Hamsters are wonderful pets and become great friends over time; unfortunately, due to their short lifespan, owners often have to deal with their loss. When a pet passes away, many people experience difficult and painful times; however, there are some things you can do to greet your little friend appropriately and emotionally manage missing him.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Celebrate a Ceremony
Step 1. Prepare for the burial
Before burying the hamster and setting up any type of ceremony you think is appropriate, you need to plan a few things. Proper preparation can make the whole procedure easier, unhindered and help you greet your pet in the best possible way. Get the following materials to prepare for the "funeral":
- A container for the hamster; choose a cardboard box, cloth or paper container instead of a plastic one;
- Personal items for the ceremony, such as flowers or candles
- Something to dig the grave for the animal;
- An object to recognize the place of burial.
Step 2. Bury him
Once you have identified the right place to put the hamster and procured all the necessary material, it is time for the real "funeral". You must dig a hole deep enough that you can properly contain the pet and prevent birds or other animals from disturbing it.
- Dig a hole deep enough to put the hamster in, which is at least 60 cm.
- Once the hamster is in the container, place the container in the hole.
- Place stones on top of the bowl before covering the pit with earth.
Step 3. Place a "tombstone" to mark the place and finish the ceremony
Once the burial procedure is completed, you must put something to indicate that your little friend "lies" in that place; this way, you will always be able to remember exactly where he rests in peace. Positioning the element you have chosen to define the place and end the ritual helps you greet the hamster in the right way and remember the time you spent together.
- The "tombstone" you decide to put can be a very common thing, like a simple stone to be placed on the ground.
- You can customize it in any way you want: by painting it, drawing it, engraving it or sculpting it.
Part 2 of 2: Coping with Mourning
Step 1. Don't hold back the pain
Losing a pet can be a difficult and painful experience; you probably experience a lot of strong emotions in this period and you have to work them out thoroughly. Don't be afraid to experience and cope with such emotions during the following stages of bereavement:
- Usually, the first feeling is denial, a kind of disbelief about the loss of the hamster;
- Anger is the reaction to pain at the death of the animal;
- Remorse is the stage where you may start wondering, "If only …", if I could have saved him or somehow avoided losing him.
- Depression is typically the stage just before acceptance; it may be a quiet sadness before "letting go" of the little rodent.
- Acceptance is the final stage, when you manage to come to terms with the lack of the hamster and overcome the loss.
Step 2. Talk about it
It may be tempting to grieve on your own, but talking to friends and family about it instead helps you share your feelings and get through the process of accepting the loss. Talking about it with friends and family reduces the pain you feel about not having your hamster with you anymore.
Step 3. Try to write down the feelings you have
After the pet dies, you can consider this option; expressing on paper the sensations and feelings you are experiencing can help you to better understand and overcome all the stages of grief that you inevitably have to face. Try some of the following methods for jotting down emotions:
- Diary;
- Poetry;
- Essay or short stories from the life of the hamster;
- You can also write a letter directly to the hamster to express how important it was to you.
Step 4. Take your time
Each person can overcome the feelings of grief over the loss of a pet at different times. You don't have to "push ahead" to feel better and allow yourself plenty of time to overcome the disappearance and mourn.
- It may be wise to wait some time before deciding to get a new hamster.
- There is no rush and you don't have to set a time limit within which you need to feel better.
- Listen to yourself and you will understand when the time is right to bring home a new little rodent.
Advice
- Performing a ceremony can help relieve some of the pain sensation.
- Don't reject or ignore your feelings.
- Take the time you need to get over the grief.
- Talk to other people about the loss.
- Remember that the hamster is not in pain and is now happy in a better place.
