If you aircraft has an autopilot (which you preflighted AND verified operation in VMC) TURN IT ON IF YOU GET INTO IMC.
Then change the heading bug to an appropriate way to return to VMC.
For 1 degree axis autopilot all you need to control now is attitude (and therefore altitude) plus monitor.
For 2 (or 3) degree axis autopilot all you need to do is think "well that was silly" and monitor.
Regarding pets for IMC, definitely do NOT get a drop bear. They have a best glide speed of zero knots.