No, I’m not suggesting that when your dog or cat succumbs to the inevitable (and I’ve been through the deaths of one Siamese cat from pancreatic cancer and two from related illnesses so don’t tell me)…I’m not suggesting that you go right out and get a puppy or a kitten. That would be heartless. Pet owners need to commune with the spirit of the dear and departed and settle into a reasonable period of mourning (a month or two) before bringing home a newbie. I get the idea of respectful meditation.
But I do think it’s necessary to affirm the continuum and embrace the natural life process by embracing youth and vitality and the prospect of a new beginning…a full dog life of 12 to 15 years, or a cat life of 15 to 20. You can’t let yourself sink into mourning and never climb out of that hole. I’ve known people who’ve done this (they feel that their deceased pet, residing in pet heaven, will feel terribly hurt and rejected if he/she is replaced…they feel that keeping the flame burning for the dear and departed is all), and it’s really not right. After 30 or 60 days you have to stand up, brush yourself off and move on….start all over again.