Dealing with the loss of a pet can be difficult and heartbreaking for pet owners. It was no different for pet owner and local author Sheri Griffiths, who recently lost Lester, their family pet cat of 13 years.
Griffiths says losing Lester inspired her to write a book, Paws In Heaven: Dealing with Pet Loss, which details their journey, talking about her experience from the moment Lester got sick with diabetes, to the time they had to say goodbye.
“This book gives a step-by-step approach starting with sickness, management with your vet, navigating your emotions, healing activities for self and ways to memorialize your pet,” Griffiths said. “You are not alone and it’s not uncommon or unnatural to feel grief when you lose a pet.”
When he got diabetes, “we were all shocked,” Griffiths said. “It is heartbreaking to see anyone sick, never mind a helpless animal who can’t talk and tell you exactly what is going on.”
Griffiths discusses the time when Lester first got sick, which required giving him insulin injections to keep him healthy. However, Griffiths and her family then noticed he might be having anxiety, which required yet another medication.
“One minute we go from a healthy vibrant cat who all of a sudden has a serious health condition and is rapidly declining,” Griffiths said. “Multiple vet visits, not quite knowing what questions to ask.”
There were multiple visits to the veterinarian throughout this time, Griffiths said. Since Lester was such a huge part of Griffiths’ family, routines and even vacations were scheduled around Lester’s needs.
“We were just winging everything with no direction on how to navigate sickness of an animal and impending death or when to make the difficult decision to put your pet down,” Griffiths said.
As a result of writing this book, she said it allowed her to reflect on things she could have done differently, while at the same time bringing back memories of watching her pet suffer, perhaps longer than he needed to, while also reminding pet owners that there is support available in the event of a loss of a pet. Griffiths added that she plans to write more books about animals as well as other interests.
