{"id":9462,"date":"2026-03-05T14:27:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T03:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=9462"},"modified":"2026-01-17T14:28:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:28:31","slug":"coping-with-pet-loss-grief-central-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/coping-with-pet-loss-grief-central-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Love, Loss and Four Paws: Navigating the Unique Heartbreak of Losing a Companion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by sarah tolmie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Reader Question: <\/strong>\u201cMy dog died. He was my constant companion these last 17 years on my own. I have had many griefs in my life. I lost my husband 15 years ago. My brother only 2 months ago. I feel overwhelmed by the grief and the tears just come and don\u2019t seem to stop. This grief seems so different. I feel shocked I feel it so strongly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Dearly Beloved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every dog loving human will understand your pain and sorrow. There is no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed at the uncontrollable outpour. It is natural. It is necessary. It is beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a special undiluted, unconditional love we reserve for our pets. They place no conditions on us. Our relationship agreement is totally simple. They get to be the dog and we are the human who does everything for them. The love flows purely, unmitigated by expectations, disappointments and misunderstandings. Dog and human become a single unit in many ways because their existence depends entirely on us \u2013 food and water, shelter and love \u2013 and we happily orient our lives around them because the payback is simple love. It\u2019s a truly wondrous evolving of nature that an animal has become so domesticated and part of our pack. Dogs have behaviourally evolved to appeal to us through love. They are the ultimate Masters of Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as such, no wonder they take on the role as \u2018best friend\u2019, \u2018fur children\u2019 and more. These monikers are not just playful names\u2026they are real. We tell our dogs our fears and secrets; they lean into us when we are sad and alone; they bookend our morning awakenings and night\u2013time completely. They can be our most intimate companions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wonder if you can try to look at the grief that you are feeling and cannot help but express as a real privilege and honour. A \u2018peak experience\u2019 in life and love even! The pureness of your grief \u2013 uncomplicated, untainted \u2013 is like being pierced in the heart by a light laser of pure love energy. It is a \u2018thoroughbred\u2019 feeling so intense \u2013 so painful \u2013 because the love was so beautiful and real. Do not be afraid of this feeling, as intense as it is. It is one of life\u2019s pinnacle achievements, to have experienced such real, authentic and simple love. You have been blessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lean into the feeling when you can. Those moments alone when you can freely surrender to your tears\u2026cry dear one, cry. Do it 100%. Those tears cannot hurt you more and instead, they will help in time to allow the sharp pain to soften and gentle. I PROMISE, when you allow your sadness to have its time, it will not overstay its welcome. Sadness and happiness live together. Sadness is the essential doorway you must walk through to know happiness. Create an altar for your beloved pooch. Give thanks for the love, companionship and good times. Cry when you need to\u2026.and I PROMISE\u2026.your heart will one day again relax and exhale fully and smile at the memories when you think of your beloved dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much love, Sarah x<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarah Tolmie \u2013 Life & Love: Sarah is a marriage therapist, life & love and relationship coach, end\u2013of\u2013life consultant, an independent and bespoke funeral director and holistic celebrant. She provides holistic care, mentoring, guidance, healing and transformation for individuals, couples and families at their most important times of life & love \u2013 at end\u2013of\u2013life, in love & relationship, and in ritual and celebration. Sarah has a relationship online course for couples called \u201cCreating a Miracle Marriage\u201d and a guide to working with feelings and emotions called \u201cHow Do You Feel?\u201d; plus a free resource and video series for families facing dying, death and grief called \u201cLandscapes of Life & Love and Loss\u201d. To find out more, visit www.sarahtolmie.com.au<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by sarah tolmie Reader Question: \u201cMy dog died. He was my constant companion these last 17 years on my own. I have had many griefs in my life. I lost…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[75,44],"series":[],"class_list":["post-9462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellbeing","tag-article","tag-sarah-tolmie"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/01\/solitude-copy-women-sorrow-casual-lonely.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"

Love, Loss and Four Paws: Navigating the Unique Heartbreak of Losing a Companion<\/a><\/blockquote>