There’s nothing worse than losing man’s best friend. Except when man’s best friend is also a celebrity’s best friend, and then the whole world feels the loss.
Newlyweds Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner had been readily enjoying their new love; that is until tragedy struck sometime last week.
The couple’s young pup Waldo Picasso was recently killed in what could only be described as a freak accident. Their dog walker was walking Waldo in New York City when a pedestrian scared the dog causing it to run off. Off the leash, it was then that an oncoming car struck the innocent pup.
There was only enough time to take the dog to the hospital, but unfortunately, it was there that Waldo did. At this time the vehicle and driver remain unknown. What’s worse: the driver never stopped and is still unidentified.
Jonas and Turner are also the loving owners of the puppy’s Alaskan Klee Kai brother, Porky Basquiat, but it is unclear whether Porky was present during the accident or not. Even though the couple had only just adopted Waldo in April 2018, it was clear they were both very attached to the sweet pup. You can see Waldo in several of the Game of Thrones star’s Instagram posts.
Our hearts go out to Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner because losing a pet is never easy, especially when they’re more of a family member than a pet.
Here’s exactly how Jonas and Turner handled the whole thing.
They saw a therapist
These days, mental health is the most important kind of health there is. We’re totally supportive of Jonas and Turner’s decision to go to therapy after the loss of Waldo, and even Scientific American recommends that more individuals should follow in their footsteps.
Jonas and Turner were open about going to therapy to professionally handle the loss. Many individuals underestimate the profound hardship that comes with pet loss, according to Psychology Today. Harbouring these negative and tragic feelings, or refusing to address them, can result in psychological and even physical health challenges.
Psychology Today also adds that grief after pet loss can last one or two months, even up to a full year, so Jonas and Turner’s decision to seek therapy was a wise one.
In today’s world, there is a stigma that surrounds grieving too much after the loss of a pet, which often makes individuals feel embarrassed and avoid seeking professional help. However, this only makes the recovery process longer and more complex.
Hopefully, with public figures such as Jonas and Turner leading the way, fewer people will feel embarrassed about seeking help for pet loss, and therapists will be able to support these individuals the right way. The Blue Cross offers a Pet Bereavement Support Service which is available by phone or email, so seeking help couldn’t get any easier.
In addition, here are some simple self-help techniques to follow after the loss of a pet.
- Give yourself time
- Reflect about your bond
- Continue to meet your own basic needs
- Engage in a calming ritual
- Maintain routines with your living animals
- Cherish the memory of your pet
- Ask for help when needed
Taking care of yourself just as Jonas and Turner did is just another way to preserve the memory of your pet. There’s no point in suffering when their suffering is over.
They got a tattoo
Therapy is one way to memorialize your pet, but so is getting a tattoo.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas were not shy to share the tattoo they quickly adorned their bodies with, after the death of beloved Waldo. The matching tattoos are a simple yet sincere way to show exactly how much Waldo Picasso meant to the couple.
Both tattoos are featured on their forearms. The tattoo is a small, simple, yet elegant design of Waldo’s sweet puppy face. The couple’s Instagram featured images of their tattoos and sweet notes indicating that they loved and missed their little angel.
The tattoo was a surprising reaction to the tragedy, but an honourable gesture. Now Waldo can live with both celebrities forever.
It is unclear whether the couple is still in therapy after their loss, but after seeing those heart-melting tattoos, we know we are. Jonas and Turner are taking the loss of their pup one day at a time. They were seen walking Porky, just days after, as there is no doubt the pup misses his brother as well.
As Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner remain in our hearts, we can only hope that out of great loss comes even greater love.
