Overview

• Losing a pet can affect people as deeply as losing a human loved one, reflecting the strong bonds between humans and animals.
• Experts advise offering empathetic support and avoiding dismissive clichés that can make grieving pet owners feel isolated.
• Grief over a pet's death is not tied to the size, type, or species of the animal, as connections with pets vary widely among individuals.
• Feelings of guilt are common among bereaved pet owners, often stemming from a sense of responsibility for the pet's death or disappearance.
• While getting a new pet may help some owners heal, it is not a universal solution and cannot replace the unique bond with the lost animal.