Life lessons your pet has taught you

Whether you’ve lost a dog, cat, or horse, their heartbreaking loss can, understandably, have a major impact on your life. 

Although it’s often challenging to think about much else while processing your grief, remembering the moments shared and life lessons our pets have taught us can be comforting. 

We asked 60 members of our Animal Friends team to share some of the life lessons they’ve been taught by their much-loved, yet dearly missed, pets. We wanted to retell their stories with you, in a hope that it helps you recall all the happy moments you had together, and reflect on the magic your own dog, cat, or horse brought to your life…

Please note: Our team shared their experiences anonymously, so we’ve removed any identifying information from their quotes, such as pet names.

The power of companionship

“Unconditional love. How to share your life with a something totally dependent on you.”

“That you are never alone, and you are loved unconditionally.”

“How to love and how much an animal can improve your mental health.”

“Just that pets are very much part of the family. For my children it's been one of their first experiences of feeling a close loss.”

“That it’s never too late to change - up to the age of eight she was never much of a lap cat and hated being picked up; affection was very much on her terms and at arm’s length. One weekend she became critically ill and spent four weeks at the RVC being treated. When we picked her up, she was so grateful to be back home, she had a complete personality change and started sitting on our laps and being really affectionate. Consequently, even though she was still sick and never fully recovered, her last year with us was probably the best.”

“Cats are very intuitive to feelings of humans and [mine] would sit on my chest if I was feeling a bit low or anxious.”

“Owning dogs has taught me so many life lessons as I have grown up. Including loss, friendship, love and much, much more.”

“They taught [me] the true meaning of unconditional love and that we all have different ways to deal with grief and pain.”

“I had him from when I was 10 until I was 23, so we grew up together. He was there for me throughout so many major changes in my life and was always my constant when there was different things going on. He taught me unconditional love and I will be forever grateful to him for this.”

“That they are very much part of the family.”

“Sometimes just being present is enough for those we love.”

“Be kind, be loyal, be supportive.”

“The importance animals hold in the world. Just their presence can make the difference to someone's day.”

“I was not a cat person before we rescued her, and she absolutely changed that. We now have another cat who I adore.”

“She filled my life, was my main support when my relationship broke down; she made me feel so loved. She was my best friend, always there for me. I'm so grateful to her for the loyalty and love she always gave me.”

“Dogs are always there, they are never not happy to see you.”

“I got [my pet when I was 12, he passed away when I was 30, I grew up with him and he was a huge part of my life. He was truly one of a kind! I lived on my own from the age of 17 my, cats were my family, I would of been lost without them.”

“They were my best mates, just, 10/10, 5 stars, top cats. It was a privilege to have them hanging out with me that whole time. My little familiars.”

“You get out of your pet what you put in, [my pet] was beautifully trained and well-behaved and brought us nothing but joy, comfort and loyal companionship.”

“Sometimes in life you will have a dog and you will have no idea the impact they have on us. [My pet] was my soul dog, she spoke to me without words and was there to pick me up when I couldn't even pick myself up. She was the best thing in my life and never growled and was so patient when other dogs came over. A true chocolate lab foodie and when she was puppy she chewed through the plaster board through to the brick. I will miss her for the rest of my life.”

“I inherited my cat when a friend of mine passed away suddenly, she was my first pet as an adult, and I think she helped me through the grief of losing my friend. Pets can be a huge support when you're experiencing any form of loss.”

Making the most of every day

“To cherish every moment you have as you do not know how long they will last.”

“Every day is a new day - enjoy snoozes, lots of snoozes, that dogs are sooo emotionally intelligent. He saved me more than once.”

“How to have fun and live in the moment. Life is short and you have to make the most of every opportunity. My dog also taught me about caring for someone other than myself!”

“Their lifespans being so much shorter than ours helps remind me to be present and practice gratitude for everything I have, every day.”

