Farewell furry friend
Marianne Sharon, M’11 followed her Franciscan instincts to form a community support group that is helping pet owners cope with the loss of their beloved animals.
By Susan Shelly
52 Alvernia University Magazine
theo anderson
A
merica collectively wept out loud when Marley, John Grogan’s ailing and aging yellow lab, was euthanized in the hit film (and best-selling book) Marley & Me. In fact, our combined national attachment to furry friends has grown so strong that coping with the loss of a cat, dog or any pet can lead to serious grief, despair and even depression. “Animal lovers are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky,” said Grogen in his book. Undeniably, Americans love their pets. We buy them expensive food, apparel and accessories; provide top-rate health care; assure that they’re properly socialized; and take them with us when we travel. When our pets get sick, we seek treatment and provide comfort. And when our pets die, we mourn. For years, historians, scientists and anthropologists have studied the important relationships between humans and animals, trying to better understand their interactions and influence upon one another. Marianne M. Sharon, a 2011 graduate of Alvernia’s Master’s program in community counseling, is someone who has great appreciation for the special bond shared between humans and animals. She also understands the pain and sense of loss that occurs when a pet passes away. That, coupled with a commitment to give back to a community that has supported her, inspired Sharon to start a free support group for people who have lost pets. The animals we keep, Sharon affirmed, contribute significantly to our lives. “Animals give us some of the most wonderful, most unconditional love we ever get,” she said. “Animals bring out the best in us because they make us trust and show us how to love.” Sharon said the greatest value of a support group for people who have lost a cherished pet is that it validates their grief and allows them to express it in a non-judgmental setting. Pet owners often feel that they’re discouraged from mourning for