The worst thing that every pet owner fears is the day that their pet leaves them behind. It's the day they know is coming when they first welcomed their beloved friend into their home. But once that day actually arrives, it's still extremely painful, especially if you cared deeply for your pet. Some people even compare it to losing a family member.

It's one of those things that you really would have to experience in order to describe it. Whether it's a dog or cat, you spend every moment taking care of them. And in some ways, it begins to feel like they have taken care of you instead. You have at some point been upset or gone through something, and you find them somehow miraculously distracting you and bringing a smile to your face. And they always love you unconditionally no matter what.

Before my own dog that I had since I was a child passed away, I remember that whenever I'd cry or be upset about something, he would come up to me and try licking me to attempt to cheer me up. He'd even try to get me to leave the comfort of my room and go outside to play with him.

If I had to describe what it feels like losing an animal that you've spent your whole life caring for, I would say it feels like losing a huge piece of yourself. The worst part is when you come home the first time and you don't see them waiting for you at the door. You don't see them running around in the house and waiting at the top of the stairs. And when you're in the routine of taking care of them, you sometimes find yourself forgetting that you don't need to rush down the stairs to change their water bowl or take them on a walk.

Another thing is that you see them everywhere you go. Your house is constantly filled with reminders that they're gone. You sometimes find yourself thinking that you see them in the backyard only to discover that they're not there, and you relive every stage of grief that you've already gone through before. When my dog died, I actually went out somewhere because I couldn't stand being in the house where I was constantly reminded that he was gone.

The worst thing about losing a pet is that not everyone understands what you're going through. You hear non-pet owners say to you, "Get over it," or, "When are you going to get another?" but they really have no idea what you are going through.

As a society, we sometimes dictate when a person can grieve and not grieve. We expect certain emotions or behaviors from them. Even when someone is grieving over losing a person, we still expect them to display certain emotions. We can't accept that not everyone's grief is the same, and we don't let them grieve over what they want to grieve. And maybe it's just because we have a hard time accepting that every loss is different.

But each of these things make it even worse losing a pet since you begin to feel like you're supposed to act and feel a certain way. However, if you surround yourself with people who have personally lost an animal themselves, then they are more likely to understand what you are going through. They may not understand exactly since each person experiences grief differently, but they will know the magnitude of losing a pet.

Another thing is that people who don't understand what it's like to lose a pet will sometimes tell you that you'll feel better if you adopt another. But adopting another pet doesn't always help, especially if you don't feel ready to adopt one. Most pet owners will eventually get another pet, but it's usually at their own pace. It's when they feel that they are ready to help rescue another animal. And for some, they may not want to since they won't be able to handle putting themselves through the same loss over and over again, which is understandable.

If you've lost a pet, whether it's a dog or cat, you shouldn't feel like you are replacing them, because you aren't. When you get a dog or cat, they're not going to be the same as the one you lost. You're still going to love the pet that you lost, and even when you love the one you adopted, it's not going to be the same type of love that you had for the one you lost. The relationship you build with that animal will be unique in its own way. But it will never replace the relationship you had with the animal you lost previously.

If you've lost a pet recently, just know that you're not alone and it's OK to grieve over them. Grieving over anything, whether it's a pet or family member, is part of what makes you human. Also, it will take time before you begin to feel the days when you feel the worst of your grief begin to lessen. So, take time to process through your grief, and don't allow others to tell you how you should think or feel after losing a beloved pet. Because in the end, they have no idea how much happiness a pet can fill you with and the devastating loss until they experience it themselves.