A goodbye letter to my human

One of the toughest moments to face as a pet owner is the day your pet passes away. Grieving the loss of a pet can be difficult as it is often met with insensitivity or misunderstanding by other people around you. Losing anyone important to us in life can be traumatic, but sometimes a lack of empathy from others about pet loss makes this type of grief even lonelier.
To help pet owners address their grief openly, Vivienne Mathews wrote a beautiful poem from the perspective of a pet who has passed on called "Owner, Dearest Friend." She posted the poem on her YouTube channel (video embedded below) and was overwhelmed with the responses from viewers, many of whom left comments to memorialize their lost pets.
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Mathews wrote, "Because so many wonderful people were leaving messages memorializing their pets on the previous video, I thought you all deserved a nicer place to share your stories. I hope you enjoy this illustrated, spoken-word version of a poem that came from a very honest place."
As a writer, Mathews has written extensively about pets and pet loss, noting in one of her blog posts that it's important to remember honor your pet's death in whatever way you are most comfortable with and to not blame yourself for the loss. Watching her video (embedded below) and listening to her poem is one meaningful way that some people may find peace in their grief.
"So here's my final word, my friend,
This is my last wish.
Find another lonely pet
And give to them my dish.
Then every time they make you smile,
Know that I'm smiling, too.
Still so proud
To once have been
A dearest friend to you."
Be sure to watch the video below. Don't forget to share this poem with your animal-loving friends and family on Facebook.
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