Moving After Pet Loss: What I Didn’t Expect to Feel

When I signed a new lease recently, I didn’t expect it to bring up so many emotions. But grief has a way of resurfacing in the quiet, everyday moments— and this one hit especially hard.

During the apartment tour, the leasing agent casually asked, “Do you have any pets?” Such a simple question. But for anyone grieving a pet, it can feel like a punch to the gut.

I lost my dog Jasper in March 2024. He had been with me for 15 years— through moves, milestones, heartbreaks, and everything in between. After his death, I packed up the home we shared and began drifting, living like a bit of a nomad. Now, this place is my first “real” home since losing him. And it feels… complicated.

Moving After Pet Loss: A Silent Milestone

Most people associate moving with excitement and fresh starts. I always have. But for those navigating life after losing a pet, it can stir up grief all over again. Jasper wasn’t just a pet— he was my daily companion, my routine, my comfort. Signing this lease wasn’t just about a new address. It was an acknowledgment that I’m continuing forward without him physically by my side.

I found a photo from the first day we moved into our last place. Jasper is perched by the window, taking in the world below. He loved watching everything from above— the cars, the people, the other dogs on walks. That window became his favorite spot, and that home felt like “ours” because of him.

Coping With Pet Grief During Life Transitions

Healing after the loss of a pet is not a linear process. Grief doesn’t show up only in the big moments—it sneaks in during the mundane ones, too. A form asking if I have pets. A window that reminds me of his favorite view. A new chapter that he isn’t part of.

I don’t move into the new place until late August, but I already feel the ache of what’s missing. Still, I also feel a small seed of hope. A sense that this space will carry his memory, even if he’s not physically curled up next to me on the couch.

If you’re coping with pet grief or moving after pet loss, know this: the emotional complexity is real and valid. You’re not “crazy” for crying over a form or feeling off-kilter in a new space. These transitions hold layers of meaning, especially when you’ve loved deeply.

Finding Pet Loss Support

What’s helped me the most is connecting with others who get it. Pet loss often goes unacknowledged by the world at large, but there are people and communities out there that understand how big this kind of grief is. If you’re struggling, please reach out. Talk about it. Share your photos, your stories, your hard days. There’s no shame in mourning a soul who gave you unconditional love.

This move is bittersweet. It’s a new beginning— but one shaped forever by the love I shared with Jasper. And that love doesn’t end. It comes with me, wherever I go.