“Among the countless things she taught me throughout her 13 years as part of our family, [Name] taught me to make her feed at lightning speed (to prevent her from kicking the door!), that it's ok if things don't always go to plan as there's always fun to be found (she loved misbehaving at competitions!), and, most of all, how important it is to cherish every moment with our loved ones - it's been six years and it still feels strange that she's not here.”

“Oh my days, so many. How to love unconditionally, to live life to its fullest, that you can get excited over a burger and it not be weird!”

“Enjoy the small things, quiet moments, fun times, take a step back from life to relax.”

“Life's too short and animals don’t live long enough.”

“No matter what [sort of a bad] day you are having - they still love you unconditionally!”

“Unconditional love and no matter how hard life is, she doesn't judge and always gives you a hug. Don't sweat the little stuff!”

“None of us live forever, so nice to have some happy memories with them and treat them with due care and respect.”

“I've had many animals since I was young, and they all have taught me to enjoy the time you have with them as they have their whole life with you, whereas we only have part of ours with them.”

“That life can always start over and for the better. I adopted [my pet] and when I got her she couldn't walk on one leg due to an accident as a pup. Over time and lots of gentle exercise, she learnt to run and play again, and live her best dog life. She never gave up.”

“A horse is a lifestyle so no particular lesson other than make the most of every day because they aren’t around forever.”

“To make every second count as you don’t know when it might be taken away from you.”

“"That 15 years with a dog is still way too short and to take in every moment with our other dogs we still have. To keep all food in locked cupboards. Being a German Pointer (we have two) he was a terror and could get to all the sides and could even open the cupboards. He really humbled us :) "

“That a walk of any length will always make your day better.”

“She taught me to live in the moment, to enjoy the small things in life and to slow down. Smell the flowers and sit in the sun. She was a sun worshiper.”

“Have fun, and let love in.”

Patience, empathy, responsibility, and resilience

“To be patient (he was hard work), to love unconditionally, that there's always someone or something there that's got your back!”

“To never give up. With [my pet] she was with me throughout a lot of bad times in my life, and she taught me that even when the world was against me, something was there to support me.”

“That there is quality of life in older pets, it’s just they need more care and attention just like people.”

“Patience (he was a very cute but naughty spaniel who would steal food and would only come back when he felt like it!). I had my dog before I was married and had children, so it was just me and him in the beginning - he was my world!”

“You can't save everybody, no matter how hard you try.”

“I think it is good to learn about compassion and empathy. Also, it is good as a child as it gives you some responsibilities in a way that you probably enjoy/appreciate more than other chores.”

“Too many to count. They taught me about love, responsibility and loss.”

“"I got them as rescue cats when they were three years old. So I had them for about 15 years. They both probably taught me so much I'm not aware of or things that haven't come to mind yet, I could probably write a full essay on it in fact, in terms of patience, love and family. On a surface level though, they taught me that taking naps in the sun is really good for the soul, to stretch often, and I didn't need a new sofa when a much cheaper, second hand one will scratch up just as good!"

“Patience and understanding.”

“The lesson of love and loss.”

“"Our Labrador [Name] was the jolliest and most happy dog all the time and never saw bad in anyone, she taught us not to judge people. [A lesson my pet taught me] was to live your life to the full even if it may be short. Also, I have a horse that I had to rehome, he taught me to acknowledge when you are out of your depth and that it's OK to say when you don't feel capable and have taken on too much. I did not have the experience the horse needed to have a fulfilled life."

“Never buy cheap cat litter. Spending time with your pet is often the best form of self-care (especially if you have a packet of chicken/ham to share)."

“Owning a pet can be hard work, tiring and patience-testing but it’s also sooo rewarding and the love you get in return makes it all worthwhile. I miss my goofball terribly!”

If you’re struggling to cope with the loss of a much-loved dog, cat, or horse, please reach out for support to organisations who can help:

• Blue Cross’ Pet Loss Support is available via phone, email, and live chat.
• Cats Protection’s Paws to Listen is available by phone or contact form.
• British Horse Society’s (BHS) Friends at the End is available on the phone, through email, or via the BHS social media channels.