National Pet Memorial Day was marked with special remembrance events in Green Valley, where community members gathered at the Green Valley Joyner Library to honor the memories of their beloved pets.
Organized by the Green Valley Canine Club , the event featured heartfelt discussions on the grief that accompanies the loss of a pet, an experience that can be as painful as losing a family member.
Helen Russo, a Green Valley resident and community activist, shared her own experience with loss.
“Being a psychologist, you think you know it until it comes to you,” she said. Russo had to put down her cat during a particularly difficult year, only two months after losing her soul mate. “It was during the pandemic and I’m by myself so believe me, I boo-hooed a lot.”
This sentiment was echoed by Chaplain Mark Westrich of Desert Hills Lutheran Church, who has been leading grief support talks in the community.
Following the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Westrich says that many people found themselves grieving alone, including for the pets that brought them comfort during tough times.