) from the SPCA. I think it is really important to grieve over your pet before you get another one, but it does take a little bit of the sting out. I love my new dog named Meeko, but I still miss Minnie a lot.
♥ Hannah
