Dear Abby: Girlfriend equates her dog’s death with my son’s tragic suicide

DEAR ABBY: A dear friend of 12 years recently lost her beloved dog (whom she called her third child) at an old age. She chose to put the dog to sleep due to health concerns and has been wracked with guilt ever since.

I lost my 19 year old son to suicide 10 years ago. This has been the worst decade of my life, and I mourn him every day. My girlfriend has equated the death of her pet with the death of my son, which has caused a major rift in our relationship. It is not only insulting but beyond hurtful to me to hear that the death of a pet is as painful and tragic as the loss of my son.

I have told her time and time again that the loss of a human child cannot be compared to the loss of a dog child, yet she continues to disagree. How should I handle her and this situation? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. — Grieving mother in the South

DEAR SAD MOM: I will give your friend some rest because she is in pain now, but she has been deceived. The pain of sending a beloved pet over the Rainbow Bridge and that of losing a child are not comparable, and it’s ridiculous that she said it – not just once, but hammered home the point. The best way to deal with this woman is to distance herself until she regains some perspective.