Grieving the loss of a pet

Dear Heloise: About three weeks ago, my wife and I lost our dog to cancer. She was a sweet, loving girl, and my wife took her almost everywhere. We took excellent care of her, and she lived to be 16 years old. We couldn’t have children, so I guess you could say our dog was sort of like a child to us.

My wife can’t seem to stop crying over the loss of our sweet pet. She claims she is sad and finds no joy in living. I want to help her, but I don’t know where to turn or who to call. Do you know anyone who might be helpful in this sort of situation? — Ronald J., Burlington, Wis. Ronald, first, let me express my condolences on the loss of a most beloved pet. There are places that help people cope with the loss of a pet: Pet Loss Partners (petlosspartners.org) and the Pet Compassion Careline (1-855-245-8214). The careline is open 24/7.

For many people, a pet becomes a member of the family, and their death is a heavy loss to bear. Time will usually help heal this pain, although you’ll never forget your little furry friend.

— Heloise

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com.