National Love Your Pet Day is a chance to celebrate the animals who share our homes, our routines and often our hearts.
For many people, pets are far more than companions. They are a steady presence in life’s happiest moments and just as importantly, in the most difficult ones too.
When someone is grieving, that quiet, unconditional companionship can make more difference than words ever could. They stay when everything else feels uncertain. Grief can make the world feel unfamiliar. Routines change, emotions come in waves, and even everyday tasks can feel overwhelming. Pets don’t try to fix any of that. They don’t offer advice or expect explanations.
They simply stay.
A dog still waits at the door.
A cat still curls up beside you.
A familiar little routine continues, even when everything else feels different. That consistency can be incredibly grounding when life feels unsteady.
Comfort without conversation
One of the hardest parts of grief is how tiring it can feel to talk. Well-meaning friends and family often want to help, but conversations can sometimes feel overwhelming. Pets offer something different, comfort without the need for words.
Sitting with a pet, stroking their fur, or simply having them nearby can bring a sense of calm and connection at a time when it’s needed most.
It’s a gentle reminder that you don’t have to explain how you feel to be supported. They help us keep moving, one small step at a time
Grief can make it hard to find motivation, especially in the early days or weeks.
Pets often help in the simplest ways:
- A dog still needs walking
- Food bowls still need filling
- Beds still need fluffing
- A familiar face still greets you in the morning
These small responsibilities can provide structure when days feel shapeless. Not in a demanding way, just enough to encourage one small step forward at a time.
They share in our memories too
For many families, pets were part of life with the person who has died. They may have shared walks, quiet evenings, or everyday moments together.
After a loss, that pet can feel like a living connection to those memories. Sometimes, simply seeing them respond to a familiar name or routine can bring both tears and comfort.
It’s another way love continues to exist in the home. And we always encourage families to bring pets into us here at the funeral home whether it’s to be by your side as you arrange your loved one’s final journey, to visit in the chapel or even to travel to the funeral service in the limousine (and we can’t deny, we love the opportunity for a cuddle also, as you can see!)
Grief looks different for everyone, including when we lose a pet
National Love Your Pet Day can also be a tender reminder for those grieving the loss of an animal themselves.
Losing a pet can be deeply painful. They are part of our daily lives, our families, and our emotional world. Feeling that loss strongly is not an overreaction, it reflects the bond that was there. Grief is grief, whether it follows the loss of a person or an animal who meant the world to you.
A quiet thank you to the animals who help us heal
Today is simply a chance to acknowledge the comfort animals bring, whether that’s a wagging tail at the door, a gentle purr beside us, or just their calm presence in the room.
They may not understand grief in the way we do, but they understand closeness, routine, and companionship.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
A final thought
At times of loss, support comes in many forms, from family, friends, community… and sometimes from the soft paws that sit beside us without asking anything in return.
If you’re holding your pet a little closer today, you’re not alone. Many people find their quiet companionship helps carry them through the hardest days. At Franklin and Hawkins we are all animal lovers, between us all we have three cats, nine dogs, two hedgehogs, a tortoise, a hamster and approximately thirty-three fish (including our two in reception at our Tile Hill office) here is a selection of our furry, or not so furry, friends:
