Loss of a Pet Is as Hard as Losing a Human, Researchers Say
By Angeline Simmons, December 18, 2024
Losing a pet can be just as devastating as losing a human family member — and even scientists agree.
Several research studies have focused on how pet loss impacts those left behind, and the results may not be surprising to anyone who’s had to say farewell to a pet.
“Animal owners who experience the death of a beloved family pet or companion animal may experience feelings of grief and loss that are synonymous with the death of a human,” a 2022 study concluded.
The emotions people feel after their pets die are vast, and may change from day to day. They include:
Anxiety
Anger
Stress
Guilt
Trauma
Shame
Loneliness
Isolation
Some people feel all of these at once, while others cycle through a few of them over time.
If you’ve lost a pet and are interested in what science says about coping, read on.
Average Grieving Period After Losing a Pet
If you’ve recently experienced the loss of a pet, you may be curious about how long the grief can last. Unfortunately, it may last even longer than you could have expected.
Researchers who studied people whose dogs and cats had died by euthanasia found that their grief typically lasted for more than six months. “Their average grieving period exceeded one year,” the study authors wrote.
Certain factors caused people to grieve longer or shorter periods than average, as noted below:
Those who provided daily nursing care for their dogs and cats grieved longer than those who didn’t
Women grieved more deeply then men, with one exception: Men who lived with other people grieved for a longer period than those who lived alone
People between the ages of 18 and 35 and those over 60 experienced more severe grief
More extensive education led to faster grief recovery
When kids lost their pets, the grieving period lasted even longer than with adults. One study found that children whose pets passed away grieved for up to three full years.
Others May Not Understand Pet Loss
Making people’s grief experiences worse was the fact that some people didn’t think their friends and family members understood what they were going through. In fact, more than one-third of participants in one study said they had to be careful about sharing their grief with others because they weren’t sure whether they’d be supported.
The study participants said they were hesitant to share information about the loss of a dog, cat or other pet on social media because they were afraid they’d be ignored or even ridiculed. In fact, some people even felt that their veterinarians lacked the appropriate level of support when they were going through the stages of grief after losing a pet.
In short, a lot of people felt they had to suffer alone after their pets crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Grieving a Pet: What May Help
The study authors didn’t just evaluate whether people grieving their pets were bereaved. Many of them also researched what helped reduce pet loss grief.
They discovered that some of the following strategies may help people who have lost a pet:
Meeting with a bereavement counselor
Talking to an empathetic friend, family member or professional who can simply listen
Attending a grief support group
Avoiding grief triggers, such as walking past the pet’s favorite dog park
Giving themselves a lot of time to grieve without rushing it
Spending time with other people’s pets
Taking time off of work, similar to bereavement days for humans
Making a donation to a pet welfare organization to help other pets
Buying a pet memorial gift, such as a stone, memory box or jewelry
Hosting a funeral service for the pet or scattering the pet’s ashes
Getting a pet memorial tattoo
Some people also said that getting a new pet helped them get past the loss of their deceased pet. However, that method is not recommended for everyone. Make sure you take the time to grieve your pet and work through their loss before taking on any new responsibilities, including adopting a new animal.
How a person grieves their lost pet — and for how long — is a very personal topic, and will vary based on a variety of factors. But what everyone must keep in mind after losing a pet is this: Your feelings are important, valid, normal, and deserving of time to grieve.
