Finding Grace in Grief: What Our Pets Teach Us About Love and Letting Go

There are moments in life that change us forever.
Losing a beloved pet is one of them.

At Dogs On The Run, we have witnessed this truth countless times through the eyes of families saying goodbye, through the hearts of professionals who have cared for pets in their final days, and through our own personal experiences. The love we share with our animals is pure, uncomplicated, and loyal beyond measure. When that bond ends, it can feel like the world tilts on its axis.

In a recent Oprah Daily article, writer Ann Tashi Slater reflected on losing her dog in Tokyo after fifteen years together. Her story resonated deeply with us because it captures something universal, the ache of loss and the quiet grace that follows when we allow ourselves to feel it fully.

In Japan, there is a word called wabi-sabi, a philosophy that embraces imperfection, impermanence, and the beauty that comes from both. It teaches that cracks, breaks, and worn edges are not signs of weakness but reminders that life is fleeting and precious.

When it comes to grief, wabi-sabi offers a kind of healing perspective. It reminds us that love does not end when a heartbeat does, it changes form. The empty spaces, the quiet mornings, the unfilled leash hooks all become part of the story, a continuation of a bond that shaped who we are.

In Japan, there is even a phrase for taking time to mend a broken heart, shitsuren kyūka, or “heartbreak leave.” It is a recognition that emotional healing deserves its own space. That pause, that permission to feel, is something we rarely give ourselves in the rush of everyday life. But it is necessary.

At Dogs On The Run, we believe in honoring that space. Whether it is a family lighting a candle for a pet they loved or a professional who sits quietly with a client after loss, these small acts of remembrance matter. They bring dignity to endings and remind us that love was real, meaningful, and worth the pain of goodbye.

Grieving a pet is not something to get over. It is something to move through.
And on the other side of that grief, there is gratitude, for the walks, the wagging tails, the tiny paws that left imprints on our hearts.

We encourage every pet family in our community to grieve openly and gently. Talk about your pet. Share their quirks. Keep their photo in your favorite place. Let your heart remember instead of resist.

Because healing does not mean forgetting, it means learning to love through the cracks.