Note: This essay was written by Libby Lambert, a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, in 2025. The loss of a pet is staggering and leaves many with an ache in their heart that will last for a lifetime. I lost my childhood dog in 2024, and grief still affects me to this day. One tool that I didn’t anticipate would help with my sorrow was poetry. In fact, poetry is a form of expressive arts therapy which allows writers/readers to explore complex feelings and validate emotional events. Healthcare professionals use this form to understand someone’s struggles and how to properly treat them. "The Loss of a Heart-Dog" by Colleen Fitzsimmons is a beautiful poem depicting pet loss and offers healing to her readers through the idea that our lost pets are always watching over us, that they are no longer in pain, and that we will meet our lost pets once more. The poem can be found here . An intere...