The heartbreak of losing a pet, a companion, a piece of your heart…one week ago today, I lost my sweet girl, Bebe.

To the few who understand, no further explanation is needed.

But most people who read this post won’t get it, not really. And that’s ok.

There are no rules for measuring grief around the death of a pet. Our society doesn’t acknowledge the difficulty of losing a friend who was always by your side. Rather, we live in a culture that treats the death of a pet more like the loss of an automobile. When it wears out, you should just go out and get another one.

Many people fail to comprehend that the loss cuts deep and the pain is real and difficult to bear.

That said, I have been moved by the number of people recognizing that a dog is more than just a pet but a part of the family. Nobody’s dog is “just a dog.” The compassion we’ve received has been comforting. It’s given me the courage to face my grief instead of ignoring it.

In the 8 years Bebe was a part of our world, she quickly became Daddy’s girl. Always waiting by the back gate or door for me to get home, she was full of excitement, love, and ceaseless loyalty—that endless, unconditional, judgment-free love that only a pet can give.

During Bebe’s final months, she developed severe mobility issues, becoming completely paralyzed. Watching her lose her freedom, independence, and joy for life was difficult, and watching senility creep in, taking the form of confused little barks, fear, and uncertainty, was heartbreaking.

As a pet owner, one of the greatest fears is the feeling that you could have done more. Deciding when to end their life is a gut-wrenching task. Ultimately, all you want is for your dog to be happy, comfortable, and loved, with a good quality of life and freedom from pain. So when that is no longer possible, what more can you do?

There are naturally moments of regret and doubt.

I am incredibly grateful that we had these last moments with her, not least because after seeing her suffering for the previous two days leading up to this moment, we could now see her relaxing, being at ease, and finding peace. It was beautiful despite all the sadness. I was able to hold her little paw in my hand as she drew her last breaths and her heart beat for the last time.

While losing a pet is painful, loving it during its time on earth was so worth it.

The last few months have been tough, but I’m determined to consciously focus on the many good times and happy moments we shared.

Most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you, “It’s just a pet. Get over it.” Your capacity for loving profoundly and unconditionally is what fills you with life and satisfies your soul.

The final gift a dog gives its family is the lesson of loss, showing us that the end of the story doesn’t diminish its worth.

I’ll miss her constant companionship, unconditional love, and presence.

It is the strongest and purest grief I have yet to feel in my life.

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”