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Animal loss
The loss of a pet or an animal to which one has become emotionally bonded oftentimes results in grief which can be comparable with the death of a human loved one, or even greater, depending on the individual. The death can be felt more intensely when the owner has decided to end the pet's life through euthanasia. While there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this article focuses on human feelings when an animal is lost, dies, or otherwise is departed.
There is no set amount of time for the grieving process to occur. However, mourning is much more intense for a pet upon whom the owner was emotionally dependent. Additionally, some pet owners may feel unable to express their grieving due to social customs and norms surrounding pets. If the pet owner internalizes the grief, the suffering increases.
The stages of grief proposed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross were designed in relation to human death but can be adapted to describe the grief process for the death of a pet. Indeed, pet death includes several lessons: 1) the relationship rather than the object (the animal) is central to understanding the loss; 2) the manner of death/loss will affect the grieving process; 3) the age and living situation of the bereaved will affect the grieving process.
The University of Michigan did a study of grief involving 174 adults who had deceased pets. Participants were administered a modified CENSHARE Pet Attachment Survey. Results indicate that 85.7% of owners initially experienced at least one symptom of grief, but the occurrence decreased to 35.1% at six months and 22.4% at one year. Males and females reported different rates on six of the 12 symptoms surveyed. The severity and length of symptoms were significantly correlated with the degree of attachment to the deceased pet. These findings indicate that pet loss can be a potential clinical concern, especially if the person's attachment to the pet is strong.
Grieving a pet is a deeply personal experience, and healing takes time. Some people find comfort in joining pet lover support groups, while others turn to professional grief counseling. Additionally, volunteering at an animal shelter or fostering a pet in need can help transform grief into a positive action, ensuring that a pet's love continues to inspire even after they are gone.
Though well-meaning phrases like "time heals all wounds" can upset the grieving pet owner, the one factor required for all coping strategies is indeed time. Coping also involves understanding the emotions surrounding the loss of a pet, and then accepting the emotions to focus towards positive solutions.
Coping strategies may include:
Pet owners may also seek to memorialize their pets by placing their remains in a cremation urn or jewelry. Other traditions include erecting stone memorials or other commemorative plaques for deceased pets, or by nicknaming objects like stars after them. Additionally, a 2020 report found that 19% of Americans wanted to be buried with their pet's remains after passing.
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Animal loss
The loss of a pet or an animal to which one has become emotionally bonded oftentimes results in grief which can be comparable with the death of a human loved one, or even greater, depending on the individual. The death can be felt more intensely when the owner has decided to end the pet's life through euthanasia. While there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this article focuses on human feelings when an animal is lost, dies, or otherwise is departed.
There is no set amount of time for the grieving process to occur. However, mourning is much more intense for a pet upon whom the owner was emotionally dependent. Additionally, some pet owners may feel unable to express their grieving due to social customs and norms surrounding pets. If the pet owner internalizes the grief, the suffering increases.
The stages of grief proposed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross were designed in relation to human death but can be adapted to describe the grief process for the death of a pet. Indeed, pet death includes several lessons: 1) the relationship rather than the object (the animal) is central to understanding the loss; 2) the manner of death/loss will affect the grieving process; 3) the age and living situation of the bereaved will affect the grieving process.
The University of Michigan did a study of grief involving 174 adults who had deceased pets. Participants were administered a modified CENSHARE Pet Attachment Survey. Results indicate that 85.7% of owners initially experienced at least one symptom of grief, but the occurrence decreased to 35.1% at six months and 22.4% at one year. Males and females reported different rates on six of the 12 symptoms surveyed. The severity and length of symptoms were significantly correlated with the degree of attachment to the deceased pet. These findings indicate that pet loss can be a potential clinical concern, especially if the person's attachment to the pet is strong.
Grieving a pet is a deeply personal experience, and healing takes time. Some people find comfort in joining pet lover support groups, while others turn to professional grief counseling. Additionally, volunteering at an animal shelter or fostering a pet in need can help transform grief into a positive action, ensuring that a pet's love continues to inspire even after they are gone.
Though well-meaning phrases like "time heals all wounds" can upset the grieving pet owner, the one factor required for all coping strategies is indeed time. Coping also involves understanding the emotions surrounding the loss of a pet, and then accepting the emotions to focus towards positive solutions.
Coping strategies may include:
Pet owners may also seek to memorialize their pets by placing their remains in a cremation urn or jewelry. Other traditions include erecting stone memorials or other commemorative plaques for deceased pets, or by nicknaming objects like stars after them. Additionally, a 2020 report found that 19% of Americans wanted to be buried with their pet's remains after passing.