When you lose a beloved dog and you're in the throes of grief, the question

often arises about what to do with its things.

For some people, it's just too painful to see their dish or their toys

scattered around. It's like a stab in the heart and a reminder that their dog

is not coming back.

For other people it's too difficult to put those things away, because they

notice the void if they look and see where their dog's bowl used to be or

where it used to leave its toys.

Just know that whatever you decide about whether to leave things out or put

them away is the right thing for you. There is no set way of handling this.

It's important to know yourself and to check with yourself inside to see what

you want to do.

In my own case, I did not put my dog's things away very quickly. I left his

bowl and his water bowl and his toys out.

Yes, it was painful when I would see those things, because I was reminded

with a sharp pain that he wasn't there anymore. But for me it was too

difficult to put those things away, because I wasn't really ready to let him

go so quickly.

Also a part of me felt that it was disrespectful to his memory to put away

his water bowl and his dish and his toys, because it felt as if I was cutting

him out of my life, and I didn't want to do that.

From a spiritual standpoint, you might want to leave those kinds of things

out for at least a few days. Some people feel that their dog's spirit does

hang around for a few days before it's ready to leave and that it needs a

little time to get used to the transition, just as you do.

Everyone deals with these things in their own individual way. There is no

right or wrong. Whatever you need to do for yourself is right for you.