Mourning for Your Pets is Real

Not everyone will understand, but you will mourn when a beloved pet dies. Many reptiles, and some amphibians, live long lives and may leave a gap in our daily routines when they die. If you had a reptile that was truly a companion, you will mourn the companionship as well as the pleasure of offering good care. When you say goodbye to a pet, you are saying goodbye to each role you played in its life. If you don't have a lot of human companions, your pet played a more significant role in your life.

Feeling guilty about your pet's death will make your grief deeper and more complicated. If you're unsure whether you did everything you could to prevent you pet's death you may have a lot of guilt. If your pet died due to an accident you perceive could have somehow been avoided, you may also experience significant guilt. If friends or relatives say things like "Why are you so sad, it was just an iguana?" realize that they don't understand your feelings and are eager for you to overcome your grief.

Don't impose a timeline on your grief. Everyone grieves at a different pace. Find a friend, preferably another herp parent, who understands and talk out your feelings. It may help to memorialize your pet with a tree or garden, giving you a special place to go to remember your pet.