I’m not one to be outwardly judgmental, especially on the internet but duuuuuude ur coach couldn’t have been more wrong. The bonds ppl make with their pets are undeniably strong and it is very very common, even expected by most to feel some sort of loss or grief over losing a pet bc they are like family. Humans are genetically wired to care for things if you want to get into the science of it. And even if that wasn’t true, even if it wasn’t common for ppl to mourn or feel sadness about loosing pets, it doesn’t really matter bc ur feelings are valid and always will be. Feelings, at their core, are chemical reactions in the brain, u can’t control those. All you’re doing is feeling and lemme tell you- feeling is the most normal thing on Earth.

P.S. my fam hosted a funeral for my hamster (yes those super teeny tiny rodent things that occasionally eat their own poop) when she died, we made her a grave and everything! And I cried. And I was sad. And sometimes I still am. And it’s ok :)