I’ve been writing this blog for two years now. Usually, my goal is to make you laugh about muddy paws, complain about my velcro Border Collie, Billy, or give you the inside scoop on our latest store events. But today, I’m taking the witty blogger hat off and exercising a bit of editorial privilege.

June 9th is World Pet Memorial Day. And if I am being completely honest with you, I am not looking forward to it.

As I write this, I am exactly three days away from the one-year anniversary of losing my dog, Odin. In a month, I will face the one-year anniversary of losing my cat, Hilda. This time last year was a season of profound, back-to-back heartbreak in my house.

When days like World Pet Memorial Day roll around, the internet is flooded with "Rainbow Bridge" poems and gentle reminders to "smile because it happened." While those sentiments are beautiful and helpful for many, we need to be honest about the other side of the coin. Sometimes, these days are not sunshine and warm memories. Sometimes, they are just incredibly painful.

If you are dreading this day, or any anniversary of losing your furry best friend, you are not alone. Here is an honest, unfiltered guide to surviving the days when the grief feels just as heavy as the day they left.

The Myth of "Moving On"

There is a strange societal expectation that because they are "just animals," our grief should have an expiration date. But anyone who has ever loved a dog or a cat knows that is a complete lie. The grief we feel for our pets is often more complicated than human loss because our pets are tethered to our everyday, mundane routines.

You don't just miss them; you miss the sound of their nails on the kitchen floor, the weight of them at the foot of your bed, and the specific way they greeted you at the door.

It has been a year since I lost Odin and nearly a year since I lost Hilda. I have not "moved on," and I don't intend to. We don't move on from the pets who shaped our lives; we just slowly learn how to carry the weight of their absence.

How to Actually Survive Pet Memorial Day

If you are staring down the calendar and feeling the familiar knot in your chest, here is how you get through it.

  • Give Yourself Permission to Mute the Positivity: You do not have to put on a brave face. If you are not in the headspace to look at old photos and smile, don't. It is perfectly acceptable to just be sad that your friend is gone. Anger, exhaustion, and deep sorrow are all valid responses to an anniversary.
  • Do Absolutely Nothing (If That’s What You Need): Some people find comfort in grand gestures on Memorial Day. Others find it completely overwhelming. If your survival strategy is to order takeout, turn your phone on "Do Not Disturb," and watch a mindless movie, that is a perfectly acceptable way to spend the day.
  • Create a Quiet, Low-Stakes Ritual: If you do want to acknowledge the day, keep it simple. Light a specific candle for them. Take a walk on their favorite trail. Donate a bag of food to a local shelter in their name. Do something tangible that requires minimal emotional heavy lifting.
  • Lean on Your Current Pets: Billy might be a velcro dog who views physical snuggling as an absolute chore, but simply having his chaotic, boundless energy in the house is a lifeline. Let your current pets distract you. Hug them a little tighter (even if they dramatically sigh about it).

To Odin, Hilda, and the Ones We Carry

At Pets Etc., we spend our days celebrating your pets. We celebrate the new puppies, the fresh haircuts, and the indestructible toys. But please know that we are also here for the hard parts. We see the tears when you come in to cancel a food subscription, and we understand the quiet heartbreak of picking out an urn.

To Odin and Hilda: I miss you both terribly. Thank you for a lifetime of the very best memories.

And to everyone in our community who is carrying the quiet, heavy ache of missing a pet this World Pet Memorial Day—we see you. Take it one day at a time, be gentle with yourself, and know that your grief is just a reflection of how deeply they were loved.